Wife of Palestinian hunger striker warns of deterioration of his health

Wife of Palestinian journalist Mohamed Al-Qeeq, who has been on hunger strike in an Israeli jail for 42 days, warned on Monday of the severe deterioration of his health, Anadolu reported.

Fayhaa Shalash said that her husband is now in Israel’s Afoulah Hospital and that he has “blood in his urine, severe stomach aches, bouts of fainting and his sight is deteriorating.”

She added that the hospital is helping in the “execution” of her husband as it updates the Israeli army about his conditions to help them run a “psychological war” against him.

“Doctors in the hospitals offer treatment for my husband while he’s handcuffed and his legs are chained and help the Israeli officers to practice a psychological war against him,” she said.

She called on the human rights and media organisations to immediately support her husband, adding that her husband had sent a message through his lawyer that he would “either to be freed or die” in prison.

“He said that my message as a journalist is to impart the truth. My people are under occupation and I have to impart the truth about the tyranny of this oppressive and criminal occupation.”

Israeli occupation forces arrested Al-Qeeq, who is a correspondent for a Saudi TV channel, in November from his home in Ramallah. He went on hunger strike four days after his arrest. He is being held on administrative detention for six months.