Solidarity rallies increase in West Bank, Gaza

Solidarity events and sit-ins have increased across the West Bank and Gaza Strip in demand for Mohamed al-Qeiq’s immediate and unconditional release as he enters his 92nd day of hunger strike. In al-Khalil, dozens of activists and journalists participated in a sit-in in support of Mohamed al-Qeiq who is in real danger after 92 days of hunger strike. During the event, head of the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) Amjed al-Najar stressed the importance of popular support for al-Qeiq in this particular time especially after “Israeli authorities took the decision to kill him.”

Israeli intelligence services continue to refuse any appeal or offer for al-Qeiq’s release although he has entered unprecedented health deterioration, al-Najar added. Similar solidarity events were also organized in Gaza Strip in support of Mohamed al-Qeiq’s heroic steadfastness and determination in face of Israeli authorities. A sit-in was organized Wednesday outside the Red Cross headquarters in Gaza amid large participation of journalists.

The participants chanted slogans calling for al-Qeiq’s release and held banners reading “the last call.”  Al-Qeiq, a 33-year-old journalist from the southern occupied West Bank city of al-Khalil, went on hunger strike in late November to protest Israel’s policy of administrative detention without trial or charge. Numerous Palestinian prisoners have undertaken hunger strikes to protest the controversial practice, including last year Khader Adnan and Muhammad Allan, who were both close to death by the time Israel agreed to their release. Countless international bodies, including the UN and European Union, have condemned Israel for its continued incarceration of al-Qeiq, as well as Israel’s use of administrative detention for some 660 Palestinian prisoners.