[Ppnews] Israel agrees to release hunger-striking Palestinian soccer player

[Political Prisoner News]

Palestinian footballer Sarsak 'ends hunger strike'

BBC News, 18 June 2012

<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18497722>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18497722 


A Palestinian footballer who has been on hunger strike in protest at 
being held in an Israeli jail without charge has agreed to resume 
eating in exchange for early release, his lawyer says.

Mahmoud al-Sarsak has been detained by Israel for three years.

Israeli officials accuse him of being involved in the militant group, 
Islamic Jihad, but he has never been publicly charged.

Mr Sarsak has always denied the allegations.

He has been held under Israel's "unlawful combatants law", which 
permits Palestinians from Gaza to be detained for an unlimited time 
without charge or trial.

His lawyer, Mohammed Jabarin, says that an agreement has been reached 
with the Israeli prison where Mr Sarsak is being held for him to be 
released on 10 July.

In return, Mr Sarsak will start eating again and will be transferred 
to a civilian hospital for treatment on Tuesday, according to Mr Jabarin.
Fifa concern

The 25-year-old started his hunger strike on 23 March. He briefly 
paused in April after rights groups said he was close to death.

In recent weeks, however, he has started taking vitamins, sugar and 
milk, his lawyer says.

The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) has urged European 
football's governing body, Uefa, to ban Israel from hosting the 
continent's under-21 championship next year.

In addition to Mr Sarsak, Olympic squad goalkeeper Omar Abu Rois and 
Ramallah player Mohammed Nimr are being held in Israel without trial.

The global governing football body, Fifa, expressed its concern last 
month over the fate of Mr Sarsak and asked Israel's football 
association to take action.
----

Israel agrees to release hunger-striking Palestinian soccer player



Palestinian prisoner Mahmoud Sarsak ends three-month hunger strike 
after Israel agrees to release him on July 10.

Haaretz - DPA - 18 Jun 2012

A Palestinian prisoner who has been on hunger strike for 88 days 
ended his fast Monday, after the Israeli authorities agreed to 
release him on July 10, Palestinian Minister of Prisoners Affairs 
Issa Qaraqi said.

Mahmoud Sarsak, 25, a member of the Palestinian national football 
team,<http://www.haaretz.com/news/sports/jailed-palestinian-soccer-player-takes-first-steps-toward-ending-hunger-strike-1.436308>had 
begun taking liquids, preparatory to ending his hunger strike, last week.

Sarsak, from the Gaza Strip, was arrested in July 2009 while on his 
way to take  part in a football match in the West Bank. Israel 
accused him of being affiliated with the radical Islamic Jihad organization.

He received on-off intravenous drips throughout his fast, but 
rejected a May 14 deal which ended a mass month-long hunger strike by 
other Palestinian prisoners.

He insisted on being given prisoner-of-war status, since he was 
detained under Israel's Unlawful Combatants Law, which allows for 
Palestinians from Gaza to be detained indefinitely without charge or trial.

The law authorizes the state to detain foreign nationals who belong 
to terrorist organizations or have participated directly or 
indirectly in hostile actions against the state of Israel.

The Islamic Jihad, which rejects Israel's right to exist, has carried 
out scores of attacks - including suicide bombings - against Israelis.

Al-Sarsak also rejected an Israeli offer to exile him to Norway for 
three months.






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