Israel Rejects Appeal to Release Palestinian Hunger Striker Awawdeh

Protesters gather with a Palestinian flag outside the hospital where Palestinian Khalil Awawdeh, pictured in the placards, a prisoner in Israel on hunger strike, is now clinging to life in Be'er Yaakov, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022. Arabic on the placard reads, "Freedom for Khalil Awawdeh." (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)

An Israeli military court on Monday rejected an appeal for release by a Palestinian prisoner whose health is deteriorating as he continues a 165-day hunger strike to protest being held without charge or trial, his lawyer said.

Khalil Awawdeh is one of several Palestinian detainees who have gone on prolonged hunger strikes over the years in protest of what is known as administrative detention. Israel said the 40-year-old father of four is a militant, an allegation Awawdeh denies through his lawyer.