Palestinian Hunger Striker in Critical Condition

Palestinian prisoner who has been on hunger strike for more than 70 days is in critical condition in an Israeli hospital, his relative and supporters said.

Maher al-Akhras, 49, began his hunger strike after he was arrested and placed into administrative detention in late July.

Administrative detention is an Israeli policy that allows it to detain Palestinians without filing charges, sometimes for months at a time with multiple extensions.

Al-Akhras’ wife, Taghreed, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that her husband has survived on water alone while he demands his release.

Speaking from his room at Kaplan Hospital in the Zionist entity’s center, she said al-Akhras has been hospitalized since Sept. 6 and he was too weak to speak or get up to go to the bathroom.

“He lost half of his weight. He suffers spasms,” she said.

“He has a constant strong headache and constant buzzing in the ears, fatigue, with no energy to talk to me.”

Israeli Shin Bet security agency said al-Akhras was arrested on July 27 based on information that he is active in the Islamic Jihad Palestinian Resistance group and was involved in “activities that endanger public safety.”

But al-Akhras’ wife said he is not an activist in any group, and only has campaigned for the rights of Palestinian prisoners held by the Israeli occupation.

His lawyer, Ahlam Haddad, said her client rejected an offer to be released at the end of his current administrative detention on Nov. 26 and demands to be let go immediately.

His wife said al-Akhras knows his life is in danger. “He says this is the only way he can achieve justice,” she said.