RAMALLAH: Palestinian leaders on Wednesday denounced Israel’s refusal to negotiate with Palestinians on hunger strike in Israeli jails, warning of a “new intifada” if any of them die.
Some 1,500 Palestinian prisoners have joined the hunger strike that began Monday, according to Issa Qaraqe, head of detainees’ affairs for the Palestinian Authority.
Contacted by AFP, Israel’s prison service declined to comment on the number.
The hunger strike has been led by prominent prisoner and popular Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, who is serving five life sentences over his role in the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising.
The prisoners have made a range of demands, from better medical care to access to telephones.
Some 6,500 Palestinians are currently detained by Israel for a range of offenses and alleged crimes.
Around 500 are held under administrative detention, which allows for imprisonment without charge.
Palestinian prisoners have mounted repeated hunger strikes, but rarely on such a scale.
Qaraqe said the strike followed months of attempts at negotiations with Israeli authorities.
“If their demands are not met, more prisoners will join the strike,” he said.
“We have asked the international community and the UN to intervene immediately.”
He added that if prisoners die, “that could lead to a new intifada.”
Israeli officials have vowed not to negotiate with the hunger strikers, with Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan on Tuesday calling them “terrorists and incarcerated murderers.”
Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked said that authorities “would not hesitate to implement the law which authorizes the force-feeding of detainees.”