Israel brings in Hamas prisoners to ask al-Qiq to end fast
Senior members of terror group taken under heavy guard to hospital bedside of hunger-striking Palestinian journalist
The Israel Prisons Service tried a new approach Monday to persuade hunger-striking Palestinian journalist Mohammed al-Qiq to end his fast — bringing in two high-ranking Hamas prisoners to make the case, the Walla news website reported, quoting Palestinian sources.
Jamal Abu al-Hija and Muhammad Shariach were taken under heavy guard to the Emek Medical Center in the northern city of Afula, where al-Qiq is into his 90th day of refusing food. The two apparently asked him to end his hunger strike.
Jamal Abu al-Hija was arrested in 2002 and sentenced to nine life sentences for involvement in at least six bombings — including the Meron Junction attack that killed nine Israelis in 2002, and the Jerusalem Sbarro pizzeria bombing that killed 15 in 2001.
The 33-year-old al-Qiq was arrested and held by Israel without charge on November 21, 2015, under administrative detention. He has refused food since November 25.
Qiq, whose condition has been rapidly deteriorating, rejected an Israeli offer earlier this month to transfer him to East Jerusalem’s al-Maqased Hospital, saying he would only end his fast if he is sent to a medical facility in the West Bank, under Palestinian Authority jurisdiction.
The United Nations has expressed concern about his fate, with the International Committee of the Red Cross describing his condition as critical.
The Shin Bet security service says Qiq was detained under the controversial administrative detention directive for activity on behalf of the Palestinian terror group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip. He denies this.
Hundreds of protesters last week gathered outside the Emek Medical Center to demand Qiq’s immediate release from Israeli custody.
