Palestinian prisoner Sheikh Khader Adnan died on Tuesday in Israeli jail after 86 days of hunger strike in protest against his arbitrary detention.
The Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine martyrdom of Sheikh Adnan, one of its senior members, inside the Israeli prison of Ramla.
The resistance group released a statement describing Adnan as a leader and fighter who paved the way for those who seek freedom in Palestine and the world.
The so-called Israel Prison Service (IPS) said Sheikh Adnan was found unconscious early on Tuesday. It added that he was taken to hospital but attempts to resuscitate him failed.
In response to the announcement, a general strike in Jenin and Gaza, as well as other cities across the West Bank.
Three rockets were fired from Gaza in a move seen as initial retaliation for martyrdom of Sheikh Adnan, Palestinian media reported.
Hazem Hassanein, of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Information Office, said the “occupation committed once again a crime against detainees in the Zionist prisons and is responsible for the death of Adnan.” He stressed that his martyrdom “is another evidence of the occupation’s systematic crimes against the prisoners.”
The Prisoners’ Information Office announced that Adnan’s death raised the total number of martyrs from the Captive Movement to 237.
Palestinian factions, including Fatah and the Palestinian National Initiative Movement, mourned Adnan’s death and held the occupation government responsible. Adnan had been arrested and detained 12 times throughout his lifetime and had previously staged five hunger strikes.
Hamza, former Palestinian detainee Khader Adnan’s son, leads a march in their hometown of Arraba in the occupied West Bank in mourning of his father who died this morning after 87 days on hunger strike in Israeli prisons. pic.twitter.com/3M1HtMzhar
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) May 2, 2023
“Crime Won’t Go Unanswered”
The Islamic Jihad Movement mourned martyr Adnan, holding the “Israeli” occupation fully responsible for this crime that it committed before the world, and that it will not pass without a response.
The movement said in a statement: “In our long march towards Al-Quds (Jerusalem), we will lose many brave men and many leaders and fighters, and the fighter leader Sheikh Khader Adnan was one of those who opened a wide path for all those who seek freedom in Palestine and the world.”
The movement added: “The free hero, Khader Adnan, rose as a martyr in a crime committed by the enemy in front of the world, which approves of injustice and terrorism, protects it, and provides it with cover.”
It affirmed that it is proceeding on the same path and approach followed by Commander Khader Adnan and all those who preceded him among the leaders and Mujahideen, and the enemy will realize that his crimes will not go unanswered.
For his part, the Secretary-General of the Islamic Jihad, Ziad al-Nakhale, affirmed, “The long martyrdom of Sheikh Khader Adnan is the title of the march of our brave and stubborn people. If the Palestinian people did not have people like Sheikh Khader, our cause would have gone unheeded.”
Al-Nakhale said, “Every day that passes in the history of our people confirms that our victory is coming, God willing. The symbols of our people and the symbols of freedom fighters in the world and a high flag in our march towards Al-Quds.”
He pledged allegiance to all Palestinian martyrs and to Sheikh Adnan. “We will not leave the path of jihad and resistance until the liberation of our land from the Zionist murderers and criminals.”
Nakhale, meanwhile, vowed to continue the battle to secure the rights of Palestinian people. “Palestine is the title of our jihad that will not stop, regardless of the sacrifices.”
Yemen’s Ansarullah Movement firmly condemned the Israeli crime of assassinating Sheikh Adnan and called on the international community to take the responsible actions against Zionist crimes.
Source: Palestinian and Israeli media (translated and edited by Al-Manar English Website)
