Al-Shalabi Hunger Strike Ongoing Despite deteriorating Condition

Local Editor

Palestinian political detainee, Hana' al-Shalabi, 30, is ongoing with her hunger-strike for the 22nd day in a row, rejecting her illegal administrative detention, and demanding her immediate and unconditional release.

Several human rights groups in Palestine expressed concern over the health condition of al-Shalabi, and held "Israel" fully responsible for her well-being.
On Wednesday evening, the Judge at the Ofer "Israeli" Military Court stated that he will make a final decision on the appeal, filed by al-Shalabi's defense team, by the middle of next week.
According to the Ma'an news agency, Lawyer Mahmoud Hassan said that delaying the verdict comes to give the defense and the prosecution the opportunity to reach an agreement on the case of al-Shalabi.
He added that despite the fact that al-Shalabi lost 10 kilograms of her weight, and despite her deteriorating health condition, she insists on continuing her hunger-strike until Israel ends her illegal detention.
Hassan further stated that the "Israeli" Judge did not allow the father of al-Shalabi to see her, even from a distance, and ordered the court's door shut during the deliberations.

Al-Shalabi was cuffed and bound while being transported to court, and that one of the female soldiers tried to strip-search her in front of other female detainees before moving her out of the detention facility, and when al-Shalabi refused, the soldier started threatening her, and told her that "she will be severely punished". 

Meanwhile, human rights activists and heads of human rights centers in Gaza, held a conference demanding the immediate and unconditional release of al-Shalabi.

They said that since al-Shalabi started her hunger-strike, the first day after she was taken prisoner on February 16, she declared that she is determined to continue her strike until she is released, and until the soldiers, who attacked and beat her during the course of her arrest, are punished for their crime.
Khader Adnan, the freed Palestinian detainee had started the bold declaration of hunger strike against "Israel's" unjust administrative detention with his motto "my dignity is more important than my life." 

He had refused food for 66 consecutive days until he was set free. Owing to his persistence, not only Palestinians united and rallied together in support of Adnan but also the world paid attention to his bravery in face of "Israel's" repressive measure of administrative detention. 

The number of Palestinians held under administrative detention in direct violation of international law is no less than 300, 20 of which are elected legislators. 

Source: News agencies, edited by moqawama.org