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Photo: Samer Al-Eesawy - Image, Facebook Group

by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Wednesday January 16; the Israeli District Court in Jerusalem denied an appeal filed by the defense attorney of hunger striking detainee, Samer Al-Eesawy, requesting the court to void its deliberation in his case as he is being tried on the same charges at the Ofer Military Court.

The District Court also ruled that Al-Eesawy will have to attend a court hearing on February 5, 2013.

Al-Eesawy, from Jerusalem, was one of more than a thousand Palestinian detainees who were released as part of the prisoner swap deal that secured the release of Israeli corporal Gilad Shalit on October 18, 2011 who was captured by the resistance in Gaza in 2006.

476 Palestinian detainees, including Al-Eesawy were released on the first phase of the agreement the same day Shalit was released.

But the Israeli army rearrested Al-Eesawy after claiming that he “violated the terms of his release” by heading to the occupied West Bank.

The Ofer Israeli Military Court and the Jerusalem District Court are now trying him on the same charges.

His lawyer is arguing that the District Court in Jerusalem cannot look into a case that involves what Israel described as “a military order violation”.

The District Court rejected the appeal, and decided to hold a session on February 5 to grant the prosecution more time to present its case.

Al-Eesawy is ongoing with his hunger strike that he started more than 176 days ago. His family said that he is determined to continue his strike until his release despite his sharply deteriorating health conditions and complications.

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