The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society said in a statement that the Israeli Prison Service was “obstructing lawyer visits” to hunger-striking prisoner Kayed al-Fasfous.
Israeli forces killed three Palestinians this week, including a 16-year-old boy. Meanwhile, 1,000 Palestinian prisoners announced a hunger strike in protest of repressive policies by the Israel Prison Service under the control of Itamar Ben-Gvir.
Khader Adnan was not part of an armed resistance group, nor did he occupy central positions of power. But he provided a model for victory in an age of defeat. He was a symbol in a time without symbols.
Rights groups, experts, and Khader Adnan’s legal team say that Israel caused his death through deliberate medical negligence and cruel and inhumane treatment. In other words, Israel wanted him dead.
The world lost Khader Adnan after 86 days of hunger strike, and Palestine lost an icon. Yet, in the words of researcher Ashira Darwish, “Freedom means that he left the body that they destroyed.”
The Palestinian resistance in Gaza is responding to Israel’s killing of Khader Adnan while he was on hunger strike, launching 70 rockets into Israel. The Israeli response of bombardment has been swift, already killing a Palestinian in northern Gaza.
Khader Adnan died in Israeli custody as he neared his 90th day on a hunger strike protesting his imprisonment. The veteran of eight hunger strikes, Adnan was a symbol of Palestinian steadfastness and resistance.
Khader Adnan’s hunger strike protesting his imprisonment by Israel has surpassed 80 days and his life is in danger. “This time is different, he is feeling the toll that previous hunger strikes have had on him,” says his wife Randa Moussa.
Since entering office, Israel’s new government has dramatically increased the repression of Palestinian prisoners, moves which reflect its hostile agenda toward Palestinians as a whole.
“I am deeply thankful for people who supported me, stood with me, reinforced me, and prayed for me, thank you,” Awawdeh said, after ending his 182-day hunger strike. Awawdeh, who lost more than half his weight during his strike will remain in an Israeli hospital for treatment until his release on October 2.