PA Says Israel Trying to Kill Hunger-striking Palestinian Prisoner

Israeli forces detain a Palestinian following a protest in support of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike [File: Ammar Awad/Reuters]
Israeli forces detain a Palestinian following a protest in support of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike [File: Ammar Awad/Reuters]
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PA Says Israel Trying to Kill Hunger-striking Palestinian Prisoner

Israeli forces detain a Palestinian following a protest in support of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike [File: Ammar Awad/Reuters]
Israeli forces detain a Palestinian following a protest in support of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike [File: Ammar Awad/Reuters]

The Palestinian Commission of Detainees Affairs accused Israel of seeking to end the life of Kayed Fasfous, who has been on a hunger strike for 108 days.

The Commission said reactivating the administrative detention means "an execution attempt of a slow death sentence."

Seven prisoners in the Israeli Occupation prisons continue their hunger strike in protest of their administrative detention, including Fasfous, Miqdad Al-Qawasmeh (101 days), Alaa Al-Araj (83 days), Hisham Abu Hawwash (74 days), Shadi Abu Akar (67 days), Ayyad Al-Harimi (38 days), and Louay Al-Ashqar (20 days ago).

Also, prisoner Rateb Hrebat has been on a hunger strike for 22 days in solidarity with the seven prisoners.

The Commission warned that Fasfous's health was deteriorating.

"At any moment, he could be transferred to the Ramleh prison clinic, despite his deteriorating health."

Regarding Qawasmeh, the commission stressed that his condition is also worrying, as he suffers from blood poisoning, and problems in his heart, lungs, kidneys, and liver, which affect his ability to move, speak and see.

The rest of the prisoners are in the Ramleh prison clinic.

The Commission highlighted that the “possibility for the prisoners to become martyrs increases every moment with the oppressive measures of the Israeli Occupation against them.”

There are around 450 detainees in the administrative detention out of 4,700 prisoners. Since 1967, the cases of administrative detention exceeded 54,000.

The head of the Commission Qadri Abu Baker commenced a two-week visit to meet with international parties such as Egypt, France, and Belgium.

Abu Bader would discuss the prisoners’ cause and the administrative detention in addition to putting an end to the prisoners’ agony.



Militants Killed and Wounded in Eastern Syria, Media and War Monitor Say

The Observatory said the strikes targeted headquarters and warehouses in the city of Deir Ezzor and surrounding towns. (AFP via Getty Images file)
The Observatory said the strikes targeted headquarters and warehouses in the city of Deir Ezzor and surrounding towns. (AFP via Getty Images file)
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Militants Killed and Wounded in Eastern Syria, Media and War Monitor Say

The Observatory said the strikes targeted headquarters and warehouses in the city of Deir Ezzor and surrounding towns. (AFP via Getty Images file)
The Observatory said the strikes targeted headquarters and warehouses in the city of Deir Ezzor and surrounding towns. (AFP via Getty Images file)

A number of militants were killed and wounded in eastern Syria early Sunday near a strategic border crossing with Iraq in apparent airstrikes, pro-government media and an opposition war monitor reported.

Pan-Arab television network Al-Mayadeen cited unnamed sources saying that at least eight Syrians were killed in the strike by the Bou Kamal crossing in Israeli airstrikes.

It was unclear how they confirmed Israeli jets were behind the strikes.

Meanwhile, Britain-based opposition war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said five airstrikes killed at least 15 militants, among them leaders, and wounded at least 20 others. The Observatory said the strikes targeted headquarters and warehouses in the city of Deir Ezzor and surrounding towns.

Pro-government radio station Sham FM said that prior to the blasts heard in Deir Ezzor, explosions were heard at a US military base in northeastern Syria following rocket and drone attacks.

None of the reports could be independently verified.

The US military’s Central Command, which has launched airstrikes on Iranian military personnel and Tehran-backed militant groups in Syria’s eastern Deir Ezzor province, didn’t immediately return a request for comment.

The Israeli military doesn’t usually acknowledge its strike on Syria. However, when it does so, it says it targets Iran-backed militants.