Israeli Doctor Says Palestinian Hunger Striker Could Face Immediate Death
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| Mohammed Al-Qiq communicates from his hospital bed. |
Lawyer Hiba Masalha from the Palestinian Authority’s Prisoners’ Affairs Committee quoted the concerns of deputy director of HaEmek, Dr. Tubia, who said there was a “real danger” that al-Qiq’s internal organs were suffering damage.
“Each minute marks serious threat to his life, because it is probable that his inner organs will stop operating at any moment, leading to immediate death,” Tubia was quoted as saying.
The prisoner’s kidneys and intestines may face critical damage, the doctor said, adding that he could also suffer from cerebral hemorrhage.
Al-Qiq, a 33-year-old Palestinian and father of two, entered day 74 day on hunger strike in protest of his administrative detention by Israel.
Dr. Tubia told the PA committee that the hospital’s ethics committee had made a decision to allow medics to force treatment on al-Qiq, despite the striker’s refusal of treatment unless moved to a Palestinian hospital.
Israeli doctors forced treatment on the journalist last month, bringing outcry from international rights organizations and Palestinian leadership.
The court suspended his six-month administrative detention sentence citing medical concerns, with the sentence to be resumed upon an improvement of his health. Al-Qiq reportedly viewed the court ruling as an attempt to undermine his resistance against the “immoral and inhumane administrative detention.”
Al-Qiq has said he will continue his hunger strike until “martyrdom or freedom.”
Amnesty International said last month that withholding al-Qiq on secret evidence under administrative was unlawful, and slammed Israel following reports of torture and mistreatment of the journalist.
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