Khader Adnan, a member of the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad, has died in an Israeli prison after an 87-day hunger strike, according to prison officials.
Israeli prison authorities said Adnan was evacuated to hospital after failed attempts to revive him and was pronounced dead.
However, Adnan’s lawyer, Jamil Al-Khatib, accused Israel of medical negligence.
In a telephone conversation with newsmen, Al Khatib said “After 36 days of Adnan’s arrest, we demanded he be moved into a civil hospital where he can be properly followed up. Unfortunately, such a demand was met by intransigence and rejection by the Israeli prison authorities.
Shortly after Adnan’s death was announced, sirens wailed in Israeli-Gaza border communities, sending residents fleeing for safety. The Israeli military said three rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israeli territory but landed in open areas.
“Our fight is continuing and the enemy will realise once again that its crimes will not pass without a response. Resistance will continue by all might and determination,” Palestinian Islamic Jihad said in a statement.
Adnan, 45, was a well-known Islamic Jihad figure in the West Bank, which Israel captured in a 1967 war. Islamic Jihad, like Islamist Hamas, opposes Palestinian-Israeli peace talks and advocates the destruction of Israel.
According to the Palestinian Prisoners Association, Adnan had been detained by Israel 12 times, spending approximately eight years in prison, mostly under administrative detention.
Adnan was charged with supporting terrorism, belonging to a terrorist organisation, and inciting terrorism. He went on at least five hunger strikes during his time in detention since 2004.
