Palestinians hold rally for hunger striker
Friday 15 February 2013
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EmailPalestinian demonstrators clashed with Israeli soldiers today at a rally held in support of a hunger striker protesting against his incarceration.
The Israeli military claimed that hundreds of Palestinians threw rocks at soldiers who responded with tear gas during the rally outside Ofer prison in the West Bank.
The protesters called for the release of Samer Issawi, who has been on an intermittent hunger strike for several months.
Mr Issawi was initially released in 2011 in a prisoner exchange but was rearrested after he allegedly violated the terms of his release.
Palestinian minister of prisoner affairs Issa Qaraqe said that Mr Issawi has lost about 77 pounds, has kidney pain and has lost feeling in the right side of his body.
There are four prisoners on hunger strike and human rights groups have warned of their worsening health.
"If, God forbid, any prisoner dies of hunger strike, the situation on the ground will deteriorate," Mr Qaraqe said. "People won't stand for any prisoner to die on hunger strike."
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