.png)
ICRC calls on Maher al-Akhras and the Israeli authorities ‘to find a solution that will avoid any loss of life’.
A Palestinian man on hunger strike for 85 days since his arrest by Israel is entering a medically “critical phase”, the International Committee of the Red Cross said on Thursday.
Maher al-Akhras, 49, was arrested near Nablus and placed in administrative detention, a policy that Israel uses to hold suspected armed people without charge.
The father of six launched his strike to protest the policy.
He had been arrested several times previously by Israel.
“More than 85 days into the hunger strike, we are concerned about potentially irreversible health consequences,” said Yves Giebens, the head of the ICRC’s health department in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.
“From a medical perspective, he is entering a critical phase,” Giebens added in a statement.
The ICRC said it had been “closely monitoring” the situation.
“The ICRC encourages the patient, his representatives and the competent authorities involved to find a solution that will avoid any loss of life,” the statement said.
Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip have launched several demonstrations to demand the release of al-Akhras. They have also organised sit-ins and online campaigns to show their support for him.
Solidarity mural in Gaza in Solidarity with the Palestinian political prisoner Maher Al-Akhras on his 84th day of hunger strike for freedom ✊🏼🇵🇸#SaveMaher#ماهر_الأخرس pic.twitter.com/RqlhsznUD7
— The Global Campaign to Return to Palestine (@Return_ps) October 19, 2020
Following his arrest in early July, al-Akhras was transferred in early September to Kaplan Hospital, south of Tel Aviv.
His lawyers have appealed on multiple occasions to Israel’s Supreme Court for his release.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh has also demanded his immediate release.
Israel’s administrative detention system allows the internment of prisoners for renewable periods of up to six months each, without bringing charges.
Israel says the procedure allows authorities to hold suspects while continuing to gather evidence, but critics and rights groups say the system is abused.
About 355 Palestinians were being held under administrative detention orders as of August, including two minors, according to Israeli human rights group, B’Tselem.
