As of December 2012, Israel held 4,517 Palestinians in its jails. Of these 1,031 are being held until the conclusion of legal proceedings, 178 are in administrative detention (without charge or trial) and 170 are under 18 years of age.

Administrative detention is a system under which a military court can order suspects to be detained indefinitely, subject to renewal every six months by the court, without trial or charge. The Israeli military says it uses administrative detention when it fears an immediate risk to security or to protect informants.

Two of the detainees, Ayman Sharawna and Samer Issawi, were released in October 2011 as part of a prisoner exchange deal that led to the freeing by Hamas of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Mr Sharawna and Mr Issawi were both later re-arrested by the Israeli authorities for allegedly violating the terms of their release.

Mr Sharawna been on hunger strike since July, except for a brief break in January. Mr Issawi launched a hunger strike in August.

Mr Ezzedin and Mr Qaadan, who are being held under administrative detention, have been on hunger strike since November. According to the Israeli campaign group Physicians for Human Rights both men are taking in only water and refusing medical treatment or food supplements, such as vitamins and minerals.      

         Source : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21498848.

Ayman Sharawna (230+ days on hunger strike)

Samer Issawi       (211+ days on hunger strike)

Tariq Qaadan     ( 84+   days on hunger strike)

Jafar Ezzedine   (84+ days on hunger strike)