JERUSALEM, May 18, 2017 (WAFA) – The United Nations Thursday called on Israel to find an immediate solution to the Palestinian prisoners’ hunger strike based on international law.

A statement by  United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, on the ongoing hunger strike in Israeli jails said a solution would be in the interest of peace.

“I am following with great concern the ongoing hunger strike by Palestinian detainees protesting against their conditions in Israeli jails,” said Mladenov. “The strike is now entering its second month and it is imperative that a resolution be found as soon as possible in line with International Humanitarian Law and Israel‘s human rights obligations.”

The UN official said that “with growing tensions on the Palestinian street, I hope that current efforts will result in an immediate resolution to the matter, which is in the interest of peace and ongoing initiatives to revive a political process.”

He called on all actors “to exercise maximum restraint, show responsibility and take all necessary steps to avoid escalating tensions.”

Angry families of the Palestinian prisoners shut down the UN Ramallah office on Wednesday protesting what they described as “the silence” of the international organization regarding the hunger striking prisoners.

M.K.