The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) on Tuesday shouldered Israel the responsibility for the life of hunger-striking prisoners.
"Some of the hunger strikers reached a high level of danger and they could die anytime as their health deteriorating," said Ziad Abu Ein, deputy minister of prisoners' affairs.
Six prisoners have gone into a hunger strike for different periods, with two -- Ayman Al-Sharawneh and Samer Issawi having been fasting since July and August, respectively.
Israel does not respond to the prisoners' demands, Abu Ein said, adding that the PNA is holding contacts with Arab and regional sides to resolve the issue.
Arwa Muhanna, a spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), said her organization checks the hunger strikers regularly, noting that the possibility of death is on due to the long period of starvation.
Al-Sharawneh and Issawi were among the prisoners released under an exchange deal between Israel and the Gaza-based Islamic Hamas movement in 2011. Under the deal, Israel retrieved its soldier, Gilad Shalit, after more than five years in Hamas' captivity. However, Israel detained the two prisoners again and kept them held without a charge.
Front Page Features