RAMALLAH: Samer Al-Issawi, the Palestinian who has been on hunger strike for over 200 days, has released a letter from prison. “My health has deteriorated dramatically and I'm hung between life and death. My weak body is collapsing but still able to be patient and continue the confrontation. My message is that I will continue until the end, until the last drop of water in my body, until martyrdom. Martyrdom is an honor for me in this battle. My martyrdom is my remaining bomb in the confrontation with the tyrants and the jailers, in the face of the racist policy of the occupation that humiliates our people and exercises against us all means of oppression and repression." Due to the length of his fast, Al-Issawi's organs are shutting down, his eyesight has almost completely deteriorated and he is reportedly vomiting blood. “The doctors told me I became exposed to stroke because of the disorder of my heartbeats, the shortage of sugar and the drop in blood pressure. My body is full of cold and I can't sleep because of the continued pain. But despite the extreme fatigue and chronic headaches, as I move on my chair, I'm trying to summon all my resources to continue on the road till its end." Al-Issawi is a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). He was originally captured in Ramallah by Israeli forces in April 2002 during the second Intifada. In 2011, he was released in a prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas. Israel released 1,027 prisoners for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. As part of the deal, Al-Issawi was not allowed to leave Jerusalem. On July 7, 2012, he was arrested again near Hizma, a Palestinian village within the Jerusalem municipality. Israel claimed he violated the agreement by leaving Jerusalem and placed him under administrative detention. His hunger strike began on July 28, 2012 A full transcript of the letter can be found here BN
