PA calls on Israel to free Khader Adnan

The Palestinian Authority called Tuesday for the immediate release of detainee Khader Adnan, who has been on hunger strike for weeks. The statement from cabinet ministers came as fellow detainees Marwan Barghouti and Adhmad Saadat appealed for Adnan's release. In a letter provided by the Ministry of Prisoners and Prisoners Affairs, the imprisoned Palestinians called Khader a heroic figure waging war against cruel prison conditions. Saadat and Barghouti called for Khader’s life to be saved and intervention by human rights groups. On Tuesday, Prisoner group Addameer expressed "its utmost concern about the health of Khader Adnan." "Addameer holds the Occupation accountable for Khader’s deteriorating health and urges the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to put immediate pressure on Israel to abide by international humanitarian law," a statement said. The wife of the detainee, Randa Adnan, said her husband was being targeted for "assassination," but he’s in good spirits and determined to continue his strike against Israel's "illegitimate and inhumane policies." Randa was able to visit her husband Tuesday evening at Zeif hospital in Safad. “Adnan is being targeted for a slow process of assassination” she said. She says she was "shocked" at her husband's condition, and that he told her he feels he’s living the last moments of his life, she said. "A lot of the hair on his face and head has fallen off. He has not been allowed to shower or wash during all his time in detention, nor is he allowed to wear warm clothes in this cold weather." She added that "during my visit, my husband's heart swelled up and a medical crew neglected him for half an hour."