3 Hunger Strikers in ‘Rapid Deterioration’

Three Palestinian prisoners on long-term hunger strikes are in immediate danger following rapid deterioration in their conditions, prisoner rights group Addameer said Wednesday.

Addameer lawyer Fares Ziad visited the Ramle prison clinic on Tuesday but was unable to meet with Samer al-Barq, who is permanently confined to bed as he unable to walk. Al-Barq is on his 114th day of a renewed hunger strike, following a previous month-long strike that ended in May.

The lawyer met with Hassan Safadi, who has not eaten for 84 days and was previously on hunger strike for 71 days. Safadi was unable to drink water at all on Monday as consuming water now causes swelling in his hands and feet.

"Other health conditions that Hassan is suffering from include: low immunity; contractions of the heart muscles; liver problems; kidney stones; chronic pain in his kidneys; low pulse; low blood pressure; chronic pain in his joints," Addameer said in a statement.

Safadi, who is being imprisoned without charge or trial, was briefly hospitalized Monday. The same day, Israel confirmed his administrative detention order.

Addameer’s lawyer also visited Ayman Sharawna, who has refused food for 74 days. Sharawna has been vomiting blood as well as the water he drinks for the last 10 days.

"He has lost approximately 80 percent of the vision in his right eye and has lost all feeling in his left leg. He has been informed that his kidneys are not functioning properly and he also has extreme pain in his back, which sometimes prevents him from standing up," the rights group said.

Israel prison authorities have tried to pressure Sharawna by refusing to give him pain medication unless he ends the strike, and prison doctors would not examine his leg because they said examination needed approval by the Israeli Prison Service, Addameer said.

None of the three prisoners have been granted trials, and Israel has not filed charges against any of them. Around 250 Palestinians, including MPs, are held in administrative detention in Israeli jails.

Sharawna was rearrested after his release in October in a prisoner swap deal between Israel and Hamas for the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

(Ma’an)

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