Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and the head of the Palestinian Authority’s Committee of Prisoners’ Affairs Issa Qaraqe met on Sunday with the family of hunger striking prisoner Muhammad al-Qiq.
Hamdallah said the Palestinian government was exerting all efforts to obtain the immediate and unconditional release of al-Qiq, who has been on a hunger strike for 69 days to protest his ongoing administrative detention — internment without trial or charge.
On Saturday, a report by the HaEmek Hospital, where al-Qiq has been detained since his condition worsened, confirmed that the Palestinian journalist was in a critical state and had lost his ability to speak.
Hamdallah told al-Qiq’s family that the PA had contacted a number of international organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, to pressure Israel to release al-Qiq or to allow his family to visit him.
The Israeli Supreme Court delayed on Wednesday its decision on whether or not to release al-Qiq, approving to continue the detainee’s administrative detention until his medical condition had been examined.
In a statement from released on Saturday, al-Qiq reiterated his commitment to his hunger strike.
“When people are been treated tyrannically, they are no longer worried about the consequences even if the toll is life. Thus, I entrusted myself in God’s hands and I will continue with this hunger strike, until martyrdom or freedom,” al-Qiq said.MA’AN NEWS AGENCY