Palestinians rally in support of releasing hunger-striking prisoners

Hundreds of Palestinians take part in a demonstration in the West Bank town of Dhahiriya in solidarity with five hunger-striking Palestinian security prisoners.

The five Palestinians, ranging in age from 28 to 45, have been on hunger strike for at least 32 days. A sixth prisoner ended his 113-day hunger strike earlier today after being told he will be released in three months.

The detainees are being held under Israel’s practice of administrative detention, which allows law enforcement to hold prisoners without charges for security reasons. Rights group contends that Israel abuses the controversial judicial tool.

Kayed Fasfous, 32, has been on hunger strike for at least 120 days and is hospitalized in Israel. His weight has dropped from 95 to 45 kilograms (210 to 100 pounds), according to a recent evaluation by Dr. Amit Tirosh, an Israeli physician, on behalf of Physicians for Human Rights-Israel.

Fasfous’ detention has been suspended on health grounds, but Israel has refused his request to be transferred to a hospital in the West Bank, where he says he would halt his hunger strike.

“The only demand of Kayed is freedom,” says his brother, Khalid Fasfous. He says his brother told the family “he will be victorious if he is released or if he is martyred.”