Senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat in 'critical' condition

High-ranking PLO member is suffering Covid-19 complications and has been placed in a coma

Palestinian official Saeb Erekat has been placed in a medically induced coma after suffering Covid-19 complications. AFP

Long-time chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat is in critical condition with coronavirus complications and was placed in a medically induced coma on Monday.

Mr Erekat, 65, was admitted to the coronavirus intensive care unit at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem on Sunday with "chronic health problems in the respiratory system", the Palestine Liberation Organisation said.

He tested positive for Covid-19 on October 9.

The hospital said Mr Erekat "arrived in serious condition" but was stable and received oxygen on Sunday.

On Monday morning, it said that after a "quiet night" his condition "deteriorated and is now defined critical".

It said that became of respiratory distress Mr Erekat was "anaesthetised and ventilated".

Mr Erekat, who lives in Jericho in the occupied West Bank, underwent lung-transplant surgery in the US in 2017.

"Mr Erekat is a challenge to treat for coronavirus since he had lung transplants, he is immunosuppressed and has another bacterial infection in addition to coronavirus," the hospital said.

It said it was "in contact with international medical authorities regarding the treatment policy of this complex patient".

The PLO secretary general, who was born in Jerusalem, is part of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's inner circle.

He has been a key figure in Palestinian politics for decades, often serving as a main interlocutor for foreign envoys and the international media.

Mr Erekat has consistently voiced support for a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Another senior PLO official, Hanan Ashrawi, announced she tested positive for the virus on October 11.

There have been 42,490 confirmed cases of the virus in the West Bank and 381 deaths.

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