Israeli jet hits Gaza after hunger striker’s death

The Israel-Palestine conflict continues to grow due to the death of a Palestinian striker in Israel’s custody.

Smoke was seen rising in the sky as Israel and Gaza engaged in a rocket war. Israeli jets allegedly hit Hamas targets such as arms manufacturers and training sites. Hamas is currently in control of Gaza. They are an Islamic extremist organisation. 

Sirens were heard on the other side of the state at the southern Israeli town of Ashkelon, just 14 kilometres from Gaza. The rocket exchange was in response to the death of Khader Adnan. Hamas claims that Adnan was a political leader of the Islamic Jihad. 

According to Israeli military reports, at least 30 rockets were fired from Gaza toward Israel. Two rockets landed in Sderot, a small city east of Gaza. Three individuals were injured by the blast, including a foreign national. 

In Hebron, Palestinian shop owners observed a strike. A few protestors burned tires and threw stones at soldiers. The soldiers shot rubber bullets and released tear gas at these protesters. No serious injuries had been reported. 

Reasons for the attacks

The attacks were launched a month after the last fight between both Israeli and Gaza forces. They were in response to the death of Khader Adnan, a Palestinian striker who was arrested and jailed in Israel. He died in custody after an 87-day hunger strike. 

Adnan was awaiting trial in Israel. On Tuesday morning, he was found unconscious in his cell and rushed to the hospital. He was later declared dead after efforts to revive him failed. According to sources, he was the first hunger striker to die in Israeli custody in the past 30 years. 

A sub-group, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad extremists, claim responsibility for the attacks on Israel. A few hundred protesters took to the streets to protest against the unjust death of Adnan. Palestinian leaders claim that his death is an assassination. 

Who was Khader Adnan?

Khader Adnan was a 45-year-old baker and father of nine. He hailed from Jenin, a small town in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. He was said to be with the Islamic Jihad, an Islamic extremist organisation. 

Islamic Jihad has a limited presence in the West Bank but is the second most powerful organisation in Hamas-ruled Gaza. They were engaged in a war with Israeli forces last August. 

Israeli forces had detained Adnan several times in the past decade. He has since gone on three hunger strikes to protest his unlawful imprisonment. He first went on a hunger strike in 2011.

Palestinian prisoners often employed the tactic of hunger strikes. They would also engage in mass hunger strikes. However, these strikes have not caused a prisoner’s death since 1992. 

Medical professionals’ opinion on Adnan’s health

Lina Qasem Hassan, a doctor with Physicians for Human Rights, states she visited Adnan on April 23. At the time, he had lost a tremendous 40 kilograms. She said that he was having difficulty breathing and moving, but he seemed to be okay otherwise. 

In a recent statement, Qasem said that Adnan’s death could have been avoided had he received timely medical attention. According to reports, Adnan was refused treatment from several Israeli hospitals after visiting their emergency rooms. 

According to Prison Services, Adnan could not be hospitalised as he had refused past preliminary care. 

Jamal Al-Khatib, a lawyer and doctor associated with a human rights group, had accused Israel of withholding medical care. He stated that they requested Israeli forces to situate Adnan at a hospital to receive adequate care. However, it was rejected. 

Adnan’s family’s response

Adnan’s wife, Randa Musa, said in a statement that the family does not want to see weapons that were unable to save her husband and their children’s father used after his death. They do not wish for vengeance and want to curb future bloodshed. 

The family is pleading with all resistance groups to respect their wishes. 

Israeli forces had arrested Adnan 12 times throughout his life. He spent eight years in prison based on administrative detention, i.e., detention without charges.