Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses.

 

Khader Adnan on Hunger Strike in Protest to Illegal Israeli Administrative Detention, Carter Center Calls for his Release

The Carter Center Calls on Israel to Release Hunger Striker Khader Adnan

Atlanta…The Carter Center calls on the Israeli government to immediately charge or release Palestinian prisoner Khader Adnan, who was arrested on Dec. 17, 2011, based on “secret evidence” and has been held in administrative detention without charge.

Mr. Adnan has undertaken a hunger strike since his arrest 62 days ago and his life is in imminent danger. His grave medical condition has been verified by Physicians for Human Rights-Israel.

Mr. Adnan’s case highlights the inconsistencies of Israel’s administrative detention policies with internationally recognized rights to due process.

As of Jan. 15, 2012, Israel is holding 307 Palestinians in administrative detention. Read the Carter Center’s recent statement on the administrative detention of elected Palestinian legislators here.

Contact: In Atlanta, Deborah Hakes +1 404-420-5124

Court To Look Into Adnan’s Appeal Tuesday

Tuesday February 21, 2012 01:09 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Lawyer of detainee, Khader Adnan, who has been on hunger strike since 65 days, stated that the Israeli Supreme Court decided to hold a session to look into Adnan’s case on Tuesday. The court also decided that Adnan does have to attend the session due to his bad health condition.

The court will be deliberating an appeal filed by his lawyer, on Tuesday at 2 in the afternoon. It will be deciding whether to keep him under administrative detention, without any charges, or to make a decision into his case, including the option of releasing him.

Qaddoura Fares, head of the Palestinian Prisoner Society, stated that if Israel was interested in any good-will intensions it must release Adnan immediately.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Minister of Detainees, Issa Qaraqe’, met Jordan’s Ambassador in Ramallah and handed him a letter to King Abdullah asking him to personally intervene for the release of Adnan.

Qaraqe’ stated that several officials and groups contacted different Arab and foreign countries asking them to intervene for the release Adnan, and added that he personally believe that the issue will be resolve during the court session on Tuesday.

The Israeli occupation government spokesperson, Mark Regev, was asked by CNN about why Adnan, who is on the verge of death, has not faced charges yet, Regev stated that “When his case was brought before a judge, who saw all the evidence, that judge clearly stated in his ruling that this man poses an immediate danger, and a real threat to the public”.

On Monday evening, dozens of Journalists lit 66 candles representing the days of Adnan’s ongoing hunger strike, at the Yasser Arafat Square in the central West Bank city of Ramallah.

Arab Member of Knesset, Dr. Ahmad Tibi, stated the he is extremely concerned about the life of Adnan who is currently at an Israeli hospital in Safad, and insists to continue his hunger strike despite his bad health condition.

PCHR Calls upon the International Community to Save the Life of the Detainee Khader Adnan

Sunday February 19, 2012 23:37 by Palestinian Center For Human Rights -

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) is concerned for the life of Khader Adnan, a detainee in Israeli jails, who has been on hunger strike for more than two months. PCHR calls upon the international community to pressurize Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) to release Adnan, who has been placed under administrative detention without trial.


Khader Adnan has been on a hunger strike since 18 December 2011, one day after his arrest by IOF, in protest to the inhuman detention conditions under which he is held. Adnan had been placed under administrative detention more than once in the past. Since he started the hunger strike, the Israeli Prison Service refused his demands and rejected his release.

He appeared before Israeli courts more than once, and the order of administrative detention issued against him was upheld. On 13 February 2012, the Israeli military court rejected an appeal filed by the Palestinian Prisoner Club Society, upholding the order of administrative detention.

Adnan is currently receiving medical treatment at Rebecca Seiff Hospital in Safed in the north of Israel. According to a physician from the Israeli Physicians for Human Rights, as of 15 February 2012, Adnan’s life is endangered because of his continued hunger strike, which has caused erosion of his muscles, including the muscles of heart and stomach.

The internal medicine physician, who checked him five times last week, stressed that Adnan’s body started to release poisons, which in light of the severe weakness of his immunity system makes more likely that he may be subjected to a sudden heart attack. The same physician noted that abstention from having food for more than 70 days inevitably leads to death.

Khader Adnan Mohammed Mousa, 33, from ‘Arraba village near Jenin, who is married and a father of two children, was arrested by IOF on 17 December 2011. The following day, he declared an open hunger strike. On 31 December 2011, he was transferred from al-Jalama interrogation center to al-Ramla Prison. An order was issued placing him under administrative detention for 4 months on 08 January 2012.

A month later, on 06 February 2012, an Israeli judge approved the administrative detention order issued by the military commander, claiming that confidential information indicated that Khader Adnan is extremely dangerous. Ultimately, on 13 February 2012, the appeal judge of Oufar Military Court refused to order Adnan’s release and upheld the administrative detention order.

During this period, Adnan and his attorney have not been informed of the charges directed against him. The Israeli prosecution provided the court with the charges against Adnan under the item of confidential information, which constitutes evidence of the arbitrariness of the administrative detention policy practiced by IOF against Palestinian detainees.

Adnan’s case highlights the conditions of more than 300 Palestinians who are currently placed under administrative detention in Israeli prisons and detention facilities, including the Speaker and 19 Members of the Palestinian Legislative Council.

These actions are in violation of the right of a detainee to fair trial, including the right to receive appropriate defense and to be informed of charges against him. Administrative detention is applied by an administrative order only without referring to a court, thus violating the standards of impartial judicial procedures, including fair trial.

PCHR is concerned for the life of Khader Adnan, who has been detained in Israeli jails, and:

1. Calls upon the international community to pressurize IOF to release him to avoid risking his life;
2. Reiterates its call for the international community to stop systematic serious abuses against Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons and detention facilities;
3. Emphasizes that administrative detention is illegal and falls under the category of political arrests, constituting a violation of the detainee’s right to a fair trial, including his right to receive an adequate defense and to be informed of the charges against him.

Adnan Still On Hunger-Strike At Galilee Hospital

Saturday February 18, 2012 00:17 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Sahar Francis Lawyer of the Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, Ad-Dameer, visited on Friday, detainee Khader Adnan who has been on hunger strike since more than 62 days and is currently at an Israeli hospital in Safad, in the Galilee.

The visit lasted for two hours, 10 – 12, and Adnan told Francis that he is determined to continue his hunger strike despite his bad and gradually deteriorating health condition, and added that “his battle his battle is not personal, but a Palestinian struggle against the illegal Administrative Detention, that confines hundreds of detainees behind bars without charges, in direct violation of International Law and the Fourth Geneva Conventions”.

Despite the sharp deterioration in his health condition, and the increasing possibilities that he might even become blind or suffer a heart attack, as stated by a report by the Physicians for Human Rights, Adnan is only drinking some water, and IV liquids are provided by the doctors.

Lawyer Francis said that the Israeli Prison Administration agreed, only two days ago, to allow Adnan to bathe, cut his hairs and nails, for the first time since he was kidnapped and taken prisoner in December 2011.

She added that Adnan still enjoys high confidence, and solid determination, despite his bad health condition, and is determined to continue his strike.

The Ad-Dameer Association warned that Adnan is at risk of death, adding that “According to a doctor from Physicians for Human Rights-Israel who was able to visit Khader last night, 14 February, for his fifth medical examination since his arrest, Khader is under a very direct threat of death. All of his muscles, including his heart and his stomach, are under threat of disintegrating and his immune system could cease to function at any moment. Khader’s body is at high risk of sudden heart attack or total organ failure, which would cause imminent death”.