Massive hunger strike by Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails

AL QUDS - A group of Palestinian prisoners have embarked on an indefinite hunger strike to protest against the repressive policies of the Israeli regime. In a statement released Wednesday, the Palestinian Prisoners' Society (PPS) said more than 2,000 prisoners would join the strike on Thursday, the first day of the holy month of Ramadan. The main complaint of the prisoners is the repressive measures taken on the orders of far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben Gvir. The hunger strike serves to draw attention to the violations of the fundamental rights of Palestinian prisoners. Detainees are denied access to basic medical care and are often subjected to torture. Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are held in administrative detention, in which Israel holds detainees without charge for up to six months, a period that can be extended an infinite number of times. Rights groups say Israel's use of administrative detention is a "failure tactic". There are reportedly more than 7,000 Palestinians held in Israeli jails. Israeli prison authorities keep prisoners in deplorable conditions without proper hygiene standards.