In this file photo taken on July 12, 2015, Palestinian Khader Adnan (center) is greeted by Palestinians after his release from an Israeli prison in the West Bank village of Arrabeh near Jenin. (PHOTO / AP)
JERUSALEM – Khader Adnan, who was affiliated with the Palestinian militant Islamic Jihad group, died in an Israeli prison on Tuesday after an 87-day hunger strike, Israeli prison authorities said.
Israel said Adnan "refused to undergo medical tests and receive medical treatment" and "was found unconscious in his cell" early on Tuesday morning.
“Our fight is continuing and the enemy will realize once again that its crimes will not pass without a response. Resistance will continue by all might and determination,” Palestinian Islamic Jihad said in a statement.
According to the Palestinian Prisoners Association, Adnan had been detained by Israel 12 times, spending around eight years in prison, mostly under administrative detention
Shortly after, sirens rang out in Israeli Gaza border communities sending residents running for shelter, and the Israeli military confirmed that three rockets fired from the Gaza Strip toward Israeli territory fell in open areas.
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"Khader Adnan has been executed in cold blood," WAED Prisoners Association in Gaza told Reuters in response.
Adnan, 45, originally from the occupied city of Jenin, was a known Islamic Jihad figure in the West Bank, which was captured by Israel in a 1967 war. Like Islamist Hamas, Islamic Jihad opposes peace deals between the Palestinians and Israel and advocates the destruction of Israel.
According to the Palestinian Prisoners Association, Adnan had been detained by Israel 12 times, spending around eight years in prison, mostly under administrative detention.
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Israel accused Adnan of supporting terror, affiliation with a terror group and incitement. He went on at least five hunger strikes during his various times in detention since 2004.