Palestinian Hunger Striker in Critical Condition, Says His Wife

Hunger-striking journalist Mohammed al-Qeeq.

 
Ramallah, Palestine, 11 Jumadil Akhir 1438/10 March 2017 (MINA) – The health of jailed Palestinian journalist Mohammed al-Qeeq has deteriorated dramatically after 32 days on hunger strike, Anadolu reported, citing his wife.

“My husband lost consciousness twice over the past week, which shows he has reached a critical stage,” al-Qeeq’s wife, Shalash, told reporters.

“He continues to refuse any medical treatment or testing,” she added.

On Tuesday, al-Qeeq was taken to Israel’s Assaf HaRofeh medical center following a sharp deterioration of his health in a prison hospital.

Despite his poor health condition, however, he remains shackled to his hospital bed, according to Shalash.

“He has lost considerable weight and continues to suffer from nausea,” she said.

In May of last year, al-Qeeq was released from Israeli custody after waging a 94-day hunger strike to protest his detention.

But the Israeli authorities rearrested al-Qeeq last month in the occupied West Bank for allegedly “inciting violence”.

Under Israel’s policy of “administrative detention”, prisoners can be held for up to one year without trial or charge.

According to official Palestinian figures, over 7,000 Palestinians are now being held in Israeli prisons, roughly 700 of whom are being kept in administrative detention. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)