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More stories emerge on Israeli violence and abuse of human rights with the latest story on rape threats to the prominent Palestinian hunger striker Mohammad al-Qiq and his wife and children, which is the direct reason why he decided to start a hunger strike.

In a telephone interview, Al-Qiq’s lawyer, Ashraf abu Sneineh, told Mondoweiss on Wednesday February 17, that “In the beginning of the investigation of Mohammed they told him that they will keep him under administrative detention for seven years if he did not confess.”

“In response, al-Qiq said ‘I have nothing to confess to and I don’t want to continue this investigation in this manner.’ So they threatened to rape him, his wife and his kids,” noted the lawyer.

Abu Sneineh expressed concerns that after around 90 days of his hunger strike [which started after the rape threats back in November], al-Qiq’s condition is in continuous deterioration, and that he could die at any time.

“A thin line separates him from death. Mohammed is battling for his life. He is suffering from cramps in his arms and legs and irregular heartbeat,” Abu Sneineh added.

In more recent comments, Abu Sneineh told RT today Monday that the detainee has almost lost the ability to speak and hear, and is paying a high price for freedom of speech. According to the report, medical certificates from Afula Hospital say the journalist is close to death.

His wife Faiha’a Shalash believes Mohamamd is battling for a greater cause. “If Mohammed doesn’t do anything, it’s going to pave the way to put more Palestinians, especially journalists, under administrative detention,” she underlined.

Last November, al-Qiq was arrested by Israel's internal security agency Shin Bet over alleged links with Hamas. There has been no sufficient evidence against al-Qiq and therefore Israel has not officially charged him.

“They can’t give any proof against him, and even if they tried, he would be released the next day,” said the attorney.

The 33-year old journalist is protesting his six-month sentence under Israel’s administrative detention law — a controversial form of imprisonment that allows Israeli authorities to detain individuals indefinitely without charge or trial if they are deemed a security threat.

Moreover, the lawyer stressed “Mohammed’s spirit and psychological condition are completely fine. He is planning to continue his hunger-strike until he is released.”

On February 3, al-Qiq refused an Israeli court decision to temporarily suspend his detention without trial and decided to continue his hunger strike. According to Ma’an News, the Palestinian Authority Committee of Prisoners' Affairs said the imprisoned journalist viewed the court ruling as an attempt to undermine his resistance against the "immoral and inhumane administrative detention," referring to Israel's internment of Palestinians without trial or charge.

The journalist, shackled to his bed said he will continue his hunger strike until "martyrdom or freedom."

Numerous Palestinian prisoners have undertaken hunger strikes to protest the controversial practice, including last year Khader Adnan and Muhammad Allan, who were both close to death by the time Israel agreed to their release.

Israel has practiced such sexual violence numerous times with Palestinian detainees, with one example being Rasmieh Odeh, the prominent Palestinian prisoner and cousin of prisoner Aisha Odeh. According to the source, her father Josef Odeh was brought in and pressured to sexual activity with her but the Israeli soldiers failed to break his fierce rejection.