Palestinian hunger striker Ahmad Abu Fara, 29, is facing a critical health situation after 47 days of hunger strike. Held shackled to his hospital bed in Assaf Harofeh hospital, he has developed a problem pumping blood from his heart. Abu Fara is on hunger strike alongside Anas Shadid, 19. Both have refused food since 25 September in protest of their administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial, and are demanding their immediate release.
Mohja Al-Quds reported that his condition is very dangerous and that he suffers from severe pain in his chest and abdomen. He has blurred vision and difficulty speaking. He continues to refuse medical tests and supplements despite increased pressure on him to end his strike. Also on 9 November, the Israeli military appeals court postponed a decision on Abu Fara’s appeal against his administrative detention, requiring a comprehensive medical report to be submitted by 14 November.
Shadid is also suffering intense pain; he has had major migraine headaches as a result of the hunger strike as well as persistent dizziness and weakness. He has severely blurred vision and can speak now only with great difficulty. Shadid also also held shackled hand and foot to his hospital bed in Assaf Harofeh hospital.
Abu Fara and Shadid have been imprisoned without charge or trial since the beginning of August. Abu Fara hails from the village of Surif near al-Khalil, while Shadid comes from Dura village.
Meanwhile, former hunger striker and administrative detainee Fouad Assi was released on 9 November after 14 months in Israeli prison without charge or trial. He engaged in a hunger strike for 54 days which ended in the agreement for his release yesterday. Upon his release, Assi, 30, told Asra Voice that Palestinian sick prisoners face very difficult conditions due to medical neglect, urging united Palestinian action for their release.
Abu Fara and Shadid are among 700 Palestinians imprisoned without charge or trial under administrative detention. Administrative detention orders are issued for one to six month periods on the basis of “secret evidence” and are indefinitely renewable. Some Palestinians have spent years at a time imprisoned under administrative detention. From just 1 November to 9 November, 50 administrative detention orders, including 16 new orders, were issued by the Israeli military occupation.
Take action!
1. Hold a direct action, protest, picket or demonstration, including building the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign to internationally isolate Israel, its institutions, and the corporations – like G4S -that profit from imprisonment, occupation, racism, colonialism and injustice. Demand freedom for Ahmad Abu Fara, Anas Shadid and all Palestinian prisoners. A flyer is provided below for distribution at your events and other actions. Please email [email protected] or post to Samidoun on Facebook about your events and actions.
2. Call political figures to demand action for the hunger strikers. Call your government officials to pressure them to end the silence and complicity with the Israeli regime of political imprisonment and administrative detention.
Call during your country’s regular office hours:
- Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop: + 61 2 6277 7500
- Canadian Foreign Minister Stephane Dion: +1-613-996-5789
- European Union Commissioner Federica Mogherini: +32 (0) 2 29 53516
- New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully: +64 4 439 8000
- United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson: +44 20 7008 1500
- United States President Barack Obama: 1-202-456-1111
Tell your government:
- Two Palestinian prisoners, Anas Shadid and Ahmad Abu Fara, have been on hunger strike since 25 September against administrative detention, Israeli imprisonment without charge or trial.
- Your government must demand the strikers’ immediate release and end all support for Israel’s political imprisonment and other crimes against Palestinians.
- Israel’s use of administrative detention is a universally-recognized violation of human rights and international law.
- The government must do more than criticize administrative detention or express concern, but should also take serious measures to end these violations.
Download the leaflet: Click here to download PDF
