AN Israeli military court has rejected an appeal by a critically ill Palestinian political prisoner who has been on hunger strike for 109 days in protest at his detention without trial.

The court in Israel’s Ofer prison ruled against the release of Ahmad Zahran, who has been held in administrative detention since last March, the Palestinian Information Centre confirmed on Tuesday.

His lawyers vowed to appeal to the Supreme Court against the decision.

About 450 Palestinians are being held on administrative detention orders, which allow them to be incarcerated indefinitely without charge or trial on the basis of “secret evidence.”

Mr Zahran, who has spent a total of 15 years in prison, was transferred to the civilian Kaplan hospital on Monday due to concerns over his health. According to reports, he has lost more than 35kg in weight and is unable to walk.

He had suspended a previous hunger strike after 39 days after receiving a promise that his detention would not be renewed. But Israeli authorities reneged on the agreement, leading him to begin a new hunger strike.

In a statement, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society and the Palestinian Prisoners Study Centre alleged that Israeli intelligence agencies are working to block a deal between him and the prison administration to end Mr Zahran’s hunger strike and secure his freedom.

Protests took place inside Israeli prisons in solidarity with Mr Zahran.

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip city of Rafah held a demonstration on Tuesday demanding the release of Mr Zahran and further protests took place across Palestine yesterday.

Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine spokesman Ahmad Barakat called for international organisations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, to intervene and demand an end to Israel’s policy of administrative detention.