Israel: Palestinian prisoner enters 122nd day of hunger strike 

Palestinian prisoner Hisham Abu Hawash is now on the 122nd day of his hunger strike protest at being held in so-called administrative detention under which he is being held indefinitely with neither charge nor trial.

Abu Hawash, 40, is from Dura, south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank. He is currently being held in solitary in a locked room inside the Ramla Prison clinic, according to the Commission of Detainees’ Affairs.

In addition to losing a considerable amount of weight, Abu Hawash has been having difficulty speaking and communicating. He is also suffering from severe pain throughout his body, especially his lower limbs, and is unable to stand on his feet without support.

The commission said that the occupation courts continue to refuse to respond to the hunger striker’s demands. It expressed concern for his health and said that it holds the occupation authorities fully responsible, especially as he could die at any moment.

READ: Palestinian hunger striker remains defiant in face of Israeli detention

Abu Hawash was arrested on 27 October last year and has had three administrative detention orders issued against him, each for a period of six months. The latest order was reduced from six to four months, subject to extension.

Commission officials said that the refusal of the occupation authorities to release Abu Hawash is tantamount to a slow execution. Once again, they called on international human rights institutions to break their silence and put pressure on Israel to release him.

Hisham Abu Hawash is married and the father of five children. He has been arrested several times since 2003. In total, he has been held in prison for eight years, including 52 months held under administrative detention.

Israel currently holds 4,650 Palestinian prisoners, including 34 women, 160 children and 500 administrative detainees.