UN urges Palestinians to free hunger-striking Hamas member
Palestinian security spokesman says detention of Islam Hamed, who shot at Israelis, aims to protect him from arrest by Israel
The office of the UN human rights chief says it is “seriously concerned” about a 30-year-old Palestinian who has observed a hunger strike for close to 100 days to win his release from Palestinian detention.
Relatives say Islam Hamed, a Hamas member, remains jailed despite completing a three-year sentence by a Palestinian court for shooting at Israelis.
Hamed’s mother, Nadia, said Wednesday that her son is “is very tired.”
Palestinian security forces spokesman Adnan Damiri said Hamed remains in custody to protect him from arrest by Israel. He said Hamed receives nutritional supplements.
The UN high commissioner for human rights urged for Hamed’s release.
Earlier this week, another Palestinian was released by Israel from detention without trial after almost two months on a hunger strike.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.