[Ppnews] Once again Israel reneges on agreement to release Palestinian hunger striker

[Political Prisoner News]

  Once again Israel reneges on agreement to release hunger striker

/http://www.addameer.org/etemplate.php?id=570
/

/Ramallah, 30 January 2013/ -- Israel reneges on agreement to release 
hunger striker Akram Rikhawi, as health of three other hunger strikers 
continues to deteriorate.

Addameer lawyer Fares Ziad yesterday visited Akram Rikhawi 
<http://www.addameer.org/etemplate.php?id=491>and confirmed that Akram 
re-started his hunger strike on 24 January 2013, in protest of the 
refusal of Israel to release him on the previously agreed date of 24 
January 2013. On 22 July 2012 Akram ended his previous 102 day hunger 
strike after an agreement was reached to release him on 25 January 2013, 
six months prior to his original release date.
Akram's brother Shadi Rikhawi also started a hunger strike on 24 January 
2013. By 27 January 2013 Akram's blood sugar levels had already 
decreased. Akram is currently taking water and sugar, while his brother 
Shadi is taking water only. Akram believes that the Israeli authorities 
do not respect the lives of Palestinian detainees, since they did not 
release him on the agreed date. Akram's demands are clear, freedom or 
martyrdom.
Addameer lawyer Fares Ziad also visited Jafar Azzidine 
<http://www.addameer.org/etemplate.php?id=569> and Tarek Qa'adan who are 
on their 64^th day of hunger strike and confirmed that both were 
transferred to Assaf Harofeh hospital on 24 January after their health 
deteriorated so badly that either could suffer a stroke at any time. 
Prior to being admitted to hospital both were taking only water and 
salt. Upon being admitted to hospital both Jafar and Tarek began taking 
glucose after which they both felt a slight improvement but both insist 
on continuing with their hunger strikes.
Both Jafar and Tarek still suffer health problems from their pervious 
hunger strikes, which have been exasperated by their current strikes. 
Both feel pain all over their bodies; suffer from kidney problems; 
constant headaches; general fatigue; and constant dizziness.
Ziad also visited Samer al-Issawi in Ramleh prison medical center and 
reported that Samer's health continues to deteriorate. His weight has 
dropped to 48 kilograms and he needs the use of a wheelchair. On 17 
January Samer stopped taking vitamins and sugar, while on 22 January he 
stopped drinking water. That same day Samer's temperature rose to 41 
degrees and he was transferred to Assaf Harofeh but refused treatment 
before being returned to Ramleh prison clinic. He was again transferred 
to hospital on 26 January after his heart beats became irregular. He had 
some x-rays taken but refused any other medical tests or treatments, 
before being transferred back to Ramleh prison medical center.
Samer was then examined by a Red Cross doctor on 27 January 2013 who 
explained that his life was at risk and suggested that he at least begin 
drinking water again. Following the doctor's advice Samer started 
drinking water. Samer continues to suffer from various health conditions 
including low heart rate; heart pain; sever kidney pain; chest pain; 
muscle pain; severe headaches; and pain in his left eye.
Yousef Yassin has stopped his hunger strike after suffering from kidney 
problems and has been transferred to Megiddo prison.
Addameer finds that the continued hunger strikes illustrate the 
essential need for Egyptian intervention, especially in their capacity 
as the sponsors of the 18 October 2012 prisoner exchange and 14 May 2012 
agreement that ended the mass hunger strikes. They must work in their 
capacity to enforce these agreements and put pressure on the Occupying 
power to respect its obligations and quickly release all the 
ex-prisoners that were arbitrarily re-arrested, restrict its use of 
administrative detention and immediately release the ill prisoners that 
have been languishing for years in the Ramleh prison clinic and are 
dying slow deaths.
The reasons the Israeli Prison Service continue to ignore the demands of 
the prisoners on hunger strikes are three fold: first, the colonialist, 
racist nature of the Israeli state, the disregard for the basic right to 
life for Palestinians and the disregard of international law. Second, 
the lack of international pressure on the state of Israel that allows it 
to continue its practices and finally, the deterioration of people's 
awareness of the prisoners issue and the support for their demands.
*ACT NOW!*
*Write to the Israeli government, military and legal authorities and 
demand the release of the prisoners on hunger strike.

    *


      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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