The International Red Cross called on Israel on Tuesday to immediately hospitalize six Palestinian Authority Arab prisoners who have been on a hunger strike.

According to a report on Kol Yisrael radio, the Israeli Prison Service said in response that all prisoners are under medical surveillance and any prisoner in need of further treatment than that given to him in the prison, is sent to hospital.

Some 1,500 terrorist prisoners launched a mass hunger strike on April 17, in protest of their being in administrative detention. In a tactic for United Nations sympathy, the PA has said that the prisoners´ hunger strike is a humanitarian disaster.

Two of the hunger strikers, Thaer Halahla and Bilal Diab, have been refusing food for 70 days. Both are active members of the Islamic Jihad terror group. The Kol Yisrael radio report noted that Diab had received medical care in a hospital and was subsequently released back to prison.

On Monday, the Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Halahla and Diab, who are demanding to be set free. In its ruling, the Court advised security officials to consider freeing the men for medical reasons, but nonetheless backed the government´s right to hold them.

A leader with the Islamic Jihad warned on Sunday that the death of any hunger-striking prisoner in Israel will start the third intifada.

Last Friday, Hamas leader Khalil al-Haya warned Israel there would be consequences if any of the prisoners on hunger strike dies in jail.

Arab MK Jamal Zahalka has also said that the ongoing hunger strike could spark a third round of violence against Israel. (IsraelNationalNews © 2012 05/09/12)