“ICRC doctors have been visiting Mr. Ghadanfar Abu-Atwan and closely monitoring his situation”, said the head of ICRC’s health department in Israel and the occupied territories, Yves Giebens. “From a medical perspective, he is in critical condition after more than 67 days of a hunger strike. We are concerned about potentially irreversible health consequences.”
As a neutral humanitarian institution, the ICRC neither supports nor advocates against a hunger strike. ICRC staff monitor the situation of hunger-strikers to ensure that they are treated with respect, have access to adequate medical care, and are allowed to maintain contact with their families. The most recent visit to Mr. Ghadanfar Abu-Atwan took place on 5 July.
The ICRC encourages the patient, his representatives, and the competent involved authorities to find a solution that will avoid any loss of life.
For further information, please contact:
Suhair Zakkout (Arabic and English), ICRC Gaza, tel: +972 59 92 55 381
Yahia Masswadeh (Arabic, English), ICRC Jerusalem, tel: +972 52 601 9148
