Israel's Supreme Court hears hunger strikers' appeal

Israel’s Supreme Court has deferred a decision on an appeal against their imprisonment by two Palestinians who have been on hunger strike for 64 days.

Bilal Diab and Thaer Halahla have been placed in “administrative detention”, a controversial practice whereby people can be held without charge or trial.

Both men are suspected of security offences by the Israeli authorities.

But the Israeli group Physicians for Human Rights has said they are in very poor health and in danger of dying.

“Both have stopped co-operating in any way with the Israeli Prison Service doctors. They are not taking vitamins or salts on the IV [intravenous] drip,” PHR spokeswoman Amani Dayif told the BBC on Wednesday.

“Bilal is only drinking water, less than a litre per day. He’s in danger of cardiac arrest. There are signs that Thaer might have an infection in his lung. Both should be transferred to a proper hospital,” she warned.