PA sends winter provisions to prisoners of Israel

RAMALLAH (Ma’an) -- The Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Prisoners Affairs sent Tuesday a shipment of warm winter clothing and blankets to the 2,200 Palestinian detainees rendered shelter-less at Israel's Negev prison in the wake of a wind-storm that knocked down the tent-homes of prisoners.

The ministry said the blankets and clothing cost 150,000 shekels ($41,713), and was being sent to the detainees after a series of reports from lawyers visiting the centers about the near freezing temperatures and inadequate resources being provided by the Israeli prison service.

In addition to the resources for detainees in the Negev, the ministry said, Gaza residents at the Ramon, Ashkilon and Beesheba prisons whose families are prohibited from making visits and bringing clothing would be handed blankets and warm sweaters from the fund.