Prisoner temporarily suspends hunger strike

Striking prisoner Ayman Sharawneh, who has been on hunger strike for 170 days in a row protesting his administrative detention without charge or trial, suspended his strike two days ago due to severe deterioration in his health that could lead to his death, the Palestinian Prisoner’s Club’s (PPC) said Tuesday. A PPC lawyer said Sharawneh suspended his strike after a medical committee formed to examine his health condition pleaded with him to stop his strike or he will suffer severe health consequences that could either cause him a stroke, complete paralysis or sudden death. The lawyer said that Sharawneh is already suffering from a kidney failure. Sharawneh said he suspended his strike for 10 days awaiting a decision for his release, but that he will resume the strike if he is not released. Another striking prisoner, Samer Issawi, who has been on a hunger strike for 151 days, is also suffering from severe deterioration in his health, said the PPC lawyer. Issawi suffers from severe headaches, severe pain in the spine, in addition to severe pain in his chest caused after he was attacked by Israeli police in court last week. Israeli police attacked Issawi, who was on a wheelchair, and his family when he appeared in court for a hearing on his release.