Palestinian armed groups launched a series of rocket attacks into southern Israel on Tuesday in response to the death of an Islamic Jihad leader, Khader Adnan, who died in Israeli custody following an 87-day hunger strike.
Adnan was awaiting trial when he was found unconscious in his cell and later declared dead at a hospital. This marks the first such death in over three decades.
The death of Adnan sparked protests across blockaded Gaza and the occupied West Bank, with hundreds taking to the streets to rally in support of Adnan and mourn his passing.
An umbrella group of armed Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, launched two separate rocket barrages towards Israel.
The Israeli military confirmed that at least 29 rockets were fired from Gaza, with two landing in the southern city of Sderot, injuring three people. Israel has vowed to respond “at a time and a place of its choosing.”
Adnan’s lawyer, Jamil Al-Khatib, and a doctor with a human rights group who recently met him accused Israeli authorities of withholding medical care.
They demanded that Adnan be moved to a civilian hospital where he could receive proper care, but the request was denied.
Adnan was a baker and a father of nine from Jenin in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Islamic Jihad sources said he was one of its political leaders.
The death of Adnan highlights the ongoing tension between Israel and Palestine, as well as the use of hunger strikes as a form of protest by Palestinian prisoners.
Adnan had conducted at least three hunger strikes in protest at detentions without charges by Israel since 2011.
While the tactic has been used by other Palestinian prisoners, sometimes en masse, none had died since 1992.
Lina Qasem-Hassan of Physicians for Human Rights in Israel said she saw Adnan on April 23, at which point he had lost 40 kg (88 pounds) and was having trouble breathing but was conscious.
“His death could have been avoided,” Qasem Hassan told Reuters, saying several Israeli hospitals had refused to admit Adnan after he made brief visits to their emergency rooms.
Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, held a meeting with security officials to assess the situation, and the military said it was investigating how two rockets had penetrated the Iron Dome air defense system.
