Stephen Lendman

World leadership indifference and silence lets Palestinian hunger striker for justice Mohammad Elqeiq suffer close to death.

He’s an independent journalist, guilty of no crimes, targeted solely for doing his job. Israel accused him of “journalistic incitement” without issuing formal charges.

He’s administratively held illegally, tortured and abused in captivity, hunger striking for justice denied him, ingesting only water - now for 73 days since November 23.

His life hangs by a thread, slipping in and out of a coma, partly paralyzed, unable to speak, see, hear, stand or do anything on his own, at great risk of organ failure causing death.

In late January, Israel’s High Court rejected his petition for release, saying only it’ll continue monitoring his situation, a possible death sentence without ordering it.

He’s hospitalized at Israel’s Ha’amek medical center, doctors and nurses monitoring his condition only without intervening.

He wants no assistance, now refusing liquids as well as food, willing to die for justice, Israeli viciousness causing him great pain and suffering.

He’s shackled to his bed, adding to his misery. A judicial hearing on a Physicians for Human Rights-Israel petition to remove his restraints was postponed until next week.

Rallies, vigils and protests support him throughout the West Bank. On February 3, Human Rights Watch (HRW) discussed his case, saying last November 21, “Israeli soldiers…blew open (his) front door…blindfolded and arrested him” - without just cause.

So-called evidence against him is secret, unavailable to him, his attorneys or family members - entirely fabricated. He’s unable to defend himself against spurious allegations. He committed no crimes.

Israel doesn’t care if he lives or dies - nor the world community doing nothing to help him, indifferent to his pain and suffering, uncaring about him being wrongfully imprisoned.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks World War III ".

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.htmlRadio Network.