Prisoners' ministry asks Red Cross to protect relatives of detainees

[ 17/08/2009 - 09:32 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- The ministry of prisoners' affairs has asked the Red Cross, in its capacity as the organizer of visits to Palestinians detained in Israeli jails, to protect relatives of those prisoners from settlers' assaults. The ministry in a statement on Sunday said that fanatic settlers were threatening to obstruct relatives of prisoners while en route to visit the detained Palestinians. It added that those settlers claim that relatives of prisoners were responsible for blocking the release of Israeli captured soldier Gilad Shalit, who is held captive in Gaza Strip. The statement noted that members of an Israeli society formed to support Shalit said that they would demonstrate next week and close the road leading to Hadarim, Shatta and Majdal prisons to prevent Palestinians from visiting their detained relatives and to pressure Hamas to allow visitation to Shalit. The ministry warned of the consequences of such an assault.