Israel denies 11th hour freedom for 'unconscious' Mohammed Allan

Israel's Supreme Court has delayed a decision on whether to free Mohammed Allan until Wednesday, despite the prisoner remaining close to death.

The court on Monday heard a petition to free Allan on health grounds, after the prisoner lost consciousness after spending more than 60 days on hunger strike.

Allan has been held without trial or charge.

The petition was raised by his lawyer as the prisoner slipped into unconsciousness on Friday and supporters fear he could die at any time.

Israel has threatened to force feed Allan despite widespread condemnation from doctors and human rights' groups.

The court says it will make its decision on Wednesday but has asked the sides in the meantime to try and reach a compromise on the matter.

Israel fears the death of a prisoner on hunger strike could trigger unrest in the occupied territories.

Allan's lawyer, Jamil al-Khatib, said Israeli intelligence and prison authorities have decided to gradually reduce the dosage of sedatives being given to Allan.

This would allow him to regain consciousness on Tuesday and negotiate on terms of his release.

"Today's Israeli Supreme Court session ended with the court deciding to delay its decision until Wednesday, after the court accepted the terms presented by Allan's legal team and gave the prosecution and Israeli intelligence two days to negotiate his release," said Khatib.

"They began to ease Allan off the sedatives today and tomorrow he will be fully conscious. I’ll visit him and tell him about what have happened during his forced sedation." ​

Allan has not been charged for any crime, and Israel accuse the prisoner of being linked to the Palestinian resistance group, Islamic Jihad.

Allan's plight has sparked solidarity from Palestinians of all political persuasions.

In Nablus last night, hundreds rallied in support of Allan, while Palestinian political and civil parties have been active in rallying people.

Social media users have also shown their solidarity with  Allan by using the hashtag #MohammedAllan, to spread news and awareness about the prisoner.

Allan is being treated at the Israeli Barzilai hospital and authorities have tried to prevent Palestinians from demonstrating outside the hospital.

A group of Israelis right-wingers clashed with Palestinian protesters yesterday outside the hospital in Ashkelon, pelting them with stones.

Jewish extremists also smashed the window of a Palestinian TV station's van, which was reporting on the event.

Busloads of Palestinian supporters have been reportedly to have ferried to the hospital for a vigil. 

Issa Qaraqe, chairman of the Commission of Prisoners' Affairs, told al-Araby al-Jadeed's Arabic service that Israeli intelligence had told the court that Allan was a "security threat" during a heated exchange with the prisoners' lawyers.

They said that they Allan would only be freed if he agreed to be exiled from Palestinian territories for four years, which was immediately refused by Allan's lawyer.

"Israel is playing a very dangerous and immoral game of depict because it has forcibly sedated Allan to feed him since Friday after his health deteriorated," Qaraqe added. 

"No Palestinian or non-Israeli doctors have been allowed to see Allan to find out the reality of his condition."