Ramallah—Ninety days have passed since journalist Mohammed al-Qiq went on a hunger strike to protest his arrest and administrative detention in Israeli prisons for six months without any charges filed against him. Al-Qiq is one of 6,800 Palestinian political prisoners held by Israel, including 660 administrative detainees and 18 journalists; many of them have been subjected to torture.

“Al-Qiq’s arrest and subsequent detention without trial only highlight Israel’s draconian measures against Palestinians,” said Jamal Dajani, Director of Strategic Communications & Media at the Prime Minister’s Office. “Both Prime Minister Hamdallah and President Abbas have made it one of their top priorities to secure the release of al-Qiq along with the many Palestinian prisoners languishing in Israeli jails,” added Dajani.

Several human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, demanded the immediate release of al-Qiq whose health has deteriorated rapidly. The 33-year-old journalist and father of two is reportedly on the verge of organ failure after only consuming water with salt. Al-Qiq was working as a correspondent for Saudi Arabia's Almajd television network when he was arrested at his West Bank home in Ramallah on November 21.