Hadash MKs Attend Meeting in Ramallah in Solidarity with Palestinian Hunger Strikers

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met with Fadwa Barghouti, wife of Marwan Bargouti, the leader of the hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, on Monday, April 24, in his office in Ramallah. The two discussed the hunger strike that began last week and Abbas expressed his support for the prisoners and their demands. Fatah declared a strike in the West Bank for Wednesday, April 26, in support of the hunger strikers and a “day of rage” for today, Friday, April 28.

Participants at a meeting held in Ramallah last Monday, April 24, in solidarity with hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons; from left to right: Attorney Elias Sabag, MK Touma-Sliman, Fadwa Barghouti, MK Ayman Odeh, MK Youssef Jabareen and prisoner committee activist Kadura Fares

Participants at a meeting held in Ramallah last Monday, April 24, in solidarity with hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons; from left to right: Attorney Elias Sabag, MK Touma-Sliman, Fadwa Barghouti, MK Ayman Odeh, MK Youssef Jabareen and prisoner committee activist Kadura Fares (Photo: Al Ittihad)

The meeting between Abbas and Fadwa Barghouti was held amidst reports of disagreements within Fatah and the Palestinian Authority over the hunger strike. Hadash lawmaker Ayman Odeh, the head of the Joint List, also attended the meeting at the Muqata’a in Ramallah, along with his parliamentary colleague MK Aida Touma-Suliman (Hadash – Joint List) and Azam al-Ahmar, a member of the Fatah central committee. The official Palestinian news agency WAFA said Abbas is acting in the international arena on behalf of the prisoners and their rights in Israeli prisons.