After 64 days of a hunger strike in protest against his detention by Israel, Khader Adnan's life was on the brink yesterday. By the time this newspaper is available on news stands, he may have already passed away.
Four days ago, a report by Physicians for Human Rights-Israel said that his life was then in immediate danger. Mr Adnan had lost 30 kilograms over the past two months.
A prominent member of the militant group Islamic Jihad, Mr Adnan was detained under a so-called "administrative arrest order", which Israel uses to spuriously justify indefinite detentions without trial or charge. He is by no means alone - there are an estimated 300 prisoners languishing in Israeli jails without being charged, not to mention many others who were given only cursory justice in abbreviated show trials.
Whatever its outcome, this hunger strike has bought attention to these illegal detentions and the harsh conditions and interrogation methods that many Palestinians have had to endure.
Thousands of Palestinians have demonstrated their support for Mr Adnan and a growing internet campaign is raising international awareness. Hamas is pressuring the Arab League and Egypt to push for his release. All of this should be seen not only in terms of Mr Adnan's case, but more broadly in terms of Israel's systematic denial of due process.
But the attention garnered by the hunger strike and peaceful demonstrations on Friday is in danger of being overshadowed, even undone, by the announcement by Islamic Jihad that it will escalate violence if Mr Adnan dies. "We will sail in the sea of blood and martyrdom," Nafez Azzam, another Islamic Jihad leader, said on Friday. History has shown that a "sea of blood" is hardly likely to wash away Israel's injustices, while weakening support for legitimate and essential Palestinian resistance.
The concern for Mr Adnan and others like him is understandable. And so is the anger. But such rhetoric is the last thing that Palestinians need. With a newly signed unity agreement between Fatah and Hamas (hinting at a movement by the latter towards non-violent resistance), violent attacks would play into the hands of Israeli hardliners and weaken international support.
Regardless of Mr Adnan's politics, he deserves to be shown the evidence against him and to be given a fair trial. It remains to be seen how much longer Israel's government can ignore these legitimate demands.
Mr Adnan's hunger strike - far more courageous than carrying a gun on the battlefield - may cost him his life. It is incumbent on the rest of us to keep pressure on Israel to reflect the bravery of this man.
