[Ppnews] Palestine - Health of Hunger Strikers Continues to Deteriorate as Strike Escalates

Political Prisoner News ppnews at freedomarchives.org
Tue Nov 13 11:16:33 EST 2012


    Health of Hunger Strikers Continues to Deteriorate as
    Strike Escalates
    <http://samidoun.ca/2012/11/addameer-health-of-hunger-strikers-continues-to-deteriorate-as-strike-escalates/>


http://www.addameer.org/etemplate.php?id=531

Ramallah, 13 November 2012 
<http://www.addameer.org/etemplate.php?id=531> - Addameer is deeply 
concerned for the lives of three hunger strikers and the health of one 
former hunger striker who are held in Israeli prisons.

Ayman Sharawna has been on an open hunger strike since 1 July 2012; 
today marks his 136th day of striking. Addameer lawyer Fares Ziad 
recently visited Ayman at Ramleh prison medical center, and found 
Ayman's health so drastically deteriorated that in addition to the 
previously reported pain in his right leg, joints, kidneys, skin 
problems and memory loss, he is now unable to stand, speak easily or 
urinate, and just recently has been able to ingest water. Ayman is now 
taking fluids through injection, although medical intervention by the 
Israeli Prison Service (IPS) has caused him pain and infections.

Ayman has also been suffering from eye problems, and doctors have told 
him that there is a blockage in the veins to his eyes. However, he 
declined the IPS offer to transfer him to a civilian hospital for an eye 
examination due to their intention to shackle his arms and legs during 
transport and treatment, despite his inability to stand. Ayman was 
re-arrested in January after being released in the prisoner exchange 
deal in October 2011. He is currently held without charge and an Israeli 
military committee has not yet reached a decision regarding whether or 
not Ayman will be returned to his previous sentence.

Samer Al-Issawi has been intermittently on hunger strike since 1 August 
2012. His health is deteriorating rapidly, and he has pain in his 
kidneys; has difficulty drinking water and standing. He recently tried 
to stand but lost consciousness and hit his head on the bed and injured 
his left thigh. He is now taking six vitamins as a result of a recent 
blood test which found severe mineral deficiencies. Currently, he is 
only drinking two glasses of water a day, as he feels ill when ingesting 
water. Like Ayman Sharawna, Samer was re-arrested after being released 
as part of the prisoner exchange deal in October 2011. He was arrested 
on 7 July 2012 and is currently held without charge, awaiting the 
decision of an Israeli military committee which will decide if Samer is 
to be returned to his previous sentence.

Addameer can also report that Palestinian detainee and human rights 
activist, Mohammad Kana'aneh (47), launched an open hunger strike on 23 
October 2012. Mohammad, from the village of Arabat Al Batouf in 1948 
territories, was first arrested on 16 June 2011, accused of 
participating at a demonstration on 4 June 2011 in the Golan Heights 
commemorating the Naksa. He was released two months later and placed 
under house arrest. On 2 April 2012 he was rearrested, accused of 
breaking the terms of his house arrest. Since his re-arrest, the IPS 
have put him in the criminal sections of the prisons he has been held 
in, both in Shata and Salem prisons. Mohammed launched his hunger strike 
in protest of his arbitrary arrest and his continued detention amongst 
criminals. In response, the IPS put Mohammad in isolation for one week, 
withheld his salt, and imposed a fine of NIS200. Mohammad, now on his 
22nd day of hunger strike, has lost 12 kilograms in weight and at times 
has refused to drink even water.

Former hunger striker Akram Rikhawi (38) is suffering from severe health 
consequences from his 102 day strike, which ended on 24 July 2012, after 
a deal was reached for his early release. Akram has numerous health 
conditions which have worsened since his hunger strike, including 
diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and a chronic eye 
condition that has required two surgeries. The nerves in his left leg 
are also damaged from the hunger strike and he now uses a crutch to help 
him walk. Addameer lawyer Fares Ziad recently visited Akram and found 
that a recent CT scan revealed that he has gallstones in both kidneys, 
and an abnormal left kidney. Akram is continuously denied family visits, 
receiving only two since 2005 and therefore all communication with Akram 
has been through his lawyers. According to the terms of the agreement 
which ended his hunger strike, Akram is due to be released in January 2013.

Addameer demands accountability for all of Israel's human rights 
violations related to the continued hunger strike. It is imperative that 
Ayman Sharawna, Samer Al-Issawi, Akram Rikhawi and Mohammad Kana'aneh 
are treated humanely, with dignity, and receive immediate independent 
medical attention.

ACT NOW!

*Write to the Israeli government, military and legal authorities and 
demand that the hunger striking prisoners be released immediately.
Brigadier General Danny Efroni
Military Judge Advocate General
6 David Elazar Street
Harkiya, Tel Aviv
Israel
Fax: +972 3 608 0366; +972 3 569 4526
Email: arbel at mail.idf.il; avimn at idf.gov.il
Maj. Gen. Nitzan Alon
OC Central Command Nehemia Base, Central Command
Neveh Yaacov, Jerusalam
Fax: +972 2 530 5741
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Ehud Barak
Ministry of Defense
37 Kaplan Street, Hakirya
Tel Aviv 61909, Israel
Fax: +972 3 691 6940 / 696 2757
Col. Eli Bar On
Legal Advisor of Judea and Samaria PO Box 5
Beth El 90631
Fax: +972 2 9977326
*Write to your own elected representatives urging them to pressure 
Israel to release the hunger strikers.

-- 
Freedom Archives 522 Valencia Street San Francisco, CA 94110 415 
863.9977 www.freedomarchives.org
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