RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- The Palestinian Prisoners Society warned on Wednesday that the health of prisoner Mohammad al-Taj 41 from Tubas was becoming critical.

A lawyer with the PPS, Yousef Matia, visited the prisoner at Ramle clinic, and said that he needs an urgent lung transplant as his lungs are damaged.

Al-Taj breathes using an oxygen tank 24 hours per day, Matia said. Doctors say his arteries are becoming hardened.

He suffered pulmonary failure several months ago.

The prisoner has been detained since 2003, and sentenced to 14 and a half years in jail.