The life of Maher al-Akhras, a Palestinian imprisoned by Israel, hangs by a thread.
Aged 49 and father of six, living in the village of Silat ad-Dhahr in the West Bank, Maher al-Akhras was arrested on July 27 and has been held under administrative detention since. From the day of his arrest, he went on a hunger strike. It has been more than 80 days since Maher al-Akhras did not eat. His health has deteriorated dramatically over the past few days, putting his life in serious danger.
His hunger strike is a protest against his arrest and the massive use of administrative detention by the Israeli occupation forces to suppress Palestinians. At present, approximately 355 Palestinians (including two minors) are imprisoned under this universally condemned regime, in the most total arbitrariness. Administrative detention allows the Israeli military authorities to imprison whoever they wish, for an indefinite period and without the possibility of defending themselves.
Despite the seriousness of his state of health, the Israeli justice system refused the release of Maher al-Akhras, offering him only the non-renewal of his detention in case he agreed to end his hunger strike. In doing so, she makes herself directly responsible for the imminent threat to her life.
The French Communist Party (PCF) fully supports the fight of Maher al-Akhras against the policy of the Israeli authorities of mass arrests of Palestinians, and in particular against the use of administrative detention. The PCF joins its voice with that of Palestinian and Israeli human rights organizations, as well as that of the Israeli Communist Party, in demanding the immediate release of Maher al-Akhras.
Faced with this new violation of the most basic rights of Palestinians, the French government and the European authorities cannot remain passive. They must urgently intervene to put an end to it and thus preserve the life of Maher al-Akhras.
French Communist Party,
Paris, October 16, 2020
