An Israeli soldier and settler have broken into the hospital room of former hunger striker Mohamed al-Qeq at Al-Afula Hospital and threatened to kill him, Al-Resalah newspaper reported on Tuesday. According to Al-Qeq’s wife, Fayhaa Shalash, the two Israelis told him, “You must die. You deserve only death.”

Shalash noted that the two Israelis made their threat while the Israeli security officer at the door of her husband’s room was away from his post. She accused the two “extremist” Israelis of arranging the raid with the officer. The two fled when Al-Qeq called out for the security guard. His wife laid the blame on the government of Israel for any attack on the journalist while he is in an Israeli hospital.

The Israeli authorities agreed to leave Al-Qeq in hospital for treatment of the damage done to his body by his 94-day hunger strike, which ended last month. He was protesting at being held by Israel with neither charge nor trial under administrative detention rules.

The journalist was arrested at his home in Ramallah on 21 November last year. The Israelis have pledged not to renew his detention when the original six-month period ends in May.

(MEMO)