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Israel deploys Iron Dome battery, fearing renewed attacks over prisoner on hunger strike

Xinhua, August 20, 2015 Adjust font size:

Israel deployed an Iron Dome anti-rocket battery in a southern coastal city, fearing escalations in attacks from Gaza should a high-profile Palestinian prisoner on a hunger strike die, Israeli officials and media said Thursday.

A spokesperson with the Israeli military confirmed that a missile defense system was deployed by the Air Force in the city of Ashdod, but declined to elaborate on the timing of the maneuver.

Home Front Command officials told Israel's Ynet web news that the deployment took place following further deterioration in Mohammad Allan's health condition due to his 64-day hunger strike, as well as fear of rocket attacks from Gaza if he dies.

Israel's Upper Court suspended Allan's detention without trial Wednesday, but said he must stay in hospital pending a final decision in his case.

Shortly after, medical officials said Allan had to be placed on a medically induced coma as well as a ventilator due to further deterioration in his health condition, triggering intense debates among Israelis and Palestinians.

Allan, a 31-year-old lawyer from the West Bank village of Einbous near Nablus, is protesting his administrative detention which started in November 2014.

The hospital director said Wednesday that brain damage was diagnosed, apparently due to vitamin deficiency caused by his hunger strike, but it has yet to be determined whether the damage is reversible.

Doctors reported an improvement in his condition Thursday, saying Allan regained consciousness and was taken off the ventilator. "He started to interact with his surroundings," said the hospital director.

Islamic Jihad officials, a Palestinian militant group, warned that if Allan dies, activists will escalate attacks against Israel.

During last summer's war against Gaza, Gazan militants fired 4,881 rockets at Israel, mainly targeting its southern communities, killing six civilians.

Israeli forces killed 2,251 Palestinians, including 1,462 civilians in Gaza during that war. Endit