The European Union is closely following the rapidly deteriorating health condition of Palestinian Maher al-Akhras as he continues the hunger strike since July to protest his administrative detention without formal charges in Israel, said Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
Regardless of the allegations against Akhras, 49, the EU reiterates its long-standing concerns about the extensive use by Israel of administrative detention without formal charges, Peter Stano stressed.
“Around 350 Palestinians are currently being held in administrative detention,” he added, noting that detainees have the right to be informed about the charges underlying any detention and be subject to a fair trial.
The EU calls on Israel to fully respect international humanitarian law as well as its human rights obligations towards all prisoners, also in light of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and to do all it can to preserve the health of Akhras in the continued handling of this case, Stano said.
Akhras continues his hunger strike for the 97th day in a row.
The administrative detention was first applied during the British Mandate and is implemented by Israel today against many Palestinians. Its intelligence services may detain any person for any period without trial on “confidential” charges.
Israel’s Shin Bet security agency said Akhras was arrested on July 27 based on information that he is active in the “Islamic Jihad” militant group and was involved in “activities that endanger public safety.” He was then moved to Hawara Camp where he began a hunger strike.
On Oct.25, an Israeli court refused a Palestinian request to transfer him to one of its hospitals to be treated.
He suffers from severe body aches, speaking and hearing difficulties, loss of consciousness, difficulty in movement, as well as shortness of breath, a symptom that has worsened recently.
