Hunger Striker in Israeli Jails Loses Memory, At Risk of Paralysis, Says Group

Ramallah, 133 Safar 143/133 November 2016 (MINA) – A Palestinian hunger striker who has refrained from eating for 49 days, in protest his administrative detention, has lost his memory and is at risk of sudden paralysis, said the Palestinian Detainees Commission, Saturday.

According to WAFA correspondence, Ahmad Shadid, aged 20, who is currently receiving treatment at Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, inside Israel, has lost memory and a lot of weight, and may suffer paralysis at any time.

Shadid has also lost the ability to walk and suffers from chronic headaches and persistent symptoms of dizziness and imbalance, along with breathing difficulties, weakness in the heart muscle, vision problems and severe pain in the eyes, chest, and abdomen.

Shadid was detained on August 2nd, and held under administrative detention without charge or trial.

The commission called on the Israeli Supreme Court to release Shadid and “put an end to the policy of slow killing committed by the Israeli intelligence against the hunger striker.”

It held the Israeli government fully responsible for his life.

The Israeli Supreme Court has reportedly scheduled a hearing to be held on Monday, to look into his case.

In related news, three Palestinian brothers have been on hunger strike for 10 days, in protest of being held in solitary confinement in an Israeli prison, the Detainees Affairs Commission said in a press release .

Abdul-Salam, Nidal and Noureddin Amer, who come from the Qalqiliya-area village of Beit Amin, have started an open-ended hunger strike since November 2 in protest of being held in solitary confinement in the Israeli prison of Eshel.

Abdul-Salam and Nidal were detained three years ago and sentenced to life terms plus 20 years reportedly for the attempted kidnapping of an Israeli soldier to secure release of their brother, Noureddin.

Noureddin was reportedly sentenced to 55 years in prison. He has already spent 14 years in imprisonment, including the last three years in solitary confinement.

The committee warned against Israel’s disregard to Palestinian detainees and called for an immediate end to Israeli policies against them, especially sick detainees and others held in administrative detention and solitary confinement. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)