Charge or free hunger striker, UN tells Israel

JERUSALEM: A three-month hunger strike by a Palestinian journalist accused of militancy on behalf of Hamas has prompted stern questions from the UN and EU over Israel’s policy of keeping prisoners in detention without being charged.

Mohammad al-Qiq, who was detained by Israeli forces in November, is on the 86th day of a hunger strike in a hospital in northern Israel. Doctors say he is becoming weaker by the day and he is in pain.

Israel placed him in what it calls “administrative detention”, a practice that allows a prisoner to be held for up to 60 days without charge.

The UN, EU and rights groups have expressed concern about Qiq, who is refusing food or medical treatment and denounced administrative detention. On Thursday UN envoy on Israeli- Palestinian peacemaking Nickolay Mladenov briefed the UN Security Council.

“I... call for all persons subject to administrative detention to be either charged or released immediately,” he said.

That echoed criticism from the EU in a statement last month: “Detainees have the right to be informed about the charges underlying any detention... and be subject to a fair trial.”

Israel says detention without trial is essential in cases where there is insufficient evidence to prosecute.

The Israeli Supreme Court said Ciq, who is employed by Saudi-owned Al-Majd Television, is suspected of involvement in militant activity and contacts with Hamas operatives in Gaza. – Reuters