Khader Adnan ends 66 days of Hunger Strike by Jonathon Blakeley
PRESS RELEASE
Khader Adnan has ended 66 days of hunger strike following a deal with the Israeli authority in which his administrative detention will no longer be extended. He will subsequently be released on the 17th of April. The agreement was reached less than an hour before the Supreme Court hearing was scheduled to begin. It had been brought forward by 48 hours amid fears that Adnan might die before the case could be heard.Khader Adnan is 33 years of age, a baker in his home town of Jenin, a Masters student in Economic at Birzeit University, a husband and a father. Adnan has two children and his wife Randa is expecting their third. In light of his release, his wife Randa reported
He forced the occupation to give in to his demands and I hope he returns safe to us.”
Khader Adnan began his hunger strike following his arrest on the 17th of December to protest Israeli administrative detention policy inhumane practices of the Israeli authorities in prison. Adnan was subjected to torture and inhumane treatment, prolonged periods of detention, isolation and unsanitary conditions.
According to Physicians for Human Rights, Adnan has lost over a third of his body weight. The Palestinian Authority has affirmed that Khader Adnan will be treated in the West Bank upon his release; meanwhile he will remain in detention at the Ziv Medical Centre in Safed.
Adnan Khader’s brave pursuit for freedom and dignity has attracted worldwide attention and support by family, friends and activists worldwide, sparked sympathy hunger strikers by Palestinian prisoners and marked his 66-day hunger strike in the history of the Palestinian prisoner’s movement.
Adnan’s struggle has exposed Israel’s illegal use of administrative detention orders on Palestinian’s detaining them for unknown periods under brutal measures and ill treatment whilst denied a fair trial or even in some cases legal representation. Despite Adnan’s alleged affiliation to Islamic Jihad, through his peaceful protest and perseverance for a just cause Adnan’s struggle has ignited the consciences of people across the world. H.E Ambassador Hassassian of the Palestinian Mission said, “We, the Palestinian have adopted a strategy of peaceful resistance to occupation and we have been supported by the international solidarity groups at all fronts. I would like to extend our deep gratitude to peace activists, to those who believe in popular resistance, peace and justice, and all those who diligently campaigned towards the freedom of our hero Khader Adnan”.
Adnan’s campaign has demonstrated the will of many Palestinians and peace activists that seek a peaceful, dignified and just future for Palestinians. Khadr Adnan’s campaign for freedom and end to Israel’s unjust imprisonment measures should not mean that we forget the countless number of Palestinian prisoners still currently held in Israeli jails. According to B’T Selem human rights group, Israel is holding 309 Palestinians in prison without charge, a sharp increase from the previous year. The group said 80 of those being held had been detained for between six months and a year, another 88 had been held for between one and two years, and 16 of them had been behind bars for between two and four-and-a-half years.We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those that supported the Free Khader Adnan campaign. We hope that you continue in your efforts to uphold the plight of Palestinians suffering under Israeli occupation and continue to protest for a free Palestine.
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian 
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