Prisoner Khader Adnan martyred after 87 days of hunger-strike

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
2 May 2023 08:18
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"Israel" commits once more the crime of medical homicide.

Palestinian prisoner Khader Adnan dies while in administrative detention after 87 days of hunger strike. (Archive)

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) announced on Tuesday the martyrdom of one of its senior members, Khader Adnan, inside Israeli occupation prisons.

"In our long march towards Al-Quds, we will lose many brave men, leaders, and fighters along the way, and Commander Khader Adnan was one of those who paved a wide path for all those who seek freedom in Palestine and the world," the PIJ said in a statement.

The statement further pointed out that "the martyrdom of Commander Khader Adnan will be exemplary for the many generations of brave men to come."

"Our struggle continues and will not cease. The enemy will realize once more that its crimes will not go unanswered, and that the resistance will remain ongoing with all strength, determination, and steadfastness."

Following the announcement, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that the PIJ declared a general strike in the occupied territories of the West Bank, Gaza, and Jenin, and reported that the IOF announced a state of alert in preparation for possible retaliations following Adnan's martyrdom.

Likewise, Al-Nasser Salah al-Din Brigades declared a state of alert to respond to the crime of Adnan's assassination.

Israeli sources reported that "Khader Adnan, who has been on hunger strike for the 87th day, was found unconscious in his cell at Nitzan detention center this morning," noting that "the worst has come true" and that Adnan's martyrdom could lead to an escalation.

It further pointed out that "the Israeli army is conducting an assessment of the situation in the aftermath" of Adnan's death, noting that there are "expected threats from the PIJ in the West Bank and Gaza."

Israeli sources further reported that the PIJ fired three rockets from the Gaza Strip on Tuesday morning in retaliation to Adnan's martyrdom.

"Sirens sounded in the area of kibbutz Saad near the Gaza border. According to the Israeli military, the rockets fell in the open areas, there were no casualties," they added.

Number of martyrs from the Captive Movement rises to 237

The Prisoners' Information Office said on Tuesday that the recently announced death of Khader Adnan has raised the total number of martyrs from the Captive Movement to 237.

A spokesperson for the Palestinian Prisoners' Information Office, Hazem Hassanein, said: "Do not expect anything from international organizations that claim to advocate for human rights.”

"During the 86 days of the martyr Adnan's hunger strike, they did not issue a single press release - except for an insignificant stance," he added.

He further pointed out that "Prisoner Khader Adnan launched a hunger strike, the toughest form of battle, to defend his right to freedom," and that "the occupation committed once more a crime against detainees in the Zionist prisons and is responsible for the death of Adnan - another evidence of the occupation’s systematic crimes against the prisoners."

For its part, the Ministry of Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners said: "We do not rule out that martyred prisoner Khader Adnan was subjected to forced feeding, especially since the Zionist military prosecution threatened to do so more than once before the court."

⭕ Hamza, the son of martyred captive Sheikh #KhaderAdnan leads a march in their hometown of Arraba in the occupied West Bank in mourning of his father who died this morning after 87 days on hunger strike in the Zionist prisons.
#خضر_عدنان pic.twitter.com/StmNZBbbeb
— Palestine Captives 𓂆 (@Palestinecapti1) May 2, 2023

Palestinian factions mourn death of martyred prisoner Khader Adnan

The spokesperson for the Fatah movement Munther al-Hayek told Al Mayadeen on Tuesday, "Captive Khader Adnan was martyred while shackled by the bigotry of the occupation and the government of the terrorist Netanyahu and Ben-Gfir."

He added that "the occupation government must bear the consequences of the crime of deliberate assassination carried out by the Zionist prison administration against Adnan."

He further said, "This heroic prisoner has always called for national unity that we must adhere to in order to face the criminal enemy," and that "despite the occupation's crimes, the world remains silent, thus encouraging [the occupation] to commit more crimes."

"We are facing a new period of resistance and steadfastness in prisons, and the conflict is at a new stage, which is liberation, whatever the price," he stressed, noting that "the prisoners won through their unity, so we must adhere to our unity by which we are victorious."

In turn, the Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative Movement held "the fascist, criminal occupation government responsible for the assassination of the valiant fighter Khader Adnan."

The Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Initiative Movement told Al Mayadeen, "The assassination of Sheikh Khader Adnan is a deliberate crime carried out by the occupation authorities."

Khader Adnan's martyrdom, who had been on hunger strike for nearly three months in protest of his unfair detention, comes two days after the Israeli military court in Ofer Prison refused to issue his release despite several warnings that his health condition was deteriorating.

It is noteworthy that this open-ended hunger strike which Adnan staged until his death is the longest he has ever waged over the past years of his detention. The martyr had already been through five previous hunger strikes.

The occupation forces arrested Khader Adnan on February 5, after raiding his house in the town of Arraba, south of Jenin.

Adnan had been arrested a total of 12 times throughout his lifetime and spent a total of 8 years in the occupation detention centers, most of which were under administrative detention.