The two Palestinian hunger strikers, Al-Sarsak and al-Rekhawi are being held in Ramle prison clinic and the Israeli prison service is refusing to transfer them to a civilian hospital.

“Despite the urgency of their conditions, the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) is still denying access to independent doctors from Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHR-Israel) to visit them and refusing to transfer them to civilian hospitals for proper treatment,” Addameer said.   Israeli District Court gave the IPS as much as a 12-day period from yesterday, 30 May, to permit the access of the independent doctors to both prisoners. PHR-Israel, Addameer and Al-Haq Human Right Groups condemned the IPS’ blatant breach of health rights and the Israeli District Court’s disregard of the immediate danger to their lives.

An appeal on behalf of Mahmoud and Akram was submitted by PHR-Israel to the District Court on 24 May to demand an immediate visit by independent doctors. The judge granted the IPS until 10 June to allow independent doctors access to both prisoners, in complete disregard of their grave health conditions and the possibility that time is running out. According to the World Medical Association, in most cases death occurs between the 42nd and 72nd days of hunger strike.

“The IPS medical center is not a hospital and is not properly equipped to handle the physical deterioration and effects of long-term hunger strike, in addition to the fragile recovery period post-hunger strike. Furthermore, in a civilian hospital there are better opportunities for creating conditions that will allow open and trustworthy dialogue between doctor and patient. Such dialogue may be essential in bringing about an agreed upon resolution, and save the lives and health of the patients,” Addameer said.