Former long-term hunger striker Sami Janazrah launches new strike against imprisonment without charge

Sami Janazrah, the former long-term hunger striker, has launched a new hunger strike after his administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial, was renewed once more for an additional four months. Janazrah, 45, from al-Fuwwar refugee camp near al-Khalil, went on hunger strike for 70 days in 2016 to win his release when previously imprisoned without charge or trial under administrative detention.

He was seized again by occupation forces on 7 December 2017 and ordered once again imprisoned without charge or trial; his strike was sparked on 26 March when his detention was renewed for an additional four months.

Kayed Janazrah, Sami’s brother urged action for the Palestinian prisoners, especially in support of the struggle to end administrative detention, a matter of deep concern to all Palestinians. Janazrah was previously imprisoned for over 10 years over multiple previous arrests by occupation forces.

Janazrah is not alone on hunger strike; Musaab al-Hindi, 28, from Nablus, has been on hunger strike for 22 days against the renewal of his administrative detention. He has already been jailed without charge or trial for over one year.  Transferred into isolation after he launched his strike, he was again transferred on 31 March from the Negev desert prison to Ashkelon prison.

Bashir Abdullah al-Khatib, 56, from Ramleh, is held in Nafha prison and has been on hunger strike for 19 days to demand proper medical care. He suffers from dental problems and needs special nutrition and care which is being denied him.

Adel Hassan Shehadeh, from Nablus, is on hunger strike for 19 days against his ongoing interrogation and torture at Jalameh detention center. He has been denied access to his lawyer since he was seized by occupation forces on 7 March. Also on hunger strike is Omar Kiswani, refusing food for 12 days against his ongoing interrogation at Moskobiyeh detention center for 18 hours a day. The President of Bir Zeit University’s student council, he is demanding his release.