Diabetic Palestinian prisoner refuses insulin in protest 'administrative detention'

A Palestinian detainee held in an Israeli prison has begun refusing insulin therapy for his diabetes in response to Israel’s extension of his administrative detention order one day before he was due to be released.

Amin Shuwaiki, 61, was detained last May by Israeli forces as part of a campaign targeting dozens of activists in Jerusalem during Palestinian protests against the seizure of homes in the Sheikh Jarrah area of Jerusalem and Israeli attacks on worshippers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Palestinian news agency Al-Qastal reported.

He was placed in "administrative detention" for a period of four months. However, Israeli authorities extended the detention order just one day before it was due to expire.

Israel currently holds hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in administrative detention without charge or trial. Other Palestinian prisoners have gone on extended hunger strikes to protest their prolonged administrative detention.

Shuwaiki, a father of seven, needs insulin injections three times a day in order to treat his diabetes.

His wife Hanaa told Al-Qastal that news of the extension of the administrative detention order was "very difficult" for Shuwaiki.

"He was not expecting this, so he decided to take action," she said.

Hanaa added that Shuwaiki was arrested in a "very savage way” in May, with Israeli forces beating him and breaking his arm and some of his ribs when detained.

He had been arrested nine times previously by Israeli forces, with the last arrest being in 2007.

“During his detention, [Israeli] occupation authorities could not bring any charge against Amin, and didn't prove that he was affiliated with any political faction. His last detention in 2007 was on a really laughable charge – handing out presents to children in the Al-Aqsa Mosque."

She added that Shuwaiki was a well-known trader in Jerusalem but had recently spent most of his time at home, delegating trading responsibilities to his children because of his advanced age.