Palestinian hunger strikers undergo health assessment

JERUSALEM (AA) - The Israeli prison authorities on Wednesday transferred scores of Palestinian hunger strikers, including jailed Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, to hospitals for "health assessment," Israeli media reported.

According to Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronot, "155 hunger strikers were transferred today [Wednesday] to hospitals around Israel to assess their health conditions," after 38 days of hunger strike.

Among the prisoners is jailed [Palestinian leader] Marwan Barghouti, who underwent a number of medical examinations and was sent back to his cell in the Kishon Detention Center in northern Israel, it said.

The newspaper also pointed out that "16 detainees were transferred to Israeli hospitals for treatment this week alone".

Led by jailed Palestinian resistance icon Marwan Barghouti, more than 1,500 Palestinian prisoners began an open-ended hunger strike on April 17 to demand more prison visits, better medical care and improved treatment for female inmates.

According to Palestinian figures, Israel is currently holding more than 6,500 Palestinians -- including scores of women and children -- at 24 detention centers across the country.