RAMALLAH: Israel has “reneged" on an agreement to release hunger striking prisoner Akram Rikhawi, Addameer Prisoner Support Network claimed in a press release on Thursday. Rikhawi ended a 102-day hunger strike in July 2012, when Israeli Prison Services (IPS) agreed to release him on January 24 this year in exchange for ceasing the strike. When he was not released on the 24th, Rikhawi launched a new hunger strike. He has vowed not to eat until he is released from detention, Addameer stated. As his blood sugar levels steadily decrease, Rikhawi is only accepting water and sugar, Addameer reported. His brother Shadi, also in Israeli detention, launched a hunger strike on the same time. The news of his re-launched hunger strike comes as the plight of three additional hunger strikers, all of which are being held without charges in administrative detention, continues to gain attention: Jafar Azzedine, Tarek Qa'adan, and Samer Al-Issawi. Azzedine and Qa'adan have entered their 64th day of the strike, and Samer Al-Issawi has passed 190 days. Azzedine and Qa'adan are presently in the Assaf Harofeh hospital, each still suffering from health ailments that began during previous hunger strikes: body pains, kidney problems, headaches, fatigue, and dizziness. Al-Issawi, according to a Red Cross medical examiner, is in danger of death. After threatening to intensify his hunger strike, Al-Issawi ceased accepting vitamins on January 17. Less than a week later, on January 22, he also stopped drinking water for five days. “Samer was then examined by a Red Cross doctor on 27 January 2013 who explained that his life was at risk and suggested that he at least begin drinking water again," Addameer said. “Following the doctor's advice Samer started drinking water. Samer continues to suffer from various health conditions including low heart rate; heart pain; sever kidney pain; chest pain; muscle pain; severe headaches; and pain in his left eye." Activists have criticized the mainstream media's failure to pay attention to Al-Issawi and other hunger strikers. As of January 1, Addameer estimates that 4,743 Palestinians were being held in Israeli prisons. From that total, 193 are children, 23 of whom are under the age of 16. BN
