Israel re-arrests former hunger striker

Israeli occupation forces have re-arrested the former hunger striker Thaer Halahla from his house in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Halahla was one of five Palestinians arrested during overnight raids on their homes across the occupied West Bank. His father said that he was shocked by the attack on his home and the re-arrest of his son.

“About 150 Israeli soldiers blew down the doors of several houses with explosives,” said Abu Thaer. He accused the Israelis of beating his son “savagely” in front of his wife and children. Local sources said that Halahla’s wife was admitted to hospital after breaking down at the sight of her husband being beaten so badly by the Israelis. Their house was searched and ransacked before the soldiers took away mobile telephones and computers.

Mr Halahla spent seven years in Israeli jails and went on hunger strike for 78 days before he was released. In total, he has been arrested eight times by Israel under so-called administrative detention, which allows for Palestinians to be held without charge or trial.