A photo of Palestinian detainee Hana Shalabi Ramallah – Sona Al-Deak The Palestinian Authority's Minister of Prisoner Affairs Issa Qaraqe said on Monday that Palestinian activist Hana Shalabi has been transferred to Meir Hospital due to a continued deterioration of health. Shalabi, who has been under 'administrative detention' by Israel, has been on a hunger strike for 34 days in protest of the controversial detention policy.
Qaraqe added that the Shalabi was transferred after being examined by a female physician from "Physicians for Human Rights" (PHR) committee after Israel allegedly delayed the check-up for three hours.
Qaraqe quoted the PHR committee as saying that Shalabi was no longer able to stand and suffered from nausea, stomach-aches, headaches, and a slow heart rate. They also said the activist refused to take any medication or liquids except in the presence of PHR phsyicians who will be with her Tuesday morning.
The minister held Israel responsible for Shalabi's life due to their indifference to her condition and refusal to respond to her demands of canceling her administrative detention. He also demanded that international human rights and humanitarian institutions intervene in order to save Shalabi's life.
The militant Islamic Jihad group also said it would hold Israel responsible for the activist's life.
"The criminal occupation will bear full responsibility for any harm caused to Shalabi, what is happening to hrt will not pass unnoticed and the occupation leaders should fully realise the consequences of their criminal actions," stated the movement.
Hana Shalabi, a 29-year-old woman from the West Bank village of Burqin, was formally held for 25 months in administrative detention and released last October in the Gilad Shalit prisoner swap. She was re-arrested within four months of her release. Since her second arrest, Shalabi has refused to eat in protest of her continued detention without charges or trial. The IDF claims it has intelligence indicating Shalabi might endanger regional security. Palestinian authority (PA) officials stated that Israel offered to release Shalabi and deport her to the Gaza Strip – an offer which was refused by the PA, which demands her immediate and unconditional release.