Palestinian hunger striker in danger: Israeli group
A Palestinian man detained by Israel and on hunger strike for 41 days is in danger after beginning to refuse liquids, a rights group said on Tuesday, demanding he be transferred to a civilian hospital.
Tel Aviv-based Physicians for Human Rights-Israel said the condition of Bilal Diab, who has refused food since March 1, was ‘very worrisome’, particularly after he began refusing liquids on Sunday.
Following a court petition, a physician for the organisation was permitted on Monday to visit Diab, a 27-year-old from an area near Jenin, in the northern West Bank.
The group was also able to visit Thaer Halahla, a 34-year-old from Hebron, who has also been on hunger strike since March 1 but is still accepting fluids. Both men are hospitalised in a prison facility near Tel Aviv, the group said.
A PHR doctor said Halahla's condition was "in accordance with a long hunger strike, yet stable," but warned of a deterioration in his health if he continued the protest.
The group said Diab had told the PHR doctor he would reconsider refusing fluids if he were moved to a civilian hospital.
The group urged Israel to make such a transfer immediately, and to enable independent physicians to regularly examine detainees on hunger strikes without the presence of a prison doctor, and with family members in attendance.
Israel Prison Service spokeswoman Sivan Weizman said, "Detainees on hunger strikes are receiving care and are under the necessary medical supervision."
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