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| Palestinian lawyer has brain damage from hunger strike, say doctors | Palestinian lawyer has brain damage from hunger strike, say doctors |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Doctors treating a Palestinian man who has been on hunger strike for 65 days in an Israeli prison say he has suffered brain damage, amid suggestions that Israel may be preparing to release him. An MRI scan was ordered for Mohammed Allan after a lawyer for the Israeli state told a supreme court hearing that Allan would be released immediately if he had irreversible brain damage. | |
| Allan, age 31, went on hunger strike in an attempt to persuade Israel to either release or charge him. He is being held in “administrative detention”, a measure that allows Israeli authorities to hold suspects for months without charge. | |
| The MRI scan was conducted at Barzilai hospital in Ashkelon, where Allan is being treated after his lawyer reported that the hunger striker was unable to reply to questions during a meeting. | |
| “Allan’s condition is dangerous and there could be a rapid deterioration,” said Dr Hezi Levy one of the physicians treating him. Allan was brought out of a medically induced coma on Tuesday, and since then he has had difficulty communicating, the hospital says. | “Allan’s condition is dangerous and there could be a rapid deterioration,” said Dr Hezi Levy one of the physicians treating him. Allan was brought out of a medically induced coma on Tuesday, and since then he has had difficulty communicating, the hospital says. |
| The case of Allan - who Israel accuses of being a member of militant group Islamic Jihad - has become a cause célèbre, prompting clashes outside the hospital between Palestinian supporters of Allan and rightwing Israeli opponents . Allan has denied the claim of affiliation with the group. | |
| His health deteriorated sharply last week, triggering negotiations between Israeli state lawyers and his own legal team over possible conditions for his release including exile to Gaza for four years, a condition he has rejected in the past, and the suggestion that his detention would not be renewed in November if he was found to be suffering serious health problems. | His health deteriorated sharply last week, triggering negotiations between Israeli state lawyers and his own legal team over possible conditions for his release including exile to Gaza for four years, a condition he has rejected in the past, and the suggestion that his detention would not be renewed in November if he was found to be suffering serious health problems. |
| As the supreme court met on Wednesday to consider an appeal by Allan’s legal team calling for his immediate release, it was revealed that the Israeli government would consider releasing him if Allan was found to have irreversible brain damage. | As the supreme court met on Wednesday to consider an appeal by Allan’s legal team calling for his immediate release, it was revealed that the Israeli government would consider releasing him if Allan was found to have irreversible brain damage. |
| Speaking for the government, Yochi Gnessin announced: “If it turns out that the detainee is in an irreversible and permanent medical cognitive situation that will not enable him to resume his activities, the state will announce that the arrest warrant will become void immediately.” | Speaking for the government, Yochi Gnessin announced: “If it turns out that the detainee is in an irreversible and permanent medical cognitive situation that will not enable him to resume his activities, the state will announce that the arrest warrant will become void immediately.” |
| According to Israeli media sources, the release offer is based on the logic that lasting brain damage would make the issue of any alleged threat posed by Allan in the past a moot point. | According to Israeli media sources, the release offer is based on the logic that lasting brain damage would make the issue of any alleged threat posed by Allan in the past a moot point. |
| Health officials disclosed on Wednesday that Allan’s cognitive functioning had deteriorated on Wednesday morning, although doctors were unable to say whether the damage would be permanent or long lasting. | Health officials disclosed on Wednesday that Allan’s cognitive functioning had deteriorated on Wednesday morning, although doctors were unable to say whether the damage would be permanent or long lasting. |