RAMALLAH, May 17, 2012 (WAFA) – Two Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are believed to have remained on hunger strike in spite of a deal reached on Monday between the Israel Prison Service (IPS) and the striking prisoners that have ended their strike, Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association said Thursday.

It said that Mohammad Taj resumed his hunger strike on Tuesday because the IPS has failed to treat him as a prisoner of war. Taj went on hunger strike 58 days ago demanding to be treated as a war prisoner.

He was beaten on Wednesday in an attempt to pressure him to end his hunger strike after he was taken to solitary confinement in Al-Jalameh prison, according to rights groups.

Taj is suffering from a serious deterioration in his health condition, inability to move or stand and have pain in his eyes.

A brother of the prisoners Mahmoud Sarsak had also said his brother had never ended his strike in spite of denial by the IPS. If true, Sarsak would have entered his 60th day of hunger strike.

The Israeli authorities made a deal with Sarsak to end his hunger strike in return for his release on August 22.

M.H./M.S.