Palestinian, Israeli Rights Groups Fear for Life of Palestinian Hunger Striker

Demonstrators take part in a protest to show solidarity with Maher Al-Akhras, who has been on hunger strike, protesting his detention without trial, in Gaza City October 13, 2020. (Reuters)
Demonstrators take part in a protest to show solidarity with Maher Al-Akhras, who has been on hunger strike, protesting his detention without trial, in Gaza City October 13, 2020. (Reuters)
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Palestinian, Israeli Rights Groups Fear for Life of Palestinian Hunger Striker

Demonstrators take part in a protest to show solidarity with Maher Al-Akhras, who has been on hunger strike, protesting his detention without trial, in Gaza City October 13, 2020. (Reuters)
Demonstrators take part in a protest to show solidarity with Maher Al-Akhras, who has been on hunger strike, protesting his detention without trial, in Gaza City October 13, 2020. (Reuters)

Palestinian and Israeli human rights groups voiced concern on Tuesday over the condition of a Palestinian who began a hunger strike 79 days ago against his detention without charge by Israel.

Maher Al-Akhras, 49, is now in an Israeli hospital suffering from heart pain and convulsions and has slipped occasionally into a coma, his wife said.

A resident of the city of Jenin in the north of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Akhras was taken into custody in July under an Israeli “administrative detention” order.

Israel’s Shin Bet internal security agency said Akhras was detained after it received information that he was an operative of the “Islamic Jihad” militant group, an allegation his wife denied.

He was moved three weeks ago to Kaplan hospital in the Israeli city of Rehovot, where he has been drinking water but refusing solid food, according to his family.

At the hospital, Akhras’s wife Taghreed told Reuters that he would continue the hunger strike for his immediate release despite a decision on Monday by Israel’s Supreme Court not to extend his four-month detention term beyond Nov. 26.

“The responsibility for what happens next lies with those who can prevent his further deterioration and even death,” the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem, which is monitoring the case, said in statement. “They can still stop this from happening.”

Ahkras’s wife said her husband, too weak to leave his bed, was not handcuffed in the hospital, and there were no guards visible near his room.

The Gaza-based Palestinian Center for Human Rights called on international rights groups to intervene immediately to “save the life of Akhras before it is too late.”

There are around 5,000 Palestinians in Israeli jails, 350 of them under administrative detention, Palestinian officials said. Israeli officials say detention without trial is sometimes necessary to protect the identities of undercover operatives.

In Gaza, activists linked to “Islamic Jihad” said they had resumed launching incendiary balloons into Israel. A poster with Akhras’s picture and the words “our patience is running out” were attached.



Israeli Army Prepares ‘Final Escalation’ in Gaza

Smoke rises after an Israeli strike on a school run by UNRWA in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on Friday (AFP)
Smoke rises after an Israeli strike on a school run by UNRWA in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on Friday (AFP)
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Israeli Army Prepares ‘Final Escalation’ in Gaza

Smoke rises after an Israeli strike on a school run by UNRWA in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on Friday (AFP)
Smoke rises after an Israeli strike on a school run by UNRWA in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on Friday (AFP)

As US President Donald Trump advances a plan to end the war in Gaza as part of a broader Middle East strategy, Israeli polls show that 61% of Israelis support halting the fighting in exchange for the release of hostages held by Hamas.

Despite this, military sources in Tel Aviv revealed that the Israeli army, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s approval, is preparing a large-scale campaign dubbed the “Final Escalation.”

The goal is to inflict maximum damage on Hamas’s remaining capabilities and prevent the group from claiming victory.

According to Yedioth Ahronoth, the army will redeploy the Fifth Division, which was previously withdrawn to confront Iran. Asked whether this escalation could complicate negotiations and harden Hamas’s stance, officials said such decisions rest with the political leadership.

Meanwhile, Hebrew media outlets reported that Trump is pressing ahead with what has been called a “grand bargain,” involving ending the war, securing hostage releases, and expanding normalization agreements with Arab states. Reports indicate Netanyahu is planning a visit to the US to meet Trump, following intense talks between Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Trump envoy Steve Witkoff.

In a video statement, Netanyahu said: “Victory opens the chance to significantly expand peace agreements alongside the release of our hostages. This opportunity must not be missed.”

Israeli Channel 13 quoted officials describing “dramatic moves” underway in the region. American sources told Yedioth Ahronoth that efforts to reach a breakthrough in the hostage talks have gained momentum since the attack on Iran. Israeli officials said Netanyahu wants any agreement finalized at the highest levels, rather than sending delegations to Cairo or Doha.

The emerging proposal reportedly includes ending the war, returning 50 Israeli hostages, and broadening the Abraham Accords. According to Channel 12, families of the hostages have received messages from senior US officials that a comprehensive agreement is being pursued to end the conflict.

Israel Hayom reported that a four-way call took place after the US strike on Iranian facilities, involving Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Netanyahu, and Dermer. Sources described them as “extremely euphoric,” eager to advance further steps.

Although Netanyahu’s office declined to comment, his ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir warned against any negotiations on a Palestinian state, prompting Netanyahu to issue a statement denying any such discussions or the reported call.