Ramallah: Thousands of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have been on a hunger strike that has lasted nine days so far. Many more Palestinian prisoners are joining them on a daily basis.

Qadoura Fares, head of the Palestinian Prisoners Club, has said that more than 40 prisoners have joined the hunger strike, and that more than 1,600 people from various political parties and factions are involved. The strike is being led by the imprisoned Fatah leader, Marwan Al Barghouti.

Fares also said that there has been an outpouring of support for the strike. Tents have been put up in the West Bank area, and daily functions and activities are being organised as a way to show support.

The strike began on April 17, when 1,500 Palestinian prisoners presented their demands to the Israeli Prison Service. The demands include ending solitary confinement, administrative detention, and being able to have access to family calls. The demands are to ease the suffering Palestinian prisoners face in Israeli jails.

The Israeli Prison Service has suspended meetings between the prisoners and their lawyers. They have also moved Al Barghouti and two other prisoners to other jails. Fares said that these actions were the Prison Service’s response to the hunger strike.

Lawyers from 1948 areas have filed a complaint to the Israeli courts demanding access to their clients, and calling for an end to the suspension of meetings. They have said that this practice is both illegal and inhuman.

The Palestinian Prisoners Club, and the Palestinian public are confident that the strike will succeed and the demands will be met. A national committee in support of the strike has been established, and this committee has organised rallies and strikes all over the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli cabinet held a meeting on Sunday to discuss the hunger strike, which Fares believes is a serious indication that the Israeli leadership is fully aware of the situation, and that the desired results will soon be forthcoming.

There is currently more than 7,000 Palestinian prisoners in 28 Israeli jails. This includes 56 women and around 300 minors.