GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Dozens of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails were taken to hospitals May 24 to be examined as a nearly six-week mass hunger strike continues with no negotiations in sight.
An estimated 1,300 to 1,600 prisoners are participating in the "Freedom and Dignity" hunger strike, which began April 17 to demand better living conditions in prison. (An Israeli official claimed that the number of participants dropped to 870 after two weeks.) The prisoners say they have managed to survive so far on nothing but water and salt, which they use to try to stabilize their health.
Aarab al-Barghouti — the son of prominent Fatah prisoner Marwan Barghouti, who started the strike — initiated the "Saltwater Challenge" on social media when he filmed himself drinking saltwater and challenging Arab Idol winner Mohammed Assaf to do the same. A number of Arab celebrities joined the challenge, which went viral among Palestinians on social media.
Palestinians have made widespread shows of support for the strike as they look to publicize the cause. In one such display, nearly 50 Gaza Strip restaurants joined the Saltwater Challenge, which Gaza's Hotels and Tourist Restaurants Commission launched for one day on May 2. Under the initiative, restaurants exclusively served their customers saltwater to voice solidarity with the prisoners.
AL-MONITOR All-Access gives you unlimited access to all our journalism, the full Daily Briefing, exclusive interviews, premium newsletters, and live events — for less than $2/week.
