Palestinian Prisoner on Hunger Strike ‘Nears Death’ in Israel, Doctors Say

Clashes in Hebron on Friday during Palestinian solidarity marches with prisoners on hunger strike in Israel (EPA)
Clashes in Hebron on Friday during Palestinian solidarity marches with prisoners on hunger strike in Israel (EPA)
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Palestinian Prisoner on Hunger Strike ‘Nears Death’ in Israel, Doctors Say

Clashes in Hebron on Friday during Palestinian solidarity marches with prisoners on hunger strike in Israel (EPA)
Clashes in Hebron on Friday during Palestinian solidarity marches with prisoners on hunger strike in Israel (EPA)

Palestinian administrative detainee Kayed Fasfous is nearing sudden death after 122 days of hunger strike, the Palestinian Commission on Detainees' Affairs reported.

The Commission said that Fasfous remains detained at Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon. He is suffering from an intermittent loss of consciousness, irregular heartbeats, tingling in the chest, a decrease in blood pressure, kidney and heart problems, a shortage of fluids in his body, and recurring pains and aches through his body.

Fasfous’s brother, Hasan, said that doctors at Barzilai told him that his brother has been developing symptoms suggesting a clot in his blood, which is an early warning of the risk of sudden death.

Other prisoners on a hunger strike to protest Israel’s illegal administrative detention policy are Alaa Al-Araj (98 days), Hisham Abu Hawash (89 days), Louay Al-Ashqar (34 days), and Ayyad Al-Harimi (52 days).

The administrative law is based on the British Emergency Law of 1945, which Israel used to arrest Palestinians and imprison them without trial for various periods that are automatically renewed.

The administrative imprisonment relies on a case that the Israeli security services claim is confidential.

There are about 540 administrative detainees in Israeli prisons out of 5,000 prisoners. The number of administrative detention rulings since 1967 is estimated at more than 54,000, between new decisions and renewals of administrative detention.

Israel rejected a petition submitted Thursday by the Commission to the Israeli high court, demanding the immediate release of Fasfous and the annulment of his administrative detention order.

Further, the Palestinian prisoner Araj was “deceived”, and his administrative detention was extended for eight days.



African Peace and Security Council Proposes Sudan Roadmap

 Plumes of smoke rise during clashes between the Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum, Sudan, September 26, 2024. (Reuters)
Plumes of smoke rise during clashes between the Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum, Sudan, September 26, 2024. (Reuters)
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African Peace and Security Council Proposes Sudan Roadmap

 Plumes of smoke rise during clashes between the Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum, Sudan, September 26, 2024. (Reuters)
Plumes of smoke rise during clashes between the Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum, Sudan, September 26, 2024. (Reuters)

The African Union’s Peace and Security Council has proposed a roadmap to resolve the war in Sudan.

A delegation from the council is visiting the interim Sudanese capital, Port Sudan, for the first time since the eruption of the war in the country in April 2023.

The delegation informed Sudanese officials that the African Union is seeking a ceasefire in line with a roadmap proposed by its Peace and Security Council. The details of the roadmap were not disclosed.

Sudanese officials, for their part, briefed the delegation on the conflict.

Meanwhile, US Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello told Asharq Al-Awsat that contacts are ongoing with the African Union over a mechanism to monitor the implementation of current and future agreements.

It is best to remain prepared, he added. The international community must assess the options to support the implementation of the cessation of hostilities.

Moreover, he noted that elements that support the ousted regime of President Omar al-Bashir are within the army and opposed to the democratic civilian rule in the country.

He accused them of seeking to prolong the war and returning to rule against the will of the people.

The envoy also said the conflict cannot be resolved through a military solution.

Over the months, the army has wasted opportunities to end the war through negotiations that could restore peace and civilian rule, he noted.

The latest escalation between the army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) will cost countless lives among civilians, warned Perriello.