Lebanon's ex-PM Salim Hoss joins Palestinian prisoners' hunger strike

The 88-year-old former Lebanese prime minister announced on Tuesday he will go on hunger strike in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners.

MENA

2 min read

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03 May, 2017

The 88-year-old's decided to join the hunger strike to recognise the suffering of Palestinians [AFP]

Lebanon's former prime minister Salim al-Hoss declared a hunger strike on Tuesday, in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners who entered their third week of a mass hunger strike, Lebanese media reported.

The 88-year-old decided to join the hunger strike to raise awareness and recognise the suffering of Palestinians, Lebanon's LBC reported.

Hoss, who quit politics in 2000, said he "wants to act and not just deliver verbal solidarity speeches".

Around 1,500 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are refusing food in protest over the conditions of their detention in Israeli prisons.

Over 6,000 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli prisons, which under Israeli law allows for detention without charge.

The hunger strike over prison conditions began on April 17, with those taking part ingesting only water and salt.

The Palestinian prisoners issued demands ranging from better medical care to phone access.

On Tuesday, Hamas' armed wing gave Israel 24 hours to respond to the demands, warning of consequences over failure to act.

"We warn the enemy not to ignore the just and legitimate demands of the prisoners, and we say we are giving the enemy leadership 24 hours to respond," a spokesman for the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades said in a recorded speech.

Otherwise, he warned, Israel would "pay the price every day they delay responding to the demands".