ANKARA, May 13, 2012 (WAFA) – The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed it urgently expects Israel to act in accordance with its legal obligations stemming from international law towards the hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners, according to a statement by the foreign ministry released on Sunday.

The statement called on Israel to release without delay the innocent Palestinians it continues to keep under administrative detention.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said it is following with great concern the collective hunger strike which has been carried out by approximately 1500 Palestinian prisoners in order to protest the treatment they have been subjected to in the Israeli prisons.

“We are especially saddened and worried about the health conditions of 7 Palestinians, who have been kept under administrative detention without getting to know even the alleged charges against them. They are on a hunger strike for more than 70 days now and their health conditions have reached at a critical stage,” added the statement.

It said in view of the humanitarian dimension of the matter and in order to prevent negative developments which might undermine peace, calm and stability in the region, it is “essential for the international community to tackle the situation of the Palestinian prisoners sensitively and to ensure that necessary steps are taken to find a solution.”

More than 1500 Palestinian prisoners went on an open-ended hunger strike on April 17 demanding better living conditions, visitation rights, end of isolation policy, and end of administrative detention among others.

R.Q.