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World Bulletin / News Desk

The European Union on Saturday called on Israel to improve conditions for Palestinians in its jails, and a Palestinian minister said there would be rallies next week to support hunger striking prisoners.

Nearly 5,000 Palestinians are held in Israeli jails.

EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement that she is following with concern the deteriorating health of four Palestinian inmates who are staging long-term hunger strikes in protest of their detention.

"The EU calls on the government of Israel to allow for the immediate restoration of their family visiting rights and calls for the full respect of international human rights obligations towards all Palestinian detainees and prisoners," she said.

But, a spokeswoman for Israel's Prisons Service said the four prisoners were in "good condition".

Issa Qaraqea, minister for prisoner affairs in the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority, said public demonstrations to show solidarity with the group would be held all next week.