PCHR Appeals to the International Community to Save Lives

Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
Press Release

Ref: 63/2012
Date: 10 June 2012

PCHR Appeals the International Community to Save the Lives of Palestinian Prisoners, Mahmoud al-Sersek and Akram al-Rakhawi, Who Have Been on Hunger Strike

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) expresses extreme concern over the fate of Mahmoud Kamel al-Sersek and Akram Abdullah al-Rakhawi,who have been on hunger strike in Israeli jails for 88 days and 68 days, respectively. PCHR holds the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) accountable for their lives, and calls upon the international community to exert pressure on the IOF to immediately release al-Sersek and al-Rakhawi.

Al-Sersek(28), from Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip, has now been on hunger strike for 88 days. The IOF arrested al-Sersek, a member of the Palestinian national football team, on 15 July 2009 after stopping him at the BeitHanoon "Erez" crossing while on his way to play football in the Balata Sports Club. The IOF dealt with al-Sersek as an 'illegal fighter.' Al-Sersek refuses to end his hunger strike, despite Isreal’s oral promises to release him next July, and insists that he needs a written pledge to release him in exchange for enduing his hunger strike.

Al-Rakhawi(39), also from Rafah, has now been on hunger strike for 68 days. He was arrested on 07 June 2004, and sentenced to 9 years of imprisonment. Since then, he has been admitted to the hospital in al-Ramla prison, as he suffers from asthma, diabetes and other diseases. Al-Rakhawi has started his hunger strike is in protest of his deteriorating conditions. He asks the IOF to release him after completing two-thirds of his imprisonment sentence.

According to human rights sources, al-Sersekhas lost around 30 kg already. Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association – Addameer’s lawyer said that al-Sersek’s health conditions are serious as he suffers from heart muscle weakness, problems in the bowels, inability to walk, blurred vision and pains throughout the body. He has also been suffering from frequent fainting. The Palestinian Prisoner Club reported that al-Sersek was transferred to AsafHarofeh Hospital, due to deterioration in his health conditions.

The UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights, Richard Falk, expressed deep concern over the fate of al-Sersek and al-Rakhawi: “These individuals are protesting against their detention without charges and are suffering immensely for it. There is no acceptable basis for continuing to hold these persons, and Israel will be responsible if any permanent harm results.”

PCHR has extreme concern over the fate of al-Sersek and al-Rakhawi,who are on hunger strike in Israeli jails, and is seeking to save their lives:

1. Calls upon the international community to exert pressure on the IOF to immediately release them, in order to save their lives.
2. Calls upon human rights organizations and international solidarity organizations to put an end to the misuse of administrative arrests by the IOF, based on the term of 'illegal fighter,' in violation of the fundamental right to a fair trial.
3. Notes with grave concern the deterioration of living conditions of more than 4,700 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

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