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Israel Treats Palestinian Prisoner on Hunger Strike After Health Deteriorates Israel Treats Palestinian Prisoner on Hunger Strike After Health Deteriorates
(about 4 hours later)
RAMALLAH, West Bank — A Palestinian prisoner on a hunger strike for 60 days was placed on an artificial respirator and given fluids intravenously on Friday after his lungs stopped working and he had seizures.RAMALLAH, West Bank — A Palestinian prisoner on a hunger strike for 60 days was placed on an artificial respirator and given fluids intravenously on Friday after his lungs stopped working and he had seizures.
The prisoner, Mohammad Allan, could pose the first test of a new law in Israel that would allow authorities to force feed detainees to keep them alive.The prisoner, Mohammad Allan, could pose the first test of a new law in Israel that would allow authorities to force feed detainees to keep them alive.
The case of Mr. Allan, a 31-year-old lawyer who began his hunger strike on June 16 to protest his indefinite incarceration without known charges, has already presented a sharp challenge to Israel’s security establishment.The case of Mr. Allan, a 31-year-old lawyer who began his hunger strike on June 16 to protest his indefinite incarceration without known charges, has already presented a sharp challenge to Israel’s security establishment.
Israeli authorities, who say the law is intended to save lives, fear that as Mr. Allan’s health deteriorates sharply, violent demonstrations could erupt. Palestinians contend that the true purpose of the law, which was passed on July 30, is to prevent prisoners from using hunger strikes to demand better conditions or their release.Israeli authorities, who say the law is intended to save lives, fear that as Mr. Allan’s health deteriorates sharply, violent demonstrations could erupt. Palestinians contend that the true purpose of the law, which was passed on July 30, is to prevent prisoners from using hunger strikes to demand better conditions or their release.
“In the early hours of this morning, there was a deterioration in Mohammad Allan’s condition,” said Ayelet Kedar, a spokeswoman for the Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon, Israel. “The patient is receiving medical treatment including ventilation and intravenous fluids and salts.”“In the early hours of this morning, there was a deterioration in Mohammad Allan’s condition,” said Ayelet Kedar, a spokeswoman for the Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon, Israel. “The patient is receiving medical treatment including ventilation and intravenous fluids and salts.”
“His condition is stable,” said Ms. Kedar, who added that further testing of Mr. Allan’s condition would determine if additional treatment is required.“His condition is stable,” said Ms. Kedar, who added that further testing of Mr. Allan’s condition would determine if additional treatment is required.
Giving an unconscious patient intravenous fluids is permitted by existing laws, said Dr. Ahmad Tibi, an Arab member of the Israeli Parliament who spoke from the medical center. Palestinian hunger strikers have usually allowed Israeli medics to intervene once they lose consciousness, at least to revive them.Giving an unconscious patient intravenous fluids is permitted by existing laws, said Dr. Ahmad Tibi, an Arab member of the Israeli Parliament who spoke from the medical center. Palestinian hunger strikers have usually allowed Israeli medics to intervene once they lose consciousness, at least to revive them.
Mr. Tibi said the hospital had not sought to begin the process that would allow the force feeding of Mr. Allan. By law, that requires a doctor to conduct a physical examination, and the Israel Prison Service would have to present the results to a district court for approval.Mr. Tibi said the hospital had not sought to begin the process that would allow the force feeding of Mr. Allan. By law, that requires a doctor to conduct a physical examination, and the Israel Prison Service would have to present the results to a district court for approval.
But so far, no doctor has agreed to conduct any forcible medical tests on Mr. Allan to begin the force-feeding process, and Israel’s medical association is challenging the law in court.But so far, no doctor has agreed to conduct any forcible medical tests on Mr. Allan to begin the force-feeding process, and Israel’s medical association is challenging the law in court.
Jamil Khatib, one of the prisoner’s lawyers, said that Mr. Allan was being given salts and potassium and that he could decide if he wanted to continue treatment once he recovered.Jamil Khatib, one of the prisoner’s lawyers, said that Mr. Allan was being given salts and potassium and that he could decide if he wanted to continue treatment once he recovered.
“The hospital will not force him,” Mr. Khatib said.“The hospital will not force him,” Mr. Khatib said.
Mr. Allan has expressly said that he does not want to be the subject of a medical examination or treatment, and his mother has said that Mr. Allan wants to be released or to die.Mr. Allan has expressly said that he does not want to be the subject of a medical examination or treatment, and his mother has said that Mr. Allan wants to be released or to die.
His brother, Ameed, said by telephone that he was not aware that his brother was being given intravenous fluids.His brother, Ameed, said by telephone that he was not aware that his brother was being given intravenous fluids.
As Mr. Allan received emergency treatment, his lawyers and Israeli-Arab lawmakers were holding discussions with intelligence officials about his fate, Mr. Khatib said. Among the questions was whether to release Mr. Allan, as he demands, to move forward with force-feeding him, or to let him die because of a lack of nutrients.As Mr. Allan received emergency treatment, his lawyers and Israeli-Arab lawmakers were holding discussions with intelligence officials about his fate, Mr. Khatib said. Among the questions was whether to release Mr. Allan, as he demands, to move forward with force-feeding him, or to let him die because of a lack of nutrients.
Another lawyer for Mr. Allan, Abeer Baker, petitioned Israeli military officials for his client’s release on the grounds of his poor health.Another lawyer for Mr. Allan, Abeer Baker, petitioned Israeli military officials for his client’s release on the grounds of his poor health.
“This is about ego,” Mr. Khatib said by telephone from the Barzilai Medical Center. “Will Israel submit to the demands of a prisoner, or not?”“This is about ego,” Mr. Khatib said by telephone from the Barzilai Medical Center. “Will Israel submit to the demands of a prisoner, or not?”
Palestinian news outlets reported that prison authorities had declared a state of alert, closed cell blocks and prevented communal Muslim prayers on Friday, as a leading prisoner rights activist called for a “day of rage.”Palestinian news outlets reported that prison authorities had declared a state of alert, closed cell blocks and prevented communal Muslim prayers on Friday, as a leading prisoner rights activist called for a “day of rage.”
A spokesman for Israel’s prison service, speaking on the condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said that the agency was operating as usual and that no extraordinary changes had been made.A spokesman for Israel’s prison service, speaking on the condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said that the agency was operating as usual and that no extraordinary changes had been made.
One Palestinian militant group — the Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad movement — said on Friday that if Mr. Allan died, it would stop observing the cease-fire agreement signed with Israel after the war in Gaza last year. A representative of the group said that his death would be “an Israeli crime against our prisoners and people.”
Officials who met with Mr. Allan before he lost consciousness described him as gaunt and said that his vision was fading, that his hearing was declining and that he was vomiting clear fluids — the only thing he has consumed since beginning his fast is water.Officials who met with Mr. Allan before he lost consciousness described him as gaunt and said that his vision was fading, that his hearing was declining and that he was vomiting clear fluids — the only thing he has consumed since beginning his fast is water.
A photograph of Mr. Allan published on a Palestinian news website showed a withered, skinny bearded man lying in bed, his foot shackled to the hospital bed by a thin silver bracelet.A photograph of Mr. Allan published on a Palestinian news website showed a withered, skinny bearded man lying in bed, his foot shackled to the hospital bed by a thin silver bracelet.
Palestinian inmates most often use hunger strikes to protest “administrative detention,” which enables the Israeli authorities to hold prisoners for six months and is sometimes renewed to prolong detention for years.Palestinian inmates most often use hunger strikes to protest “administrative detention,” which enables the Israeli authorities to hold prisoners for six months and is sometimes renewed to prolong detention for years.
In such cases, security officials typically present evidence only to judges, not to detainees or their lawyers. Israeli security officials say they cannot make charges public because doing so would expose their intelligence-gathering systems.In such cases, security officials typically present evidence only to judges, not to detainees or their lawyers. Israeli security officials say they cannot make charges public because doing so would expose their intelligence-gathering systems.