CAMPAIGNERS have called for solidarity with Palestinian political prisoner Haitham Siyaj who has started a hunger strike after his detention was extended for a further 24 hours on Wednesday.

He is one of scores detained by the Palestinian Authority (PA) during protests over the death of government critic Nizar Banat last month.

Mr Siyaj claims to have been tortured and beaten while in custody with the injuries he sustained being so severe he was hospitalised.