Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails launch mass hunger strike

Oren Liebermann, CNN
Updated 1330 GMT (2130 HKT) April 17, 2017

Jerusalem (CNN) - More than a thousand Palestinians in Israeli prisons launched a hunger strike Monday, demanding better living and medical conditions for approximately 6,500 prisoners.

Some 1,600 prisoners are taking part, according to Palestinian Authority Prisoners' Affairs Minister Issa Qaraqe. Qaraq said more prisoners may join the hunger strike later today, which was planned to coincide with Palestinian Prisoners' Day.

Qaraqe urged Palestinians to support the strike, and called on human rights organizations to press Israel on conditions in prisons.

The hunger strike is a way of "bringing prisoners closer to their basic rights and demands and preventing the occupation from harming the dignity of the Palestinian prisoners," he said in a statement.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]