I call on the international community to demand that the Israeli government immediately release Khader Adnan from administrative detention.

As I write this plea, Khader Adnan is finishing his sixty-second day on hunger strike in protest of Israel’s inhumane and unlawful policy of administrative detention. Since Israel illegally occupied the Palestinian Territories, it has used administrative detention to arbitrarily arrest Palestinian after Palestinian and hold them indefinitely, without any charge.

Israel has adopted this policy in order to suppress Palestinian people and their voices. For forty-five years Israel has abused, humiliated and tortured Palestinian prisoners, denying them their most basic human rights Khader Adnan has courageously chosen to starve himself on behalf of the tens of thousands of Palestinians who have been imprisoned by an illegal and brutal Occupying Authority. Adnan’s brave decision has inspired hundreds of Palestinians currently jailed by Israel to follow his lead and refuse their meals.

Khader Adnan’s life is nearing the end. For sixty-two days, Adnan has gone without food. Doctors have informed his wife and children that his heart could stop at any moment.

The international community, have repeatedly affirmed that both Israel’s occupation and use of administrative detention is illegal and should end. Now, you must act. I ask you to stand with Khader Adnan in his powerful struggle to fight for his and his people’s rights to dignity and humanity.

Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi

president of PMRS