Palestinian hunger striker enters record 90th day of protest

A Palestinian journalist being detained in Israel without charge is close to death after his hunger strike entered its 90th day.

Mohammed al-Qeq, 33, works for a Saudi media group but was arrested and placed in ‘administrative detention,’ which led to his protest. He has now refused food for a longer period than any other Palestinian hunger-striker.

The United Nations Security Council last week said it was “deeply concerned” about his situation and demanded Israel end its system of detaining individuals without charge or trial.

Amani Dayif of Physicians for Human Rights-Israel said al-Qeq was now in “unknown territory” because of the record length of his refusal.

Earlier this month, a doctor described his condition as “extremely grave,” adding that the 33-year old journalist could no longer speak or hear.

Israeli parliamentarians recently voted to allow the force-feeding of Palestinian prisoners, but it is unclear whether food has been forced into al-Qeq against his will.

Israel alleges that al-Qeq was involved in militant activities linked to Hamas.