Israeli army kidnapps brother of hunger-striking Palestinian detainee

The Israeli army has reportedly raided the house of a Palestinian detainee, Samer Issawi, arresting his brother. This comes in the wake of violent clashes during the recent rally in support of the man who had been hunger-striking for over 200 days. 

The Israeli Defense Forces have reportedly raided the house of Samer Issawi's family in the al-Issawiya neighborhood of East Jerusalem at around midnight GMT. Activists on twitter claimed that Issawi's brother Shadi had been arrested and released photos and video of the alleged incident 

So far, with no official comment on the raid, the reports could not be independently verified. 

© Photo from facebook.com/esawiah.forum

On Friday a major rally outside Ofer prison in the West Bank in support of prominent prisoner Samer Issawi ended with a violent fight between the Israeli military and Palestinian protesters. According to Israeli officials some 500 Palestinians attacked soldiers with rocks forcing them to respond with tear gas and rubber bullets. Two Israeli soldiers were slightly injured, the military said. 

Palestinian medics reported wounds sustained from rubber bullets and said dozens of people suffered gas inhalation. 

Also a number of people were reportedly injured in at least three separate clashes as violence spread across the West Bank. 

© Reuters / Ammar Awad
A Palestinian with marks of pepper spray on his face is detained by Israeli border policemen who suspect him of throwing stones during clashes at a protest in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Issawiya February 15, 2013

35-year-old Samer Issaawi was initially serving time for alleged terror activity and released in 2011 in a prisoner exchange. In July 2012 he was arrested again over a suspected violation of the terms of his release as he was not allowed to leave Jerusalem. 

He has been on hunger strike since the end of July, under medical supervision and eating periodically, Israeli Prison Service spokeswoman Sivan Weizman claimed. 

Issaawi's sister however said he has only been drinking water since January while the prison occasionally takes him to an Israeli hospital for treatment. 

Currently four prisoners held by Israel are on hunger strike, according to the Palestinian minister of prisoner affairs, Issa Qaraqe. In 2012 hundreds of Palestinian prisoners forced prison system into concessions by going on hunger strikes. 

© Reuters / Mohamad Torokman
Israeli soldiers take cover behind their shields as a Palestinian protester throws a stone during clashes outside Israel's Ofer prison near the West Bank city of Ramallah February 15, 2013

In response to the hunger strike, the EU has called on Israel to improve prison conditions for incarcerated Palestinians. 

"The EU calls on the government of Israel to allow for the immediate restoration of their family visiting rights and calls for the full respect of international human rights obligations towards all Palestinian detainees and prisoners," 

EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said, adding she was "concerned" with the worsening health of the four prisoners on hunger strike. 

A spokesperson for the Israeli Prison Service assured the press that the strikers were in "good condition" and were receiving medical care. However, she stressed they lost the right to family visits when they embarked upon their protest. 

Palestinian protesters push a garbage bin as they try to block a road during clashes with Israeli border policemen outside Israel's Ofer prison near the West Bank city of Ramallah February 15, 2013

© Reuters / Darren Whiteside
Stone-throwing Palestinian protesters carry a protester injured by Israeli security forces during clashes outside Ofer prison near the West Bank city of Ramallah February 15, 2013

© Reuters / Mohamad Torokman
A Palestinian protester throws back a tear gas canister fired by Israeli border policemen during clashes outside Israel's Ofer prison near the West Bank city of Ramallah February 15, 2013

© Reuters / Darren Whiteside
An Israeli border policeman takes position during clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian protesters outside Ofer prison near the West Bank city of Ramallah February 15, 2013

© Agence France-Presse/Abbas Momani
A Palestinian protestor uses a slingshot to throw stones towards Israeli security forces during clashes in front of Ofer prison, near the West Bank city of Ramallah, following a demonstration in support of Palestinian detainee, Samer Issawi, who has been on hunger strike for more than 200 days, and other prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli prisons on February 15, 2013

© Agence France-Presse/Abbas Momani
Palestinian protestors throw stones towards Israeli security forces during clashes in front of Ofer prison, near the West Bank city of Ramallah, following a demonstration in support of Palestinian detainee, Samer Issawi, who has been on hunger strike for more than 200 days, and other prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli prisons on February 15, 2013

© Agence France-Presse/Abbas Momani
Members of the Palestinian Medical Relief (PMR) and volunteers carry a Palestinian protestor who was wounded by a rubber bullet during clashes in front of Ofer prison, near the West Bank city of Ramallah, following a demonstration in support of Palestinian detainee, Samer Issawi, who has been on hunger strike for more than 200 days, and other prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli prisons on February 15, 2013