Israeli Prison Officials Say Detainee Tal Yanun Dradik Eats Despite Hunger Strike Claims

Tal Yanun Dradik, an Israeli detainee at the center of a dispute between Defense Minister Israel Katz and Central Command Chief Major General Avi Blot, is accused of abusing Palestinians and is reportedly on a hunger strike. However, sources from the Israel Prison Service (IPS) told ynet on Monday that Dradik is not fully abstaining from food and has consumed several meals during his detention, including challah bread and fish. According to IPS, Dradik eats occasionally, sometimes having a full Friday meal, and drinks fluids daily. He was recently hospitalized for medical evaluation and is monitored daily by a prison doctor.

Dradik's brother, Idan, contested the IPS claims, stating that Dradik was hospitalized at Hadassah Mount Scopus last Tuesday, losing 11 kilograms and now weighing 67 kg. He described Dradik's condition as severe, with fainting episodes and organ damage, and noted a private doctor’s recent visit confirming low vital signs consistent with a prolonged hunger strike. The IPS declined to comment on Dradik's medical condition due to privacy but confirmed he receives medical care, visits from Knesset members, and religious items including challah and wine for Shabbat.

Dradik, a resident of the outpost Kfar Tapuach in Area B and father of four, was detained about a week ago under a full house arrest administrative order issued by General Blot. The order confines him to his mother-in-law’s home, who was reportedly unaware of the detention. Although a Jerusalem Magistrate Court initially placed him under house arrest, the Jerusalem District Court upheld the police appeal to keep him in detention. Dradik is represented by the legal organization Honenu.

The allegations against Dradik stem from incidents in the village of Khirbet Humsa during Operation Roaring Lion in March, including accusations of tying a Palestinian with handcuffs to his genitals. Dradik denies involvement in nationalist crimes. His hunger strike reportedly escalated to include refusal of fluids.

The case has fueled tensions between Katz and Blot, culminating in Katz’s announcement on Channel 14 of Blot’s replacement by current IDF Chief of Staff Dado Bar-Kalifa, a move later denied by the IDF and contradicted by Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, who stated no appointments would be made until after the 2027 elections. Blot will remain Central Command chief until at least summer 2027.