A Palestinian journalist has been on a hunger strike for 86 days to protest his "administrative detention" by Israel. Palestinian officials say he should be either charged or freed, while Israel says he is a suspected Hamas militant.
Mohammad al-Qiq, who was detained by Israeli forces in November, is on the 86th day of a hunger strike in a hospital in northern Israel. Doctors say he is becoming weaker by the day, his speech slow and laboured and that he is in pain.
On Friday (February 19), demonstrators in the West Bank city of Ramallah and in Gaza took to the streets calling for his release.
Israel placed Qiq in what it calls "administrative detention", a practice that has roots in British mandate Palestine. It allows a prisoner to be held for up to 60 days without charge and without viewing evidence against him and can be extended with court approval.
The United Nations, EU and rights groups have expressed concern about Qiq, who is refusing any food or medical treatment, and denounced administrative detention
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