Palestinian prisoner continues hunger strike for 100 days

RAMALLAH, 21 October 2019: Palestinian detainee Ahmad Ghannam, 42, has been on a hunger strike for 100 days demanding an end for his administrative detention in Israel without charge or trial, the Palestinian Prisoner Society (PPS) said Monday.

Ghannam, from the town of Dura in southern the West Bank, is one of six Palestinians who are currently on hunger strike demanding an end to their unending administrative detention, which Israel uses to incarcerate Palestinian activists based on secret evidence for six months at a time that could be renewed indefinitely.

The PPS said Ghannam was transferred to hospital a week ago following serious deterioration in his health.

He was arrested on June 18 and immediately placed under administrative detention, which was renewed for two-and-a-half months while on hunger strike.

Ghannam, married and a father of two children, was treated in the past for cancer and therefore needs constant medical attention and follow up which he is being denied while in detention, said the PPS.

Five other prisoners are also reportedly on a hunger strike for the same reason, and they include Ismail Ali, on strike for 90 days, Tareq Qadan, on strike for 83 days, Ahmad Zahran, for 30 days and Musab Hindi, for 28 days, in addition to Jordanian citizen Hiba Labadi whose strike has entered its 28th day.