CAIRO: International NGOs are raising their volume of calls for the release of Palestinian footballer Mahmoud Sarsak, who on Thursday continued a hunger strike against Israeli prison administration for the 87th day. The footballer has garnered much attention among Palestinian and other rights activists in the region over his refusal to eat food, but his action has done little to improve his plight, as the world stands by and does not force Israel to release the man. “Our national team football player #MahmoudSarsak is being left to die in Israeli prison hospital ACT now to save him,” wrote Tweet Palestine on Monday morning, appealing to the world to demand Israel release the player, who has become a symbol of the struggle in Palestine. Sarsak entered a hunger strike nearly three months ago to protest the administrative measures against him by Israeli authorities. Despite the widespread anger surrounding his detention and health situation, Israel has refused to release the man. Among those demanding his arrest was UK-based Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), who also called on supporters to write letters demanding Sarsan be released. They also called on the British Olympic Committee to intervene on Sarsak's behalf. A professional footballer representing the Palestinian national team, Sarsak has become a symbol for Palestinian activists. Sarsak, a member of the Palestinian national soccer team, was arrested on July 22, 2009 at the Erez crossing on his way to join the Balata football club in Nablus. Since being arrested Sarsak has not been allowed to speak with his family, as Israel prohibits security prisoners from using the telephone. Sarsak's family has not been able to visit as Israel has prohibited family visits for all prisoners from the Gaza Strip. “According to the Israeli government he is an illegal combatant and therefore they can imprison him indefinitely,” IHRC said in a statement. “IHRC is deeply concerned about Sarsak's health and about his imprisonment, and therefore asks for his immediate release from jail,” the organization added.
