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Israel-Palestine-Jordan | ||||
Paleo prisoner on 55th day of hunger strike | ||||
2012-02-10 | ||||
JERUSALEM -- In a high-stakes gamble, an imprisoned member of a Palestinian militant group has waged a hunger strike for almost two months, trying to draw attention to Israel's military justice system and its treatment of detainees who can be held without charge for lengthy periods. Khader Adnan, 33, has refused food for 55 days, making his hunger strike the longest ever waged by a Palestinian detainee. With his condition rapidly deteriorating, Israeli authorities, who consider him a terrorist, are nonetheless scrambling to keep him alive. His death could turn the previously obscure Adnan into a Palestinian hero and set off new violence.
He is drinking water that is occasionally enhanced with electrolytes and vitamins he needs to keep him alive. His condition is considered severe.
The protest could not only cost Adnan his life but could also have political implications. Islamic Jihad, a violent Iranian-backed militant group that has killed dozens of Israelis in suicide bombings and other attacks, has vowed to punish Israel if Adnan dies.
Adnan was a spokesman for Islamic Jihad in the West Bank. It isn't known if he directly participated in attacks on Israelis.
"Adnan was arrested with an administrative arrest warrant for activities that threatened regional security," an Israeli military spokesman said without elaborating. "An appeal was filed by the defendant and it is under review." Adnan is being held under guard at an Israeli hospital, and prison officials say they are watching his condition closely. The prison service declined comment Thursday, but officials have said in the past that they have permission to force feed Adnan if necessary. Adnan's lawyers appealed the detention order Thursday at a special hearing in the hospital, said Mahmoud Hassan, one of his lawyers. There was no ruling and the judge could take a week to give his decision. Hassan, who works for the prisoners' advocacy group Addameer, said he was barred from discussing specifics of the hearing. But he said Adnan attended the hearing in a wheelchair, his hands and feet in shackles. He spoke with difficulty and vowed to continue his hunger strike. Adnan is only allowing doctors from the Israel branch of Physicians for Human Rights and the International Committee of the Red The second longest hunger strike in Palestinian history was by a woman who refused food for 43 days before she was released in 1997. | ||||
Posted by:Steve White |
#8 After drinking the apple cider vinegar and salt he may give up his fast so he doesn't have to drink it again. |
Posted by: gorb 2012-02-10 21:12 |
#7 You beat me to it, mojo. ;-p |
Posted by: Barbara 2012-02-10 19:28 |
#6 Coming up on 2 months and still not dead? I don't think he's doing it right. |
Posted by: mojo 2012-02-10 16:06 |
#5 He is drinking water that is occasionally enhanced with electrolytes and vitamins he needs to keep him alive. His condition is considered severe. I recommend taking him off the lytes and vitamins. A teaspoon of salt dissolved in a cup of apple cider vineger (hot, hot as he can stand it) twice a day might help the hair loss. Same for the lawyers. |
Posted by: Besoeker 2012-02-10 13:16 |
#4 No Jamba Juice? |
Posted by: swksvolFF 2012-02-10 12:45 |
#3 Adnan, a member of the armed group Islamic Jihad, has lost 60 pounds (27 kilograms) and now weighs about 140 pounds (63 kilograms). Perfect weight for riding the high mountain stages of the Tour de France! |
Posted by: Raj 2012-02-10 08:30 |
#2 I guess that paleo diet really does make you lose weight. |
Posted by: Jeremiah Spomoque7216 2012-02-10 08:21 |
#1 to be successful as a hunger striker - someone has to care. I don't. Starve, you paleo scum. No virgins for you! |
Posted by: Frank G 2012-02-10 08:09 |