Egypt 'concerned' over hunger strikers
2013-02-13 13:56
Cairo - Egypt on Wednesday expressed "concern" for
the well-being of Palestinian hunger strikers in Israeli prisons and warned
that endangering their lives could inflame tensions in Palestinian territories.
Egypt's Foreign Minister Mohammed Kamel Amr "expressed
his concern over reports about the deteriorating health of Palestinian hunger
strikers in Israeli jails, especially Samer Assawi and Ayman Sharawneh," a
ministry statement said.
"Amr warned that endangering their lives could lead to an
increase in prevailing tensions, with consequences in Palestinian lands,"
he added, demanding the international community intervene.
Last year, between 1 600 and 2 000 Palestinian prisoners in
Israel took part in a collective hunger strike which ended with an agreement
with prison administrators on 14 May.
One of their main demands was the release of prisoners being
held in "administrative detention" under which suspects can be
imprisoned without trial for six months, which is renewable indefinitely.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas Tuesday called on the
international community to intervene urgently in support of the hunger-striking
prisoners, singling out four detainees in need of special attention - Assawi,
Sharawneh, Jaafar Ezzedine and Tareq Qaadan.
The Palestinian leader also sent an urgent letter to UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to condemn the health and living conditions for
the hunger strikers, as well as to demand their release.
