From the Liveblog of
Monday, February 22, 2016
Palestinian said to be longest-fasting hunger striker since 1981
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleAn advocacy group says Palestinian detainee Mohammed al-Qiq has entered uncharted medical territory with a hunger strike of 89 days — longer than fasts by other Palestinians or by Irish prisoners in 1981.
Amani Dayif of Physicians for Human Rights-Israel says al-Qiq’s condition is rapidly deteriorating. She says no one else “has survived this much” time.
The case of al-Qiq, a Hamas activist, highlights Israel’s controversial practice of holding Palestinians without charge or trial, usually people suspected of terror activities.
Al-Qiq launched his hunger strike November 25 to win release from such detention.
His fate has been discussed in recent top-level meetings, including on Sunday by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and US Secretary of State John Kerry.
— Agencies
The Times of Israel Community.