Israel faced increasing calls to take action on over 2000 Palestinian prisoners currently on hunger strike, including two who have refused food for 77 days, amid concerns for their health.

Palestinian groups state that a further six Palestinians are in a "critical" condition.

Egyptian mediators have continued attempts to negiotiate a deal in an effort to prevent current demonstrations in Gaza and the West Bank spiralling if one of the hunger striker was to die.

The Middle East peace envoy, the former UK prime minister Tony Blair, said he was "increasingly concerned about the deteriorating health conditions" of the hunger strikers and called on Israel to "take all necessary measures to prevent a tragic outcome that could have serious implications for stability and security conditions on the ground."

Having appealed to the US Secretary of State Hiliary Clinton to intervene, the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, described the situation as "very dangerous".

Speaking to Reuters Abbas said,

"If anyone dies … it would be a disaster and no one could control the situation."

The hunger strikes main demands are to end 'administrative detention' (imprisonment without trial or charge); to end solitary confinement; to end to strip searches and night-time raids on prisoners in their cells, as well as allowing families from Gaza to visit prisoners in Israeli jails and access to educational resources.

The Israeli Prison Service (IPS) states that no one's life is at risk.