Jerusalem – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is seriously concerned about the deteriorating health of Mr. Maher Al Akhras, a Palestinian administratively detained and hospitalized in Israel.
“ICRC doctors have been visiting Mr. Al Akhras and closely monitoring his situation”, said the head of ICRC’s health department in Israel and the occupied territories, Yves Giebens. “More than 85 days into the hunger strike, we are concerned about potentially irreversible health consequences. From a medical perspective, he is entering a critical phase”.
As a neutral humanitarian institution, the ICRC neither supports nor advocates against a hunger strike. ICRC staff monitor the situation of hunger-strikers to ensure that they are treated with respect, have access to adequate medical care, and are allowed to maintain contact with their families. The most recent visit to Mr. Al Akhras took place on 22 October.
The ICRC encourages the patient, his representatives and the competent authorities involved to find a solution that will avoid any loss of life.
For further information, please contact:
Suhair Zakkout (Arabic and English), ICRC Gaza, tel: +972 59 92 55 381
Yahia Masswadeh (Arabic, English), ICRC Jerusalem, tel: +972 52 601 9148
Or visit our website; www.icrc.org/israel-occupied-territories
facebook.com/ICRCot (Arabic), facebook.com/ICRCil (Hebrew), twitter.com/ICRC_ilot, blogs.icrc.org/ilot
