![Israeli security forces intervene a Palestinian protest with tear gas and plastic bullets during a demonstration in support of hunger striker Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails in Nablus, West Bank on May 19, 2017 [Nedal Eshtayah/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/20170522_Nablus-clashes-6.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
Around 60 Palestinian prisoners, including the leader of the hunger strike Marwan Barghouthi, were hospitalised yesterday due to the deterioration of their health conditions.
Israeli and Palestinian officials confirmed that around 60 prisoners were transferred to hospitals yesterday with dozens already transferred over the past few days according to the Palestinian Committee of Prisoners’ Affairs.
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The health situation for some of the 1,000 prisoners who have been on hunger strike against the conditions in Israeli jails for more than a month has now become critical, according to the committee.
Read: Israeli doctors cracking down on hunger strikers
An Israel Prison Service spokeswoman said that over 60 prisoners were brought to hospitals for examination yesterday due to their deteriorating condition with nine of them remaining in hospital.
Hundreds of Palestinian security prisoners declared an open ended hunger strike on 17 April, lead by imprisoned Fatah party leader Marwan Barghouthi, to protest medical negligence, administrative detention and limited family visits.
Protesters gathered in Bethlehem’s Manger Square this week in support of the prisoners with dozens of Palestinians across the West Bank injured in clashes with Israeli security forces. A general strike in solidarity shut down businesses, stopped public transportation and closed schools.
Israel passed a controversial law in July that will permit prison authorities to request court permission to force-feed prisoners which has been condemned by doctors and human rights groups.