Mahmoud Sarsak

Mahmoud Sarsak (born 1987) is a Palestinian football player who was a member of the Palestine national team. In 2012, Sarsak spent three months on hunger strike while imprisoned in Israel without trial or charges. Israel had accused him of being active in Islamic Jihad, an accusation which he denied.

Detention and hunger strike Sarsak was arrested on 22 July 2009 at the Erez Crossing, while travelling between his home in Gaza and the West Bank to link up with his new club Balata Youth in Balata. He was detained for allegedly being an unlawful combatant linked to the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine (PIJ). In 2013 Sarsak said that during his imprisonment he had been regularly subjected to physical and mental torture. His decision to begin a hunger strike was a response to the death of Zakaria Issa, a Palestinian international football player who died shortly after being released. During his strike, Sarsak lost nearly half his usual weight. He became a cause célèbre for football fans including Celtic F.C.'s Green Brigade. On 14 June, Amnesty International called for Sarsak to be admitted to hospital or released, saying he had been denied proper access to medical treatment, which they argued amounted to inhuman and degrading treatment.

The Palestinian Football Federation (PFF) asked UEFA to remove Israel as hosts of the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship in response to its detention of Sarsak, which the PFF described as being in "direct violation of Fifa regulations". Platini rejected the request and rebuked the PFF for lobbying against Israel. Blatter and International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge supported Platini's decision.

Release and reaction On 10 July 2012, Israel released Sarsak from prison. On his arrival in Gaza, he was greeted with a welcoming ceremony, at which dozens of PIJ members fired rifles in the air. Senior PIJ members were present at the ceremony, and Nafez Azzam, one of the group's leaders, described Sarsak as "one of our noble members." Women also waved black PIJ banners from nearby homes. Streets were decorated with huge photos of Sarsak, and after emerging from his car, Sarsak was hoisted up on shoulders and kissed and embraced by friends and family.

Response Following his release, Amnesty International expressed "relief" and called on Israel to end the use of administrative detention. The PIJ issued a statement declaring Sarsak's release as "a victory of will, determination and steadfastness."

Life after detention Since his release Sarsak has sought to raise awareness of persecution of Palestinian football players by the Israeli government, and to oppose Israel's hosting of the Under-21 Championship.