Palestinian PM urges immediate action to save life of hunger-striking prisoner

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh on Saturday called on the international community to immediately intervene to save the life of a Palestinian prisoner who has been on a hunger strike for 122 days.

"Kayed Fasfous is suffering from a serious deterioration in his health," the Palestinian prime minister said in a press statement received by The New Arab.

Shtayyeh said that human rights and humantiarian organizations must take urgent action to save the lives of the prisoners who have gone on hunger strike to protest being held in "administrative detention".

Israel has placed hundreds of Palestinians in "administrative detention" without charge or trial and Shtayyeh said this practice must end, calling for the release of all hunger-striking administrative detainees.

Earlier on Saturday, a doctor at the Israeli Barzilai Hospital told Fasfous's family that he could die at any moment, Palestinian media reported.

According to his family, Fasfous has a dangerous blood clot and is suffering intermittent loss of consciousness and an irregular heartbeat.

In addition to Fasfous, four other detainees have been on hunger strike in Israeli prisons for varying periods.

European and international organisations have previously expressed concern about the prisoners' health and called on Israel to release them.

There are almost daily protests in front of the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross headquarters in the Palestinian territories in solidarity with hunger-striking prisoners.

Detainees placed in administrative detention can be held without charge for a period of four to six months, renewable for an indefinite period, according to Israeli law.

Israel holds more than 4,000 Palestinians in 23 prisons, including 225 children, and 520 administrative detainees, according to the Palestinian Prisoners' Club.