Qaraqe: If a hunger striker dies, UN will lose credibility

Qaraqe: If a hunger striker dies, UN will lose credibility Ma'an news uruknet.info

Activists hold placards during a protest outside Israel's Ramle prison near Tel Aviv calling for the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, Feb. 4. (Reuters/Ammar Awad) February 9, 2013 BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- The Palestinian Authority minster of prisoners warned Saturday that if any of the Palestinians on hunger strike in Israeli jails dies the credibility of the UN and all international human rights organizations will be at risk. Issa Qaraqe urged international groups to intervene immediately in order to save the lives of the hunger strikers, in comments during a welcome ceremony for freed prisoners in Tubas. Palestinians have launched hunger strikes in Israeli jail to protest their detention and conditions. Several prisoners have been on strike for months. Samer Issawi, from East Jerusalem, last week stopped drinking water after refusing food for 190 days. Jafar Azzidine and Tarek Qaadan have been on hunger strike for 72 days. Source