Maher al-Akhras suspends hunger strike to boost negotiation efforts

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
14 Sep 2023 18:37

The Palestinian prisoner's lawyers will engage in negotiations with the Israeli occupation authorities ahead of his trial scheduled for October 26.

Palestinian protesters hold pictures of Maher al-Akhras, 49, who has been on a hunger strike for more than 88 days after he was arrested and placed into administrative detention by the Israeli occupation in late July, in front of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Gaza City, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020 (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

After 23 days, Palestinian detainee Maher al-Akhras suspended his open-ended hunger strike launched last month in protest of being detained by the Israeli occupation entity without being charged or trialed, the Palestinian Prisoners' Club confirmed on Thursday.

However, the Israeli authorities later filed charges against him. His decision today comes to make way for efforts by his lawyers to negotiate with the occupation's relevant administration ahead of his court session scheduled for October 26th.

Al-Akhras, a leader in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement PIJ, has previously spent five years in Israeli prisons, during which he embarked on a 103-day hunger strike to protest his administrative detention, ultimately forcing Israelis to meet his demands and secure his release.

His wife Taghreed al-Akhras told Al Mayadeen in August that an Israeli occupation force stormed their house, arrested the PIJ senior member, and expressed her concern for his life due to his suffering from a number of health issues.

Israeli occupation forces had detained a number of leaders from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad PIJ and Hamas Resistance groups in a number of raids targeting the Occupied West Bank during the early hours of August 23.

In a message earlier this month, al-Akhras confirmed that he is struggling with "various illnesses and refuses to take medications," holding the Israeli prison administration responsible for his health and life.

The detainee also pointed out that he had been subjected to brutal treatment and intensive assaults during interrogation sessions.

Two Palestinian prisoners continue the Battle of Empty Stomachs in rejection of their arbitrary administrative detention in Israeli occupation prisons; Kayed al-Fasous (on strike for the 43rd day in a row), and Sultan Khalouf (on strike for the 43rd day in a row).

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.

Palestinian Ministry of Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners Affairs issued a warning on Thursday about a looming humanitarian catastrophe within Israeli prisons due to a noticeable increase in the number of detainees. This escalation is occurring amidst the daily arrest campaigns conducted by the Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu in the West Bank and al-Quds.