Gaza activists hunger strikers support jailed journalist al-Qiq

The six-day hunger strike, which was organized by the National Committee in Solidarity with Al-Qiq, will last until Thursday.

Journalists, officials, former prisoners and former hunger striker Ayman Sharawneh are taking part in the protest.

The committee urged Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to exert pressure on the Tel Aviv regime through the international community and secure the release of Qiq.

It also called on Arab and European parliaments as well as human rights and journalism organizations to help free Qiq from Israeli custody.

The activists also said the Israeli regime would be responsible for the health of the Palestinian hunger striker. 

Qiq who is on hunger strike in protest at his administrative detention by Israel has lost his power of speech and is in critical condition, according to the journalist’s lawyer and family. 

The journalist, a 33-year-old father of two and a correspondent for an Arabic TV network, was arrested on November 21 last year at his home in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah.

Administrative detention is a sort of imprisonment without trial or charge that allows Israel to incarcerate Palestinians for up to six months. The detention order can be renewed for indefinite periods of time.

More than 7,000 Palestinians are reportedly incarcerated in 17 Israeli prisons and detention centers.