Palestinian striker held by Israel in critical condition

By ILAN BEN ZION and ALON BERNSTEIN
Associated Press

JERUSALEM (AP) — A doctor says a Palestinian prisoner held by Israel who has been on a hunger strike for months is in critical condition and could die at any moment. Dr. Lina Qasem-Haddad spoke Monday after the country’s Supreme Court rejected an appeal to release the man. Khalil Awadeh, 40, has been on a hunger strike since March to protest his so-called administrative detention, an Israeli policy in which suspected militants can be held without charge or trial for months or years at a time. A photo of Awawdeh taken by his lawyer on Saturday shows him appearing frail and lying in a hospital bed. Several Palestinian prisoners have gone on prolonged hunger strikes over the years to protest administrative detention.