Israel/occupied territories: three Palestinian detainees on hunger strike risk death
14-09-2012 News Release 12/187
Geneva/Jerusalem (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is extremely concerned about the deteriorating health of three Palestinian detainees who are on long-term hunger strike. Samer Barq, Hassan Safadi and Ayman Sharawneh have been on hunger strike for several weeks.
"These people are going to die unless the detaining authorities find a prompt solution," said Juan Pedro Schaerer, the head of the ICRC delegation in Israel and the occupied territories. Any solution has to take into consideration the fact that under resolutions adopted by the World Medical Association, detainees are entitled to choose whether they are fed or receive medical treatment. It is essential that their choice be respected and their dignity preserved.
Ever since the hunger strikes started, ICRC delegates and medical staff have regularly visited the detainees, monitoring both their health and the way they are being treated. The ICRC has also been in contact with their families and has passed on greetings to them.
For further information, please contact:
Noora Kero, ICRC Jerusalem, tel: +972 52 601 91 50
Nadia Dibsy, ICRC Jerusalem, tel: +972 52 601 91 48
Ayman Alshehabi, ICRC Gaza, tel: +972 59 960 30 15
Ran Goldstein, ICRC Tel Aviv, tel: +972 52 27 57 517
Hicham Hassan, ICRC Geneva, tel: +41 22 730 25 41 or +41 79 536 92 57