Ammon News - AMMAN (Petra) – National figures joined dozens of professional members on Saturday at a sit-in in support of hunger-striking Jordanian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Participants in the pro-prisoner rally declared the launch of a coordination committee to defend the 26 Jordanian detainees, who began an open-ended hunger strike on Thursday to demand better conditions and more visits by relatives.

"The prisoners' decision to start the empty stomachs battle was in the first place a message to the government to do more and follow up on their case as well as a message to the entire world that rallied for the release of (Israeli soldier held by Hamas group) Gilad Shalit", President of Agricultural Engineers Association Mahmoud Abu Ghanimeh said.

Ghanimeh urged Arab and international organisations to exert pressure on Israel to "grant the prisoners their simplest human rights." Islamic Action Front leader Ali Abu Sukar lambasted the official Arab position vis-a-vis the plight of prisoners and the entire Palestinian issue, urging the foreign ministry to do more to secure their freedom and calling on the detainees to resist Israeli measures.

Speaking on behalf of prisoners' relatives, Mohammad Nazzal, the brother of detainee Ali Nazzal, said: "We will stand beside you. We will have no respite until you are released." He called on Jordanians to rally behind the prisoners' cause and take part in solidarity action.

Freed Jordanian prisoner Nuseibah Jaradat urged the government to help prisoners' families to contact their loved ones and work for their release.

The National Committee for Prisoners Affairs said it will continue action, including a sit-in in front of the foreign ministry tomorrow and solidarity activities on Sunday and Friday each week, to press their demands.