Amnesty urges Israel to charge or release hunger striker

Amnesty International has urged Israel to either charge the Palestinian hunger striker Bilal Kayed, who they placed under administrative detention on the day he was due to be released after serving a 14 and a half year sentence in prison, or to release him.

“The Israeli authorities must charge or release Bilal Kayed, who they placed under administrative detention on the day he was due to be released after serving a 14-and-a-half-year sentence in prison,” a statement from the organisation said.

It added: “Kayed went on hunger strike on 15 June 2016 in protest at his detention without charge or trial, and since then has taken only water and some minerals; he is now in poor health.”

Kayed, who has been on hunger strike for over 65 days, was admitted to Israel’s Barzilai Hospital after his health deteriorated.

He refuses medical examinations and care and only has water, along with salts, sugar and vitamin B1, a Palestinian rights group said.

Physicians for Human Rights, an international US-based NGO with a branch in Israel, says his vision is failing, he has difficulty standing and that doctors have warned he could be at risk of a stroke.

Despite his deteriorating health, Kayed is still handcuffed to his bed in the hospital and guarded by Israeli soldiers.