Maher al-Akhras says he will continue hunger strike until freedom

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
29 Aug 2023 16:34

Palestine's Mohjat Al-Quds Foundation confirms that Palestinian prisoner Maher al-Akhras, a senior leader in the Islamic Jihad movement, continues his open hunger strike and refuses to take his medications for the seventh consecutive day.

Maher Al-Akhras is fed by his daughter Tuqa at a hospital in “Israel” on November 6, 2020. (Courtesy Al-Akhras Family)

Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Maher al-Akhras continues his open hunger strike for the seventh consecutive day, in protest against his arbitrary arrest by Israeli occupation forces.

The news was reported by Mohjat Al-Quds Foundation, citing a letter by al-Akhras, who declared immediately after his arrest that he was going on an open hunger strike.

He added: "A Zionist officer introduced himself as the regional officer and asked me if I was taking any medications," and I told him, "I don't want medicine or food." Then the officer replied, "You will end up like Sheikh Khader, that's what we did to Sheikh Khader" (referring to martyr Sheikh Khader Adnan).

It is worth noting that Palestinian prisoner Khader Adnan was martyred on May 2, 2023, at the age of 44, following an 87-day hunger strike in refusal of his arbitrary arrest, as the occupation kept Martyr Adnan detained in the "Ramla" prison clinic.

Al-Akhras explained in his letter that he is currently "in a solitary confinement cell, in Al-Jalama detention center," amid repeated attempts by the occupation to force him to end his strike.

He pointed out in his message that he suffered from "a number of diseases before his arrest and refuses to take medicines, holding the Israeli prison administration responsible for his life."

Al-Akhras indicated that he was subjected to insults, offensive language, and death threats during the interrogation by one of the Israeli investigators.

Regarding his health condition, al-Akhras reported that he feels "severe pain in the head, strong dizziness, and a weakness in concentration," emphasizing that ending his hunger strike "will only come with my freedom."

A court session was held for al-Akhras in "Jalama" prison last Thursday, and his detention was extended for seven days until this Wednesday, under the pretext of completing his interrogation.

It is worth noting that al-Akhras previously underwent administrative detention in occupation jails in 2009 for 16 months.

Who is Maher Al-Akhras, the #Palestinian farmer who has been defying "Israel"? pic.twitter.com/OLtupz8DN5
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) August 25, 2023

He was also arrested in 2018 and then again in 2020, when he fought the Empty Stomachs battle, during which he carried out an open hunger strike that lasted 103 days, eventually leading to his liberation in November of the same year.

Last May, Khader Adnan, a senior member of the PIJ, was martyred inside Israeli occupation prisons after 87 days of an open hunger strike.

Prior to his martyrdom, the Israeli military court in "Ofer" prison refused to issue his release despite several warnings that his health condition was deteriorating.

The Prisoners' Information Office stated at the time that Adnan's martyrdom raised the total number of martyrs from the Captive Movement to 237.