Dozens of Palestinian prisoners begin hunger strike in solidarity with two critically ill detainees

A total of 75 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have begun an indefinite hunger strike in solidarity with detainees Raed Rayyan and Jalil Awawdeh, who are in critical condition after refusing to voluntarily consume food in protest against Israel’s administrative detention system, which allows Palestinians to be held without charge or trial.

Rayyan, 27, a native of Beit Duqqu, northwest of Jerusalem, has been on hunger strike for 109 days in protest against his detention since November 3, 2021 and is currently convalescing in the Ramla prison clinic.

Awawdeh, 40, from the town of Idna in the southern West Bank district of Hebron, has been on hunger strike for 23 days in protest of his prolonged administrative detention.

Last month, Awawdeh broke a 111-day fast after Israeli prison authorities assured him that his administrative detention would not be renewed, but resumed the hunger strike a week after Israeli authorities reneged on their promise, according to information from the Prisoners’ Affairs Committee picked up by the official Palestinian news agency Wafa.

Israel currently holds more than 680 Palestinians in administrative detention, according to data handled by the commission.