Israel And The Palestinian Footballer Mahmoud Sarsak

EDM number 208 in 2012-13, proposed by Peter Bottomley on 18/06/2012.
Categorised under the topics of Middle East and Sports.

That this House notes with concern the deteriorating health of the Palestinian footballer Mahmoud Sarsak, once a star player in the national team; understands that he was arrested on 22 July 2009 by Israel at theErez Crossingwhile travelling from his home in Gaza to the West Bank to link up with his new club in Balata, was held on charges of being an unlawful combatant linked to the Islamic Jihad movement in Palestine and after his administrative detention was renewed for the sixth time in March 2012 began his hunger strike; further understands that after the charity Physicians for Human Rights-Israel was allowed for the first time to visit him in Ramle prison, the Israeli Prison Service transferred him to Assaf Harofeh Hospital; requests Israeli ambassadors throughout the world to report to their government and other authorities the widespread interest in the critical condition of Mahmoud Sarsak and in his continued detention under provisions used for unlimited detention without trial and without charge; invites FIFA to intervene in this case; and asks the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to convey with respect to the Israeli government the growing interest in the case of Mahmoud Sarsak and worries for his life.

This motion has been signed by a total of 24 MPs.