Hundreds of Palestinians in the West Bank and east Jerusalem yesterday held rallies demanding the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.

Ten Palestinian hunger strikers held at an Israeli prison have now been moved to hospital because of their deteriorating health but their resolve is unbroken.

Prisoners Bilal Diab and Thaer Halahla, on hunger strike for more than 65 days, are now in “grave condition,” Palestinian representative Riyad Mansour said in a letter to the UN Security Council.

Mansour said 10 prisoners at the Ramle prison have now been moved to hospital and the lives of “several” who have been on hunger strike for between 59 and 67 days were at risk.

In Ramallah, about 500 Palestinians took part in a rally organized by Hamas.

And in East Jerusalem, 300 Palestinians marched from the gates of the Old City to the Red Cross compound.