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![Thousands rally for West Bank hunger striker
Massive show of support for jailed Palestinian Khader Adnan, who is “in immediate danger of death”, medical NGO says.
Several thousand Palestinians have rallied in Gaza and the West Bank in support of jailed Islamic Jihad leader Khader Adnan, who is on the 63rd day of a hunger strike to protest against his detention by Israel.
“We are all Khader Adnan,” chanted crowds gathered in the Gaza Strip on Friday, with activists from the main political factions joining forces in a rare display of Palestinian unity.
Adnan, 33, has been refusing to eat since mid-December following his arrest in the occupied West Bank.
He is being held under so-called administrative detention, which means Israel can detain him indefinitely without trial or charge.
The demonstrations came as Adnan’s lawyers appealed to Israel’s Supreme Court, demanding his release.
“We are hoping … the Supreme Court hears this case urgently,” said Mahmoud Hassan, one of Adnan’s lawyers.”He could die before the court hearing,” for which a date has not been set yet, he said.
In previous cases, the high court at times reduced the sentence of administrative detainees on appeal, but that it rarely ordered them freed outright, Hassan said.
The Islamic Jihad group, which advocates the destruction of the state of Israel, has said it will escalate violence if Adnan dies, following reports that his health was deteriorating.
“We will pursue our Jihad and resistance. We will sail in the sea of blood and martyrdom until we land on the shore of pride and dignity,” Nafez Azzam, one of the group’s top leaders, said during a Friday sermon at al-Omari mosque, the oldest in Gaza.
Pictured: The father and daughter of Khader Adnan took part in a rally in Adnan’s West Bank village of Arabeh [Reuters]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzlnt5xKu61r165eko1_500.jpg)
Thousands rally for West Bank hunger striker
Massive show of support for jailed Palestinian Khader Adnan, who is “in immediate danger of death”, medical NGO says.
Several thousand Palestinians have rallied in Gaza and the West Bank in support of jailed Islamic Jihad leader Khader Adnan, who is on the 63rd day of a hunger strike to protest against his detention by Israel.
“We are all Khader Adnan,” chanted crowds gathered in the Gaza Strip on Friday, with activists from the main political factions joining forces in a rare display of Palestinian unity.
Adnan, 33, has been refusing to eat since mid-December following his arrest in the occupied West Bank.
He is being held under so-called administrative detention, which means Israel can detain him indefinitely without trial or charge.
The demonstrations came as Adnan’s lawyers appealed to Israel’s Supreme Court, demanding his release.
“We are hoping … the Supreme Court hears this case urgently,” said Mahmoud Hassan, one of Adnan’s lawyers.”He could die before the court hearing,” for which a date has not been set yet, he said.
In previous cases, the high court at times reduced the sentence of administrative detainees on appeal, but that it rarely ordered them freed outright, Hassan said.
The Islamic Jihad group, which advocates the destruction of the state of Israel, has said it will escalate violence if Adnan dies, following reports that his health was deteriorating.
“We will pursue our Jihad and resistance. We will sail in the sea of blood and martyrdom until we land on the shore of pride and dignity,” Nafez Azzam, one of the group’s top leaders, said during a Friday sermon at al-Omari mosque, the oldest in Gaza.
Pictured: The father and daughter of Khader Adnan took part in a rally in Adnan’s West Bank village of Arabeh [Reuters]
