A social justice activist on the 24th day of a hunger strike was rushed to the hospital on Tuesday after he began to feel seriously ill outside the Prime Minister’s Residence in Jerusalem. Hours later, 44-year-old Tamir Hajij took to his Facebook page: “I feel better, I was given vitamins and medication for stomach pains and general pain,” he wrote – before posting a picture of himself again standing outside the Prime Minister’s Residence.

Tamir Hajaj outside Prime Minister’s Residence in Jerusalem (Photo: Heder Matzav)

Hajij launched his hunger strike 24 days ago vowing to fast until Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu agreed to meet with him to speak about social issues facing everyday Israelis. So far Netanyahu has refused to see him. Hajaj called on Netanyahu to meet with him. He said he plans to fight to “my last drop of blood.”

Later on Tuesday, a man poured a liquid on himself in Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square and threatened to set himself on fire before he was stopped by police. Ever since social justice activist Moshe Silman self-immolated at a demonstration in Tel Aviv on July 14 and died several days later, a number of Israelis have carried out similar acts or gone to public places threatening to do so. One was a disabled IDF veteran who died after setting himself on fire at a gas station outside Yehud.