AMMAN, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Jordanian prisoners in Israeli jails started on Saturday a hunger strike in protest of " violations against them and negligence by the Jordanian government of their case," according to the country's national committee for prisoners.

    The committee received a phone call on Saturday from the lawyer representing the Jordanian prisoners in the Israeli jails, saying that they started a hunger strike in condemnation of violations they are subject to at Israeli jails and to the Jordanian government indifference to their case, Jordan's National Committee for Prisoners and Missing Persons said in a statement obtained by Xinhua.

    According to the committee, there are currently 27 Jordanian prisoners in Israeli jails.

    Meanwhile, the committee urged the Jordanian government to use all its clout to exercise pressure on Israel to release the Jordanian prisoners.

    "The committee also calls on the government to place pressure on Israel to honor the Third Geneva Convention," the statement indicated.

    The convention entails that "Prisoners of war must at all times be humanely treated" and that "prisoners of war must at all times be protected, particularly against acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity."

    The national committee also called on the government to shoulder its responsibilities towards the prisoners' families, especially that some of them suffer difficult financial conditions.