15 feb 2016
The health of Palestinian prisoner Muhammad al-Qiq has deteriorated further, one of his lawyers said Monday, as the imprisoned journalist entered his 83rd day on hunger strike.
Hanan al-Khatib, a lawyer with the Palestinian Authority Committee for Prisoners' Affairs, said in a statement that al-Qiq was suffering sharp pain in his chest, numbness in his face, and had begun "shouting loudly, and screaming: 'Let me hear my son's voice, please God."
She said: "I have not seen him like that during the whole period of his strike. The situation is painful, saddening, and very critical."
Khatib said the latest deterioration in his health was "unprecedented." She said a medical team had gone to HaEmek Hospital in Afula, where al-Qiq is being held, but the journalist refused to be touched or treated.
Al-Qiq, a 33-year-old Palestinian journalist and father of two, began his hunger strike in November to protest his administrative detention by Israel -- internment without trial or charge.
Earlier this month, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled to temporarily suspend his administrative detention sentence due to his poor health, but said the sentence would be resumed once his health improved.
Al-Qiq rejected the ruling, saying he would not end his hunger strike unless Israel agreed to his full release.
The Palestinian Prisoner's Society has repeatedly said Israel was "not showing attention or willingness" to solve al-Qiq’s case.
Israel has negotiated in cases of hunger strikes launched by Palestinian prisoners in the past out of fear that prisoners' deaths could spark unrest in the occupied Palestinian territory, but the territory has already faced turmoil for months.
The head of the Palestinian Prisoner's Society, Qadura Fares, said earlier this month that the Israeli security establishment now believes it has "nothing to lose" by letting al-Qiq die.
Calls for releasing journalist al-Qeiq escalated
Nablus city, in the northern West Bank, on Monday witnessed events in solidarity with the Palestinian journalist captive Mohammad al-Qeiq who has been on open hunger strike for 82 days in a row.
While, the national committee to support prisoners organized a sit-in in solidarity with captive Qeiq, a demonstration also marched in the streets of the city. Besides, the factions held a press conference in the city during which they stressed on the importance of the popular and massive action for the support of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails especially journalist Qeiq.
For his part, Father Manoel Musallam described captive Qeiq as a young brave champion and declared his solidarity in full with him. Musallam said, in an exclusive TV interview for the PIC, “what is happening with captive Qeiq is a social and legal tyranny by Israel which is a sadist state that enjoys the suffering of the Palestinian people.”
Musallam, who is a well-known Christian leader, pointed out that he declared three days of prayers and fasting for the support of captive Qeiq.
Hanan al-Khatib, a lawyer with the Palestinian Authority Committee for Prisoners' Affairs, said in a statement that al-Qiq was suffering sharp pain in his chest, numbness in his face, and had begun "shouting loudly, and screaming: 'Let me hear my son's voice, please God."
She said: "I have not seen him like that during the whole period of his strike. The situation is painful, saddening, and very critical."
Khatib said the latest deterioration in his health was "unprecedented." She said a medical team had gone to HaEmek Hospital in Afula, where al-Qiq is being held, but the journalist refused to be touched or treated.
Al-Qiq, a 33-year-old Palestinian journalist and father of two, began his hunger strike in November to protest his administrative detention by Israel -- internment without trial or charge.
Earlier this month, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled to temporarily suspend his administrative detention sentence due to his poor health, but said the sentence would be resumed once his health improved.
Al-Qiq rejected the ruling, saying he would not end his hunger strike unless Israel agreed to his full release.
The Palestinian Prisoner's Society has repeatedly said Israel was "not showing attention or willingness" to solve al-Qiq’s case.
Israel has negotiated in cases of hunger strikes launched by Palestinian prisoners in the past out of fear that prisoners' deaths could spark unrest in the occupied Palestinian territory, but the territory has already faced turmoil for months.
The head of the Palestinian Prisoner's Society, Qadura Fares, said earlier this month that the Israeli security establishment now believes it has "nothing to lose" by letting al-Qiq die.
Calls for releasing journalist al-Qeiq escalated
Nablus city, in the northern West Bank, on Monday witnessed events in solidarity with the Palestinian journalist captive Mohammad al-Qeiq who has been on open hunger strike for 82 days in a row.
While, the national committee to support prisoners organized a sit-in in solidarity with captive Qeiq, a demonstration also marched in the streets of the city. Besides, the factions held a press conference in the city during which they stressed on the importance of the popular and massive action for the support of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails especially journalist Qeiq.
For his part, Father Manoel Musallam described captive Qeiq as a young brave champion and declared his solidarity in full with him. Musallam said, in an exclusive TV interview for the PIC, “what is happening with captive Qeiq is a social and legal tyranny by Israel which is a sadist state that enjoys the suffering of the Palestinian people.”
Musallam, who is a well-known Christian leader, pointed out that he declared three days of prayers and fasting for the support of captive Qeiq.
Palestinian prisoner Samer al-Issawi, from Occupied Jerusalem, has started an open-ended hunger strike in solidarity with hunger-striking journalist Mohamed al-Qeiq, whose health condition reached a life-threatening stage.
Quds Press quoted the father of Issawi as saying that his son had told him about his solidarity step during a recent prison visit.
"Samer has gone through the same ordeal before and knows full well what it is like to have your freedom taken from you without any guilt," the father added.
The Israeli military court in Ofer in May last year had reinstated his previous 30-year prison term on a charge of his affiliation with the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Issawi has become world famous because of his legendary record-breaking hunger strike during his previous detention.
Prisoners face tragic conditions, but call for solidarity strike with al-Qeiq
Palestinian prisoners in Raymond prison complained of the difficult conditions and procedures the sick prisoners face, particularly the transportation via Bosta. A lawyer of the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) said during a visit to the prison that transferring sick prisoners to hospitals via the Bosta vehicle exacerbate their suffering, as the journey might last for long hours up to a full day, during which a prisoner is being shackled, is given only one meal, and is not allowed to use the toilet.
The PPS said that among the sick prisoners is captive Shady Halawa, 36, from Jabalya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. Halawa suffers from a disease in the stomach, causing vomiting, and has lost more than 15 kilos of his weight recently. The Israeli doctors decided that he needs to undergo an urgent surgery, but its date has not been specified yet.
The captive also suffers of virus (C) in the liver, but is not receiving any treatment for that, in addition to his suffering from dental problems as well as problems in the nervous system as he was shot by the IOF during his arrest in 2005. Captive Halawa is sentenced to four life imprisonments and (40 years), he is languishing in the Raymond jail.
On the other hand, the lawyer of the PPS, Iyad Mohamed, confirmed on Sunday that the captive Mohammed Jalal al-Muhr is on hunger strike in protest against his detention. The lawyer added that the judges in the Israeli Military Court in Salem told him that the prisoner did not attend a scheduled court hearing due to his transfer to the hospital because of his hunger strike. In the same context, the family of al-Muhr told the PPS that their son has been on hunger strike for 42 days in the Megiddo prison before being transferred to hospital.
Al-Muhr has been detained since 11/3/2015 and the Israeli prosecution has issued an indictment against him. In another context, the PPS called on the leaders of Palestinian factions inside the Israeli jails to join in the move of solidarity with prisoner Al-Qeiq. The solidarity move, which is waged by members of the senior leadership body, is the announcement of beginning an open hunger strike until captive al-Qeiq gets his freedom.
The Media spokesman for the PPS, Riyad Al-Ashqar, saluted the solidarity move which is taken by Hamas prisoners and a number of its leaders in the Israeli jails to go on hunger strike to support the captive al-Qeiq. He called other prisoners to follow suit, as the captive al-Qeiq's health conditions have worsened dramatically, therefore, the situation needs the support of everyone inside and outside Israeli prisons.
He opined that expanding the hunger strike, especially if prominent leaders participated and went on hunger strikes themselves, will put pressure on the Israeli occupation to reconsider its way of handling the issue of the captive al-Qeiq. Al-Ashqar said that the Israeli occupation authority is being unprecedentedly stubborn regarding the case of the captive al-Qeiq. He added that al-Qeiq's health is in a critical condition threatening his life to the extent that he might die at any moment after the collapse of his body suddenly, which requires immediate action from within prisons.
Al-Ashqar said that the events of solidarity with captive al-Qeiq are good but not sufficient and limited to the popular reaction, while the official side is not making a real effort to communicate with the international institutions, request a session of the United Nations, or to file an urgent complaint with the ICC and other institutions to which the Palestinian Authority had recently joined.
Silent theater in Gaza to speak up for hunger-striker Qeiq
A role play of silent theater was performed by a group of amateurs in the blockaded Gaza Strip in solidarity with the Palestinian hunger-striking journalist Muhammad al-Qeiq.
Barbed wire and metal barricades appeared on the stage while iron bars were tightened around the actors’ bodies in an attempt to transmit to the audience the pain endured by Palestinians in Israeli jails.
The show was staged by the Wafi youth group in Gaza under the title “Freedom for Muhammad al-Qeiq.” Actors wearing brown prison uniforms and surrounded by Israeli soldiers from all sides also emerged on stage. The mock-soldiers appeared to be aggressively attacking the hunger-striking detainees.
In another act performed in Gaza streets, a hunger-striker unbolts the iron bars and gets out of jail while lifting a banner reading: “Freedom for al-Qeiq”. Spokesperson for the band, Hussam Ghandur, said the show was enacted to mobilize solidarity with al-Qeiq, whose hunger strike in Israeli custody has entered its third month.
Quds Press quoted the father of Issawi as saying that his son had told him about his solidarity step during a recent prison visit.
"Samer has gone through the same ordeal before and knows full well what it is like to have your freedom taken from you without any guilt," the father added.
The Israeli military court in Ofer in May last year had reinstated his previous 30-year prison term on a charge of his affiliation with the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Issawi has become world famous because of his legendary record-breaking hunger strike during his previous detention.
Prisoners face tragic conditions, but call for solidarity strike with al-Qeiq
Palestinian prisoners in Raymond prison complained of the difficult conditions and procedures the sick prisoners face, particularly the transportation via Bosta. A lawyer of the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) said during a visit to the prison that transferring sick prisoners to hospitals via the Bosta vehicle exacerbate their suffering, as the journey might last for long hours up to a full day, during which a prisoner is being shackled, is given only one meal, and is not allowed to use the toilet.
The PPS said that among the sick prisoners is captive Shady Halawa, 36, from Jabalya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. Halawa suffers from a disease in the stomach, causing vomiting, and has lost more than 15 kilos of his weight recently. The Israeli doctors decided that he needs to undergo an urgent surgery, but its date has not been specified yet.
The captive also suffers of virus (C) in the liver, but is not receiving any treatment for that, in addition to his suffering from dental problems as well as problems in the nervous system as he was shot by the IOF during his arrest in 2005. Captive Halawa is sentenced to four life imprisonments and (40 years), he is languishing in the Raymond jail.
On the other hand, the lawyer of the PPS, Iyad Mohamed, confirmed on Sunday that the captive Mohammed Jalal al-Muhr is on hunger strike in protest against his detention. The lawyer added that the judges in the Israeli Military Court in Salem told him that the prisoner did not attend a scheduled court hearing due to his transfer to the hospital because of his hunger strike. In the same context, the family of al-Muhr told the PPS that their son has been on hunger strike for 42 days in the Megiddo prison before being transferred to hospital.
Al-Muhr has been detained since 11/3/2015 and the Israeli prosecution has issued an indictment against him. In another context, the PPS called on the leaders of Palestinian factions inside the Israeli jails to join in the move of solidarity with prisoner Al-Qeiq. The solidarity move, which is waged by members of the senior leadership body, is the announcement of beginning an open hunger strike until captive al-Qeiq gets his freedom.
The Media spokesman for the PPS, Riyad Al-Ashqar, saluted the solidarity move which is taken by Hamas prisoners and a number of its leaders in the Israeli jails to go on hunger strike to support the captive al-Qeiq. He called other prisoners to follow suit, as the captive al-Qeiq's health conditions have worsened dramatically, therefore, the situation needs the support of everyone inside and outside Israeli prisons.
He opined that expanding the hunger strike, especially if prominent leaders participated and went on hunger strikes themselves, will put pressure on the Israeli occupation to reconsider its way of handling the issue of the captive al-Qeiq. Al-Ashqar said that the Israeli occupation authority is being unprecedentedly stubborn regarding the case of the captive al-Qeiq. He added that al-Qeiq's health is in a critical condition threatening his life to the extent that he might die at any moment after the collapse of his body suddenly, which requires immediate action from within prisons.
Al-Ashqar said that the events of solidarity with captive al-Qeiq are good but not sufficient and limited to the popular reaction, while the official side is not making a real effort to communicate with the international institutions, request a session of the United Nations, or to file an urgent complaint with the ICC and other institutions to which the Palestinian Authority had recently joined.
Silent theater in Gaza to speak up for hunger-striker Qeiq
A role play of silent theater was performed by a group of amateurs in the blockaded Gaza Strip in solidarity with the Palestinian hunger-striking journalist Muhammad al-Qeiq.
Barbed wire and metal barricades appeared on the stage while iron bars were tightened around the actors’ bodies in an attempt to transmit to the audience the pain endured by Palestinians in Israeli jails.
The show was staged by the Wafi youth group in Gaza under the title “Freedom for Muhammad al-Qeiq.” Actors wearing brown prison uniforms and surrounded by Israeli soldiers from all sides also emerged on stage. The mock-soldiers appeared to be aggressively attacking the hunger-striking detainees.
In another act performed in Gaza streets, a hunger-striker unbolts the iron bars and gets out of jail while lifting a banner reading: “Freedom for al-Qeiq”. Spokesperson for the band, Hussam Ghandur, said the show was enacted to mobilize solidarity with al-Qeiq, whose hunger strike in Israeli custody has entered its third month.
The Israeli prosecutor refused on Sunday evening al-Qeiq’s request to be transferred to a Palestinian hospital. The Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) said that the Israeli prosecutor’s refusal meant that the ball is back in the court of the High Court.
A second court session is scheduled to be held on Monday afternoon to decide over al-Qeiq’s appeal. The PPS has earlier submitted a petition to the Israeli Supreme court on behalf of hunger-striking journalist Mohamed al-Qeiq asking for his transfer from Afula hospital to a Palestinian one in order to provide him with proper medical care.
The PPS stated that it made this request after the health of Qeiq sharply declined and all efforts to have him released failed. The PA Committee of Prisoners’ Affairs said on Sunday afternoon that the Israeli Supreme Court has demanded the Israeli prosecutor to decide over Mohamed al-Qeiq’s appeal to be transferred to a Palestinian hospital in Ramallah.
The court gave the Israeli prosecutor till Sunday evening to decide over al-Qeiq’s appeal after his serious health deterioration amid fears that he might suffer from a stroke. The committee has called on Israeli government to end al-Qeiq’s administrative detention and to transfer him from Afula hospital to a Palestinian one in order to provide him with proper medical care.
The Palestinian journalist Muhammad al-Qeiq has been on a continuous hunger strike for 82 days in protest against his arbitrary punishment of administrative detention by the Israeli occupation authorities. Similar to several hundreds of Palestinian civilians, Muhammad Al-Qeiq is a victim of the arbitrary punishment of administrative detention and is being held by Israel without charge or trial by administrative order and not by judicial decree.
As the occupying power, Israel is responsible for the safety and well-being of Muhammad Al-Qeiq and must be compelled to respect its obligations under international humanitarian law without exception. Amnesty International had voiced serious concern that the Israeli authorities are using the so-called administrative detention “as a method of punishing al-Qeiq without prosecuting him, which would amount to arbitrary detention.”
A second court session is scheduled to be held on Monday afternoon to decide over al-Qeiq’s appeal. The PPS has earlier submitted a petition to the Israeli Supreme court on behalf of hunger-striking journalist Mohamed al-Qeiq asking for his transfer from Afula hospital to a Palestinian one in order to provide him with proper medical care.
The PPS stated that it made this request after the health of Qeiq sharply declined and all efforts to have him released failed. The PA Committee of Prisoners’ Affairs said on Sunday afternoon that the Israeli Supreme Court has demanded the Israeli prosecutor to decide over Mohamed al-Qeiq’s appeal to be transferred to a Palestinian hospital in Ramallah.
The court gave the Israeli prosecutor till Sunday evening to decide over al-Qeiq’s appeal after his serious health deterioration amid fears that he might suffer from a stroke. The committee has called on Israeli government to end al-Qeiq’s administrative detention and to transfer him from Afula hospital to a Palestinian one in order to provide him with proper medical care.
The Palestinian journalist Muhammad al-Qeiq has been on a continuous hunger strike for 82 days in protest against his arbitrary punishment of administrative detention by the Israeli occupation authorities. Similar to several hundreds of Palestinian civilians, Muhammad Al-Qeiq is a victim of the arbitrary punishment of administrative detention and is being held by Israel without charge or trial by administrative order and not by judicial decree.
As the occupying power, Israel is responsible for the safety and well-being of Muhammad Al-Qeiq and must be compelled to respect its obligations under international humanitarian law without exception. Amnesty International had voiced serious concern that the Israeli authorities are using the so-called administrative detention “as a method of punishing al-Qeiq without prosecuting him, which would amount to arbitrary detention.”
14 feb 2016
Stroke symptoms have appeared on the body of hunger-striking journalist Mohamed al-Qeiq and his health condition has become extremely critical, the Palestinian commission of detainees and ex-detainees quoted doctors in HaEmek hospital as saying.
In a press release on Saturday evening, lawyer of the commission Hiba Masalha, who was in HaEmek, stated that the hospital put its doctors on high alert due to the seriousness of Qeiq's health condition. Masalha asserted that doctors in the hospital started to talk openly about serious complications happening to the prisoner, "who is fighting for his life." The lawyer warned that the weak and fatigued body of prisoner Qeiq cannot resist any stroke regardless of its nature.
The hunger-striker has not been able to sleep for more than 48 hours because of the acute pains he suffers from, according to lawyer Yamen Zaidan, who was also sent by the commission of detainees to the hospital. "Mohamed has become a skeleton, suffering from severe chest pains and sharp heart twinges, and his temperature is very high.
He constantly screams in pain, while doctors talk that he might die with each passing second," lawyer Zaidan said. For his part, head of the commission Issa Qaraqea has accused Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu of being personally determined to kill journalist Qeiq, who is jailed with no trial or indictment.
Qaraqea condemned the passivity of the international community towards the issue of the journalist and called for immediate pressure on Israel to release him. "It is inconceivable that the world does not possess a mechanism to force Israel to release a prisoner languishing in its jails with no guilt," he said.
In a press release on Saturday evening, lawyer of the commission Hiba Masalha, who was in HaEmek, stated that the hospital put its doctors on high alert due to the seriousness of Qeiq's health condition. Masalha asserted that doctors in the hospital started to talk openly about serious complications happening to the prisoner, "who is fighting for his life." The lawyer warned that the weak and fatigued body of prisoner Qeiq cannot resist any stroke regardless of its nature.
The hunger-striker has not been able to sleep for more than 48 hours because of the acute pains he suffers from, according to lawyer Yamen Zaidan, who was also sent by the commission of detainees to the hospital. "Mohamed has become a skeleton, suffering from severe chest pains and sharp heart twinges, and his temperature is very high.
He constantly screams in pain, while doctors talk that he might die with each passing second," lawyer Zaidan said. For his part, head of the commission Issa Qaraqea has accused Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu of being personally determined to kill journalist Qeiq, who is jailed with no trial or indictment.
Qaraqea condemned the passivity of the international community towards the issue of the journalist and called for immediate pressure on Israel to release him. "It is inconceivable that the world does not possess a mechanism to force Israel to release a prisoner languishing in its jails with no guilt," he said.
Hamas detainees in Israeli jails have announced their decision to go on an open-ended hunger strike on Sunday in solidarity with Palestinian hunger-striker Muhammad al-Qeiq.
The prisoners’ media office said the solidarity hunger strike is to be initiated by such Hamas leaders as Hassan Salama and Jamal Abu al-Heija, along with writer Thamer Saba’na, among other detainees.
Al-Qeiq has gone through a sharp health deterioration as his hunger strike has entered its third month in protest at his arbitrary detention in Israeli lock-ups.
Rallies in solidarity with al-Qeiq after 81 days of hunger strike
The Iranian Journalists Organization called, on Saturday, for immediately releasing the Palestinian detainee Muhammad al-Qeiq, whose hunger strike has entered its 81st day, and for prosecuting the Israeli occupation for its crimes against Palestinian journalists.
The Iranian organization hailed al-Qeiq’s “legendary steadfastness,” urging the international institutions to take up their responsibility as regards al-Qeiq’s case and Israel’s violations of Palestinians’ human rights.
A series of rallies and marches was also staged across the occupied West Bank and 1948 Occupied Palestine in solidarity with al-Qeiq. A march was organized outside the Doheisheh refugee camp, in southern Bethlehem, where protesters called for immediately releasing the hunger-striker.
Dozens of Palestinians also gathered in Tamra town, in northern 1948 Occupied Palestine, to voice their support for al-Qeiq and condemn Israeli administrative detention. Another group of activists rallied outside the Afula hospital to push for transferring al-Qeiq to a Palestinian hospital for urgent treatment.
Lawyer Abu Maria said the rallies will keep going until al-Qeiq is released from the Afula hospital and transferred to the Ramallah hospital. Al-Qeiq’s family sounded the alarm over the detainee’s exacerbated health status, saying he suffers from severe pains in his chest and critical cardiovascular disorders.
Al-Qeiq was arrested by the Israeli occupation soldiers on November 21, 2015 and sentenced to six months in administrative detention, with neither charge nor trial, which made him declare his ongoing hunger strike on November 25.
The prisoners’ media office said the solidarity hunger strike is to be initiated by such Hamas leaders as Hassan Salama and Jamal Abu al-Heija, along with writer Thamer Saba’na, among other detainees.
Al-Qeiq has gone through a sharp health deterioration as his hunger strike has entered its third month in protest at his arbitrary detention in Israeli lock-ups.
Rallies in solidarity with al-Qeiq after 81 days of hunger strike
The Iranian Journalists Organization called, on Saturday, for immediately releasing the Palestinian detainee Muhammad al-Qeiq, whose hunger strike has entered its 81st day, and for prosecuting the Israeli occupation for its crimes against Palestinian journalists.
The Iranian organization hailed al-Qeiq’s “legendary steadfastness,” urging the international institutions to take up their responsibility as regards al-Qeiq’s case and Israel’s violations of Palestinians’ human rights.
A series of rallies and marches was also staged across the occupied West Bank and 1948 Occupied Palestine in solidarity with al-Qeiq. A march was organized outside the Doheisheh refugee camp, in southern Bethlehem, where protesters called for immediately releasing the hunger-striker.
Dozens of Palestinians also gathered in Tamra town, in northern 1948 Occupied Palestine, to voice their support for al-Qeiq and condemn Israeli administrative detention. Another group of activists rallied outside the Afula hospital to push for transferring al-Qeiq to a Palestinian hospital for urgent treatment.
Lawyer Abu Maria said the rallies will keep going until al-Qeiq is released from the Afula hospital and transferred to the Ramallah hospital. Al-Qeiq’s family sounded the alarm over the detainee’s exacerbated health status, saying he suffers from severe pains in his chest and critical cardiovascular disorders.
Al-Qeiq was arrested by the Israeli occupation soldiers on November 21, 2015 and sentenced to six months in administrative detention, with neither charge nor trial, which made him declare his ongoing hunger strike on November 25.
13 feb 2016
The Palestinian commission of detainees has warned that hunger-striking journalist Mohamed al-Qeiq may die any moment after he has suffered a serious health setback.
Lawyer of the commission Hiba Masalha stated on Friday that prisoner Qeiq became suffering from incessant convulsions, strong twinges of pain in his chest, a rising temperature and severe pains in his joints and limbs. He is also suffering from serious vertigo, has lost most of his sight and hearing, and can barely speak, according to Masalha.
The lawyer also warned that there are great fears that Qeiq could suffer a stroke and die any moment. "There is no guarantee that he will stay alive in the coming hours," she said, calling for pressuring the Israeli occupation strongly to release him.
33-year-old Mohamed al-Qeiq, married with two children, is a Palestinian news reporter working for the Saudi satellite channel al-Majd. He was kidnapped by Israeli soldiers on November 21, 2015 from his home in Abu Qash town in Ramallah and taken to interrogation. Almost a month later, an administrative detention order was issued against him.
Shortly after that, Qeiq launched an open-ended hunger strike. He has now been on hunger strike for 81 days. In a related context, the wife of prisoner Qeiq has appealed to all Palestinian masses to continue holding massive marches in all Palestinian areas in solidarity with her hunger-striking husband.
The wife, Faiha Shalash, also called on members of the Palestinian Legislative Council to convene a meeting on Saturday evening to raise the issue of her husband. Shalash told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that the family were living in a state of fear and anxiety for the life of Qeiq after his health worsened more seriously than before.
Lawyer of the commission Hiba Masalha stated on Friday that prisoner Qeiq became suffering from incessant convulsions, strong twinges of pain in his chest, a rising temperature and severe pains in his joints and limbs. He is also suffering from serious vertigo, has lost most of his sight and hearing, and can barely speak, according to Masalha.
The lawyer also warned that there are great fears that Qeiq could suffer a stroke and die any moment. "There is no guarantee that he will stay alive in the coming hours," she said, calling for pressuring the Israeli occupation strongly to release him.
33-year-old Mohamed al-Qeiq, married with two children, is a Palestinian news reporter working for the Saudi satellite channel al-Majd. He was kidnapped by Israeli soldiers on November 21, 2015 from his home in Abu Qash town in Ramallah and taken to interrogation. Almost a month later, an administrative detention order was issued against him.
Shortly after that, Qeiq launched an open-ended hunger strike. He has now been on hunger strike for 81 days. In a related context, the wife of prisoner Qeiq has appealed to all Palestinian masses to continue holding massive marches in all Palestinian areas in solidarity with her hunger-striking husband.
The wife, Faiha Shalash, also called on members of the Palestinian Legislative Council to convene a meeting on Saturday evening to raise the issue of her husband. Shalash told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that the family were living in a state of fear and anxiety for the life of Qeiq after his health worsened more seriously than before.
The Palestinian imprisoned journalist Mohamed al-Qeiq is on brink of death as he enters his 81st day of hunger strike, the PLO Committee of Prisoners’ Affairs said.
His wife Fayha Shalash renewed her calls to the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian factions to work urgently for her husband’s release “before he is pronounced dead as his health condition has reached an unprecedented critical stage.”
"I will not accept any contacts from the PA or any Palestinian faction after my husband’s death", she said. “He is on the brink of death, and we might hear news of his martyrdom at any moment, especially due to fears that he might suffer from a stroke," the Committee of Prisoners’ Affairs warned.
It also added that al-Qeiq is suffering from acute chest and heart pains, fever, severe pain in the knees, recurrent convulsions. His health condition will not be restored to normal even if he ends his hunger strike, the committee pointed out.
The Palestinian journalist has been on hunger strike for 81 days in protest against his arbitrary administrative detention by the Israeli occupation authorities. Similar to several hundreds of Palestinian civilians, Al-Qeiq is a victim of the arbitrary punishment of administrative detention and is being held by Israel without charge or trial by administrative order and not by judicial decree.
As the occupying power, Israel is responsible for the safety and well-being of Al-Qeiq and must be compelled to respect its obligations under international humanitarian law without exception.
Sheikh Salah: Journalist Mohamed al-Qeiq is a hostage
Hundreds of Palestinians preformed the Friday prayer outside HaEmek medical center in Afula town, where hunger-striking journalist Mohamed al-Qeiq has been held for many days as a result of his deteriorating health condition.
In his Friday khutba (sermon) outside the hospital, Sheikh Ra'ed Salah, head of the Islamic Movement in the 1948 occupied lands, called for continuing to organize solidarity events with journalist Qeiq, whom he described as a "hostage."
"Prisoner Qeiq, who is fighting for his life, is a hostage confronting a fateful stage, so we have to stand by him until he is liberated," Sheikh Salah stated. He condemned the Israeli occupation for keeping Qeiq in detention despite a court order freezing his imprisonment, and for using the language of terrorism, injustice and racism to suppress the Palestinians.
He also held the Israeli government fully responsible for the life of Qeiq and accused its premier Benjamin Netanyahu of seeking to muzzle the Palestinians. Journalist Qeiq was kidnapped on November 21, 2005 from his home and then transferred to administrative detention, without any guilt or indictment.
His wife Fayha Shalash renewed her calls to the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian factions to work urgently for her husband’s release “before he is pronounced dead as his health condition has reached an unprecedented critical stage.”
"I will not accept any contacts from the PA or any Palestinian faction after my husband’s death", she said. “He is on the brink of death, and we might hear news of his martyrdom at any moment, especially due to fears that he might suffer from a stroke," the Committee of Prisoners’ Affairs warned.
It also added that al-Qeiq is suffering from acute chest and heart pains, fever, severe pain in the knees, recurrent convulsions. His health condition will not be restored to normal even if he ends his hunger strike, the committee pointed out.
The Palestinian journalist has been on hunger strike for 81 days in protest against his arbitrary administrative detention by the Israeli occupation authorities. Similar to several hundreds of Palestinian civilians, Al-Qeiq is a victim of the arbitrary punishment of administrative detention and is being held by Israel without charge or trial by administrative order and not by judicial decree.
As the occupying power, Israel is responsible for the safety and well-being of Al-Qeiq and must be compelled to respect its obligations under international humanitarian law without exception.
Sheikh Salah: Journalist Mohamed al-Qeiq is a hostage
Hundreds of Palestinians preformed the Friday prayer outside HaEmek medical center in Afula town, where hunger-striking journalist Mohamed al-Qeiq has been held for many days as a result of his deteriorating health condition.
In his Friday khutba (sermon) outside the hospital, Sheikh Ra'ed Salah, head of the Islamic Movement in the 1948 occupied lands, called for continuing to organize solidarity events with journalist Qeiq, whom he described as a "hostage."
"Prisoner Qeiq, who is fighting for his life, is a hostage confronting a fateful stage, so we have to stand by him until he is liberated," Sheikh Salah stated. He condemned the Israeli occupation for keeping Qeiq in detention despite a court order freezing his imprisonment, and for using the language of terrorism, injustice and racism to suppress the Palestinians.
He also held the Israeli government fully responsible for the life of Qeiq and accused its premier Benjamin Netanyahu of seeking to muzzle the Palestinians. Journalist Qeiq was kidnapped on November 21, 2005 from his home and then transferred to administrative detention, without any guilt or indictment.
Israeli soldiers shot and injured, Friday, four Palestinians during clashes near the Ofer Israeli detention center and military base, built on Palestinian lands in Betunia and Rafat towns, in the central West Bank district of Ramallah.
The soldiers assaulted dozens of Palestinians, who marched on Friday afternoon, towards the detention center, and fired dozens of live rounds, rubber-coated steel bullets and gas bombs, while local youths hurled stones and empty bottles on them.
Medical sources said a young man was shot with a live round in the abdomen, suffering a serious injury, and three others were shot with rubber-coated steel bullets, while dozens suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation.
The soldiers also fired many gas bombs directly hitting a number of homes, causing many families to suffer the effects of tear gas inhalation.
In addition, several journalists suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation after the soldiers fired gas bombs on them, directly after the army vehicles left the Ofer prison.
The soldiers assaulted dozens of Palestinians, who marched on Friday afternoon, towards the detention center, and fired dozens of live rounds, rubber-coated steel bullets and gas bombs, while local youths hurled stones and empty bottles on them.
Medical sources said a young man was shot with a live round in the abdomen, suffering a serious injury, and three others were shot with rubber-coated steel bullets, while dozens suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation.
The soldiers also fired many gas bombs directly hitting a number of homes, causing many families to suffer the effects of tear gas inhalation.
In addition, several journalists suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation after the soldiers fired gas bombs on them, directly after the army vehicles left the Ofer prison.
12 feb 2016
The Palestinian Prisoner Society (PPS) has submitted a petition to the Israeli higher court on behalf of hunger-striking journalist Mohamed al-Qeiq asking for his transfer from Afula hospital to a Palestinian one in order to provide him with proper medical care.
The society stated that it made this request after the health of Qeiq sharply declined and all efforts to have him released failed.
The higher court had issued a verdict in early February suspending the administrative detention of prisoner Qeiq on condition that he should stay in an Israeli hospital or submit a request for his transfer to another one.
Prisoner Qeiq has been refusing to take any medication or undergo medical tests since he started his hunger strike 80 days ago. He was forcibly given treatment twice last January after he lost his consciousness.
The society stated that it made this request after the health of Qeiq sharply declined and all efforts to have him released failed.
The higher court had issued a verdict in early February suspending the administrative detention of prisoner Qeiq on condition that he should stay in an Israeli hospital or submit a request for his transfer to another one.
Prisoner Qeiq has been refusing to take any medication or undergo medical tests since he started his hunger strike 80 days ago. He was forcibly given treatment twice last January after he lost his consciousness.
Several Palestinians have been injured, Friday, after Israeli soldiers used excessive force against the weekly protest in Kafr Qaddoum town, east of the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia.
The Popular Committee against the Wall and Colonies in Kafr Qaddoum said the Palestinians marched from the center of the village, demanding the army to reopen the main road, that was blockaded more than 13 years ago, before the soldiers assaulted them.
Coordinator of the Popular Committee Morad Eshteiwy said the soldiers invaded the town, accompanied by several bulldozers and armored vehicles, and fired dozens of gas bombs and concussion grenades.
Eshteiwy added that the soldiers also sprayed the protesters, and many homes, with waste-water mixed with chemicals, and fired many gas bombs, causing several mild injuries.
The soldiers also detained a cameraman, working for the WAFA Palestinian News Agency, identified as Ayman Noubani, 24, and another cameraman, identified as Mohammad Torabi, and only released them after the protest ended, several hours later.
The Popular Committee against the Wall and Colonies in Kafr Qaddoum said the Palestinians marched from the center of the village, demanding the army to reopen the main road, that was blockaded more than 13 years ago, before the soldiers assaulted them.
Coordinator of the Popular Committee Morad Eshteiwy said the soldiers invaded the town, accompanied by several bulldozers and armored vehicles, and fired dozens of gas bombs and concussion grenades.
Eshteiwy added that the soldiers also sprayed the protesters, and many homes, with waste-water mixed with chemicals, and fired many gas bombs, causing several mild injuries.
The soldiers also detained a cameraman, working for the WAFA Palestinian News Agency, identified as Ayman Noubani, 24, and another cameraman, identified as Mohammad Torabi, and only released them after the protest ended, several hours later.
Army Targets Journalists Near Ramallah, Injures A Young Man In Bethlehem
Israeli soldiers attacked, Friday, the weekly nonviolent protest against the Annexation Wall and Colonies, in Ni’lin village, west of the central West Bank city of Ramallah, wounding many Palestinians, including a young man, who suffered a serious injury, after the soldiers shot him with a rubber-coated steel bullet in his head.
Medical sources said the soldiers shot the young man directly in his head, causing him a very serious injury, before local medics transferred him to a hospital, where he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.
The soldiers also shot three other young men, while dozens of Palestinians suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation.
The Popular Committee against the Wall and Colonies in Ni’lin said this week’s nonviolent protest comes in solidarity with hunger striking detainee, Journalist Mohammad al-Qeeq, who started his hunger strike 80 days ago, and against the ongoing illegal Israeli occupation, colonies and constant violations.
Also on Friday, the soldiers attacked the weekly nonviolent protest in Bil’in village, near the central West Bank city of Ramallah, causing dozens to suffer the effects of tear gas inhalation.
In related news, the soldiers assaulted many Palestinian protesters close to the Ofer Israeli prison, near Ramallah, and fired several gas bombs on them.
Media sources said the journalists were far from confrontations that were taking place between the soldiers and local youths, but the army deliberately targeted them to force him away, causing many of them to suffer the effects of tear gas inhalation.
The soldiers also fired dozens of rubber-coated steel bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades on the protesters.
In the Bethlehem district, the soldiers shot a young man, with a live round in his arm, during clashes with local youths, after the army invaded Um Rokba area, in al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem.
Local medics moved the wounded young man to the Beit Jala government-run hospital, suffering a moderate-but-stable injury.
Israeli soldiers attacked, Friday, the weekly nonviolent protest against the Annexation Wall and Colonies, in Ni’lin village, west of the central West Bank city of Ramallah, wounding many Palestinians, including a young man, who suffered a serious injury, after the soldiers shot him with a rubber-coated steel bullet in his head.
Medical sources said the soldiers shot the young man directly in his head, causing him a very serious injury, before local medics transferred him to a hospital, where he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.
The soldiers also shot three other young men, while dozens of Palestinians suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation.
The Popular Committee against the Wall and Colonies in Ni’lin said this week’s nonviolent protest comes in solidarity with hunger striking detainee, Journalist Mohammad al-Qeeq, who started his hunger strike 80 days ago, and against the ongoing illegal Israeli occupation, colonies and constant violations.
Also on Friday, the soldiers attacked the weekly nonviolent protest in Bil’in village, near the central West Bank city of Ramallah, causing dozens to suffer the effects of tear gas inhalation.
In related news, the soldiers assaulted many Palestinian protesters close to the Ofer Israeli prison, near Ramallah, and fired several gas bombs on them.
Media sources said the journalists were far from confrontations that were taking place between the soldiers and local youths, but the army deliberately targeted them to force him away, causing many of them to suffer the effects of tear gas inhalation.
The soldiers also fired dozens of rubber-coated steel bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades on the protesters.
In the Bethlehem district, the soldiers shot a young man, with a live round in his arm, during clashes with local youths, after the army invaded Um Rokba area, in al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem.
Local medics moved the wounded young man to the Beit Jala government-run hospital, suffering a moderate-but-stable injury.
The health condition of journalist Mohamed al-Qeiq has reached a life-threatening stage in Afula hospital after he entered on Friday the 80th day of his hunger strike, according to the Palestinian commission of detainees and ex-detainees.
"Prisoner Qeiq has become closer to death and his health has suffered irreversible damage," a press release issued by the commission said on Thursday.
The commission affirmed that it had received a medical report from Afula hospital stating that the prisoner recently suffered persistent pains in his body, especially in his chest, as well as continual convulsions.
In this regard, the family of journalist Qeiq has called on all Palestinians to stage marches and events in all areas of occupied Palestine on Friday in solidarity with him.
"Prisoner Qeiq has become closer to death and his health has suffered irreversible damage," a press release issued by the commission said on Thursday.
The commission affirmed that it had received a medical report from Afula hospital stating that the prisoner recently suffered persistent pains in his body, especially in his chest, as well as continual convulsions.
In this regard, the family of journalist Qeiq has called on all Palestinians to stage marches and events in all areas of occupied Palestine on Friday in solidarity with him.
