Israel official: 870 Palestinians remain on hunger strike
RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territory — Popular support for a hunger strike by hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel has been gaining momentum with West Bank marches, sit-ins and a social media campaign showing video clips of celebrities from across the Arab world drinking salty water in solidarity.
The strike is one of the largest such protests in recent years, with potential fallout beyond the prisoners’ demands for better conditions in Israel lockups.
Still, on Monday, the 15th day of the fast, the number of participating prisoners had dropped to 870, from a high of 1,300 a week earlier, according to an Israeli official.
The strike has catapulted organizer Marwan Barghouti, who is serving five life sentences, back into the spotlight and boosted his national leadership credentials. Barghouti, behind bars since 2002, has consistently led in polls as the most popular choice to someday succeed 82-year-old Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.