Ramallah, 16 October 2012 – Addameer is deeply concerned for the life of Palestinian administrative detainee Samer al-Barq, who resumed his hunger strike on 14 October 2012, after Israel failed to honor its agreement to deport him to Egypt.
The agreement was signed on 21 September 2012 between representatives of Egypt and Israel. Samer subsequently ceased his hunger strike on this date, having being told he would be transferred to Egypt the following day.
Samer, who is currently being held at Ramleh prison medical center, was recently visited by Addameer lawyer Fares Ziad, who reported that Samer has also stopped drinking water in protest at the failure of Israel to implement the agreement.
This latest strike will have be Samer’s third in less than seven months, with the previous strikes lasting 23 and 123 days respectively. The fact the Samer has begun refusing water will most likely lead to a rapid deterioration with his health.
Addameer is also deeply concerned for the life of fellow hunger striker Ayman Sharawna, who today enters his 108th day of hunger strike. Ayman is also currently being held at Ramleh prison medical center. As previously reported there continues to be a serious deterioration in his health.
Ayman continues to suffer pain in his right leg, joints and kidneys. He also has developed skin problems and suffers from partial memory loss. His previous problems with his eyes persist and prison doctors have told him that there is a blockage in the veins connected to his eyes.
Since 14 October Ayman has stopped taking vitamins and currently only drinks hot water. He has said that for the moment he will continue drinking hot water and will soon stop taking sugar. If there is not immediate progress with his case he has vowed to cease taking any water altogether, which like Samer al-Barq is expected to lead to an even further deterioration in his health.
Ayman was re-arrested in January after being released in the prisoner exchange deal in October 2011. He is currently held without charge and the military committee has not yet reached a decision regarding whether or not Ayman will be returned to his prior sentence.
Addameer demands accountability for all of Israel’s human rights violations related to the hunger strikes, which still continue today. It is imperative for Samer al-Barq and Ayman Sharawna to receive immediate visits from independent doctors and be transferred to public hospitals where they can receive adequate and urgent medical care.
Due to the escalation in the hunger strikes of both Samer and Ayman, Addameer again calls on the international community to intervene immediately.
Please write to:
Israeli Prison Service
Ministry of Public Security
P.O. Box 18182
Jerusalem 91181
P.O. Box 18182
Jerusalem 91181
Brigadier General Danny Efroni
Military Advocate General
6 David Elazar Street
Harkiya, Tel Aviv
Fax: +972 3 608 0366; +972 3 569 4526
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Ehud Barak
Ministry of Defense
37 Kaplan Street, Hakirya
Tel Aviv 61909
Fax: +972 3 691 6940 / 696 2757
Maj. Gen. Nitzan Alon
OC Central Command Nehemia Base, Central Command
Neveh Yaacov, Jerusalam
Fax: +972 2 530 5741
Col. Eli Bar On
Legal Advisor of Judea and Samaria
PO Box 5
Beit El 90631
Fax: +972 2 9977326
- Write to your own elected representatives urging them to pressure Israel to immediately release both Samer and Ayman.