RAMALLAH, May 10, 2017 (WAFA) – As the hunger strike declared by more than 1600 Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons enters its day 24, health of the striking prisoners is reported to be deteriorating with many suffering from stomach pain, dryness in the throat and some spitting blood, according to groups monitoring the situation of the prisoners.

The Detainees Commission and the Prisoner’s Society said the Israel Prisons Service (IPS) has also intensified its repressive measures against the striking prisoners, including depriving them of their personal belongings and other daily necessities.

The IPS also prevented an attorney from the Detainees Commission from visiting Marwan Barghouti, the Fatah leader who is leading the strike in spite of a High Court decision allowing visitation by lawyers even to striking prisoners.

The IPS recently distributed a video showing Barghouti eating, which Palestinians have dismissed as a ploy to undermine the strike started on April 17 with demands for better prison conditions and treatment.

Attorneys who visited striking prisoners reported worsening conditions in the prisons, including providing prisoners with hot drinking water in spite of the hot weather conditions as well as assaulting prisoners who could not stand or walk due to their frail health and imposing fines on them for whatever reason.

M.K.