Mohammed Mar'i Saudi Gazette RAMALLAH – The EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton Saturday expressed the EU concern about the deteriorating health of four hunger striking Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. “The High Representative is following with concern reports about the deteriorating health condition of Ayman Sharawna, Samer Issawi, Jafar Ezzedin and Tareq Qaa'dan, Palestinians in Israeli detention who have been on an extended hunger strike,” Ashton's spokesperson said in a statement. “The EU calls on the government of Israel to allow for the immediate restoration of their family visiting rights and calls for the full respect of international human rights obligations toward all Palestinian detainees and prisoners,” Ashton said. She reiterated the EU's longstanding concern about the extensive use by Israel of administrative detention orders, which currently apply to Ezzedin and Qaa'dan. “Under international law, detainees have the right to be informed about the reasons underlying any detention and to have the legality of their detention determined without undue delay. The EU calls upon Israel to bring formal charges against any individuals detained, with a view to bringing them to a fair trial without undue delay.” Ashton said. The four launched the hunger strike in protest against administrative detention. The prisoners are held in administrative detention indefinitely with no charges or trial. Sharawneh and Al-Eisawi have been fasting since July and August, respectively. The health condition of the two has deteriorated in the past few weeks. On Wednesday, a United Nations official expressed concern about the well-being of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and in particular about the condition of Eisawi. Hundreds of Palestinians on Friday clashed with Israeli forces near the Ofer military camp in solidarity with the hunger striking prisoners. Palestinian sources said that some 100 Palestinians were injured by Israeli forces' protest-dispersing measures. The sources said that a Palestinian was seriously wounded by live ammunition. The Israeli army confirmed the Palestinians' claims saying that “the army unit found itself surrounded by a Palestinian mob throwing stones, and opened fire after feeling danger.” Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas visited an event in al-Beireh city where Palestinians gathered to support the prisoners. According to the recent Palestinian statistics, Israel is holding 4,900 prisoners in 23 prisons and detention camps in Israel and in the West Bank of whom 198 children, 8 females and 17 lawmakers from Hamas, Fatah and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
