Two Years On: Remembering Khader Adnan, Palestinian Hunger Striker Killed by Israel
Occupied West Bank (Quds News Network)- Today marks two years since the death of Palestinian prisoner Khader Adnan, who died in an Israeli prison on May 2, 2023, after an 87-day hunger strike in protest against his detention by the Israeli occupation.
Adnan “refused to undergo medical tests and receive medical treatment,” and he “was found unconscious in the cell” in the early morning of May 2, the Israeli prison service said.
Adnan started his hunger strike since he was arrested by Israeli forces on February 5. Adnan, a 44-year-old resident of the town of Arraba near Jenin and a father of 9, had refused to eat for 87 days to protest against his detention by ‘Israel’ without charge.
His health had been steadily deteriorating, and his family repeatedly raised the alarm, warning that Adnan was dying. Despite his worsening condition, an Israeli military court repeatedly delayed issuing a decision on his request for release.
Repeated requests to transfer Adnan to a hospital due to his declining health were also refused, and he remained hospitalized in the prison clinic in Ramla which lacks specialists and adequate medical supplies.
Adnan became a symbol of resistance among Palestinians after being arrested by Israel 12 times, spending a total of eight years in prison, and undertaking five hunger strikes in protest.
In 2018, his hunger strike lasted almost 60 days, until he was released from jail after finally receiving a one-year sentence. In 2015, Adnan’s 54-day hunger strike, which brought him to the brink of death, also ended with a deal for his release. In 2012, Adnan went on hunger strike for 66 days, again agreeing to end his protest in exchange for his release from jail.
Adnan’s hunger strikes were in the past against his administrative detention, a common method used by ‘Israel’ to hold Palestinians without charge or trial. 2023’s arrest was not administrative, but rather came after an indictment.
Adnan was considered a prominent Islamic Jihad leader in the occupied West Bank. He was active in his support of Palestinian prisoners and regularly participated in events held to support them.
According to his attorney, Adnan was indicted for his membership in the Islamic Jihad group and the second charge was incitement, based on intelligence by Israel’s cyber unit from Adnan’s speeches published in the media.
The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS) said that Adnan had reached a dangerous stage and that he was facing “imminent death.”
Palestinian prisoner advocacy groups and resistance factions slammed Israel’s “deliberate execution” of Adnan
“Khader Adnan has been executed in cold blood,” the WAED Prisoners Association in Gaza told the Reuters news agency upon hearing of Adnan’s death.
Amin Shoman, head of the Palestinian Authority’s Supreme Commission for Prisoners and Ex-Detainees Affairs, said Adnan’s death is the consequence of deliberate policy against Palestinian detainees by the Israeli prison authorities.
“This is a new crime committed by Israel inside its prisons, and it deliberately continues its policy of medical negligence against thousands of prisoners, not responding to their just and humane demands, and turning its back on all international norms and laws,” he said.
