Health of hunger-striking Palestinians protesting Israeli administrative detention deteriorates

The Palestinian Authority's Detainees Affairs Commission said five prisoners have been on hunger strike for several days in protest of their illegal detention by Israeli authorities, without charge or trial.

They have been identified as Husam Ruzzi, Mohammad Tabanja, Khaled Farraj, Hasan Ewewi and Odeh Hroub.

Israel's widely condemned policy of administrative detention allows Palestinians to be detained without charge or trial for renewable intervals usually ranging between three to six months.

Israeli police renew detention using on undisclosed evidence that not even a detainee's lawyer is allowed to view.

Israel says administrative detention is intended to allow authorities to hold suspects while continuing to gather evidence, with the aim of preventing attacks in the meantime.

But the system has been criticised by Palestinians, human rights groups and members of the international community who say Israel abuses the measure.

"Israel's use of administrative detention blatantly violates the restrictions of international law. Israel carries it out in a highly classified manner that denies detainees the possibility of mounting a proper defense," says human rights group B'Tselem.