Jader Adnan, a member of the Islamic Jihad terrorist group and former spokesman for the formation, died early Tuesday morning in an Israeli prison after 87 days on hunger strike.
Authorities said Adnan was found unconscious in his cell and was taken to a hospital on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, where he was pronounced dead after several unsuccessful attempts at resuscitation.
Adnan, 45, was arrested on February 5 in his home town of Arrabé, at which time he announced the start of a hunger strike, as he had done on previous occasions during his prison stays. He refused to undergo medical examinations and treatment, Palestinian media reported.
The man was arrested for allegedly belonging to a terrorist group, supporting a terrorist organization and incitement. Adnan had staged four other hunger strikes in Israeli prisons, including a 66-day hunger strike in 2012 in protest of his detention without charge and a 50-day hunger strike in 2015 following another arrest.
A doctor from Physicians for Human Rights Israel recently visited Adnan in prison and warned that he was facing »imminent death» and called for his »urgent» transfer to a hospital because he was suffering from mobility problems and was unable to hold a »simple conversation,» as reported by The Times of Israel.
The NGO Middle East Eye denounced that Adnan is being held under administrative detention. Israel’s administrative detention policy allows for the detention of Palestinians without charge or trial for renewable intervals usually ranging from three to six months, based on undisclosed evidence that even the detainee’s lawyer cannot see.
Israel’s prisons are under the control of the National Security Minister, the far-right Itamar Ben Gvir, who promised after taking office in December that he would deal more strictly with the situation of prisoners and detainees on charges related to Israel’s security, including those accused or convicted of terrorism.
PALESTINIAN CONDEMNATION Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamad Shtayeh has blamed Israeli authorities for perpetrating a murder crime against Adnan, posting on his social media.
»The occupation, its prison administration and the judiciary have perpetrated a deliberate murder against Adnan, by rejecting his request for release, neglecting him medically and keeping him in his cell despite the seriousness of his health condition,» Shtaye said.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry, in the same vein, condemned the crime and held the Israeli government »totally and directly responsible». It has also indicated that it will refer the case to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and has called for the creation of an international committee to investigate the circumstances of his death.
Islamic Jihad, which has also condemned Adnan’s death in the Israeli prison, has affirmed that »the assassination will not go unanswered and the resistance will continue with all its strength and determination», as reported by the daily ‘Al Quds’.
He described Adnan as »a great leader» and a »brave man» who »has fallen a martyr». It is a crime for which the Israeli occupation bears full and direct responsibility», he said, before accusing Israel of using »dirty tools» against the deceased, including »fake courts, terrorist security agencies and military trials».
The group has stressed that »the testimony of Shaykh Commander Jader Adnan will be an example for generations of brave men». We will not abandon the path of jihad and resistance as long as Palestine remains under occupation,» it said, as reported by the Palestinian news agency Maan.
Our struggle continues and will not stop. The criminal enemy will realize once again that its crimes will not go unanswered and that the resistance will continue with all its strength, determination and steadfastness,» he reiterated.
For its part, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has denounced that »this crime adds to the record of crimes of occupation and terror» against Palestinian prisoners. We hold the criminal occupation and its extremist fascist government fully responsible for the crime of his murder, and we affirm that this crime was premeditated and cold-blooded,» a letter reads.
Inevitably, the occupation and its fascist government will pay the price for this crime and all its crimes and terror against our people and our prisoners in the occupation’s prisons,» Hamas added.
In this context, Palestinian sources quoted by the daily ‘Al Quds’ have indicated that the Al Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, has mobilized all its elements after Adnan’s death and has cancelled a trip of members of its political wing abroad to deal with the situation.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
