RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- The mayor of Ramallah Laila Ghannam on Thursday visited the mother of hunger striker Ayman Sharawna in Hebron hospital.

Sharawna's mother has been on hunger strike since Feb. 16 in solidarity with her son, who has refused food in an Israeli prison since July. She was hospitalized after she collapsed at a solidarity tent near her home on Feb. 17.

In a statement, the mayor of Ramallah expressed pride in Sharawna's mother and her determination to stand by her son, and in the strength of all Palestinian mothers.

She condemned the international silence on hunger strikers in Israeli jails.