Health of 90% of hunger strikers seriously deteriorating

Ninety per cent of hunger striking Palestinian prisoners being held in Israel’s Nafha prison have seen their health deteriorate significantly, the strikers media committee revealed in a statement.

The Media Committee of the Freedom and Dignity Strike, a joint group formed by the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) and Palestinian Committee for Prisoners’ Affairs, said the hunger strikers are falling unconscious as a result of their deteriorated health conditions as the strike enters its 28th day.

The statement quoted two Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike as saying:

The prisoners have lost about 20 kilogrammes each while the prison administration continues its crackdown on the prisoners, especially the raids and searches of their rooms.

They explained that prisoners are being transferred to the field hospital, which lacks the basic equipment necessary.

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Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners began on 17 April a mass hunger strike demanding an end to the inhumane treatment they are subjected to at the hands of the Israel Prison Service and an end to Israel’s policy of imprisoning Palestinians without charge or trial.

There are currently nearly 6,500 Palestinians, including 50 women, 13 of them are female minors, currently locked up in Israeli jails.

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