Michael Lynk, the UN special rapporteur for the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territories occupied since 1967, called for Israel to immediately release the Palestinian hunger-striking detainee Maher al-Akhras.

“Mr. Al-Akhras is now in very frail condition, having gone without food for 89 days,” said Michael Lynk in a statement last Friday. “Recent visits by doctors to his hospital bed in Israel indicate that he is on the verge of suffering major organ failure, and some damage might be permanent.”

“The Israeli security forces who arrested and detained Mr. Al-Akhras have not provided any persuasive evidence in an open hearing to justify its allegations that he is a genuine security threat,” Lynk added, noting that the Israeli Supreme Court has rejected al-Akhras petition his release three times.

Lynk also called upon Israel to abolish its practice of administrative detention, release those detainees it presently holds, and strictly follow international law.

"Administrative detention is anathema in any democratic society that follows the rule of law. When the democratic state arrests and detains someone, it is required to charge the person, present its evidence in an open trial, allow for a full defense and try to persuade an impartial judiciary of its allegations beyond a reasonable doubt," he underscored.

Israeli forces detained al-Akhras on 27 July and issued administrative detention against him on 7 August to run until November 26, 2020.

Al-Akhras, 49, a father of six children, has been on hunger strike for 90 days in protest of his administrative detention without any charge or trial.