CAIRO: Palestinian footballer Mahmoud Sarsak, who has been in jail without charge or trial for almost three years, agreed to end his three-month old hunger strike in exchange for hospital treatment, his lawyer said on Monday. Activists have been demanding the release of Sarsak, who has become a symbol of resistance for Palestinians in recent months after he began his hunger strike. 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 earlier this month, appealing to the world to demand Israel release the player. His situation has also seen the Palestinian Football Association call on the European Football Association (UEFA) to cancel a scheduled championship in Israel over the detention. 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 had refused to release the man. According to sources close to Sarsak, he is on his death bed, and could succumb any day as a result of his refusal to take in food. Online petitions have been circulated for supporters to sign in support of Sarsak. But it seems to have little affect on the Israeli authorities.
