A Palestinian who had been on a hunger strike for nearly three months died this morning in Israeli custody, Israel’s prison services announced.
Khader Adnan went on strike shortly after his arrest on February 5.
Adnan, a member of the Islamic Jihad militant group, had gone on hunger strike several times after previous arrests. In 2015, Adnan went on a 55-day strike to protest detention under so-called administrative detention, in which suspects can be held indefinitely without charge or trial.
Israeli prison services reported that this time Adnan was charged with “participation in terrorist activities” but refused medical treatment pending legal proceedings. Adnan was found unconscious in his cell this morning and taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
According to the Israeli human rights group HaMoked, Israel currently holds more than 1,000 Palestinians in detention without charge or trial, the highest number since 2003.
Israel says this process helps authorities prevent attacks and detain dangerous militants without publishing incriminating material for security reasons.
Palestinians and human rights groups say the system is widely abused and denies the right to a fair trial, as the secret nature of the evidence makes it impossible for detainees or their lawyers to organize their defense.
Source: TSF
