Administrative detainee Hassan Awewi ends his 69-day hunger strike

The lawyer of administrative detainee Hassan Awewi, 35 years old from Hebron, confirmed to Addameer, that his client ended his hunger strike, Sunday night, 9 June, 2019. Awewi’s lawyer said that after 69 days of hunger strike, an agreement was reached with the occupation’s military Prosecution. According to the agreement, Awewi will be released after one more renewal of his detention.

According to Awewi’s lawyer, the military prosecution responded to the prisoner's request to limit his administrative detention, after a serious deterioration of his health condition. Awewi is currently in the Suroka hospital, where he was transferred last week. Occupation forces arrested Awewi on 15 January and issued a six-month administrative detention order against him. Awewi entered an open hunger strike on 2 April to protest his administrative detention and demanded his release.

The administrative detention used by the occupation forces as arbitrary detention amounts to a systematic method of torture. It violates the basic rights of Palestinian prisoners and violates all the norms of international law. Further more, the occupation authorities’ delay in responding to the demands of administrative detainees, who resort to hunger strikes as a sole means of protesting against their arrest, puts the lives of the striking detainees at risk. Addameer therefore highlights that the occupation authorities bear full responsibility for the life and safety of Hassan Awewi. The occupation authorities are equally fully responsible of all the health complications he may suffer as a result of his health deterioration during the strike. Addameer also calls upon the international community to pressure the occupying state, in order to stop the administrative detention policy and the release of all administrative detainees.