Journalists in Gaza come out in support of Al-Qeeq

Demonstration in Gaza in support of Muhammad Al-Qeeq who is being held under administrative detention [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

Demonstration in Gaza in support of Muhammad Al-Qeeq who is being held under administrative detention [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

Demonstration in Gaza in support of Muhammad Al-Qeeq who is being held under administrative detention [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

Demonstration in Gaza in support of Muhammad Al-Qeeq who is being held under administrative detention [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

Demonstration in Gaza in support of Muhammad Al-Qeeq who is being held under administrative detention [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

Demonstration in Gaza in support of Muhammad Al-Qeeq who is being held under administrative detention [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

Palestinian journalists in Gaza staged a protest in front of the Red Cross office in Gaza in solidarity with their colleague Muhammad Al-Qeeq who has been on hunger strike for 17 consecutive days inside an Israeli jail.

Al-Qeeq began his hunger strike in protest against being held on administrative detention, without charge or trial. He was rearrested earlier this month after being released in May last year.

Head of the Palestinian Journalist Club Imad Al-Efranji said: “We are currently protesting in solidarity with our colleague Al-Qeeq and the other 27 Palestinian journalists who are suffering inside Israeli jails. We are going out for the sake of you and for the sake of the free word.”

Read: Al-Qeq held in ‘grave-like’ prison cell, lawyer says

“We will continue holding our pens and cameras to document the crimes of the Israeli occupation and this is our sole weapon.”

Meanwhile, the Director of Waed Association for Prisoners and Freed Prisoners Abdullah Qandeel said: “Al-Qeeq has been on hunger strike in order highlight his suffering to the world and the suffering of all the Palestinian prisoners, including Nael Al-Barghouti, who has been held in Israeli jails for 37 years.”

Both Al-Efranji and Qandeel called for the international bodies, including the Journalist Syndicates and UN organisations to stand with Al-Qeeq and put pressure on the Israeli occupation to release him and other journalists.

Read: Al-Qeq starts new hunger strike in Israeli jail

Israel arrested Al-Qeeq on 21 November 2015 from his home and put him under administrative detention for six months. He immediately went on hunger strike for 94 consecutive days. During this time Israel committed to releasing him at the end of the six-month term.