Palestinians held in Etzion prison to announce hunger strike if demands not met

[ 07/02/2011 - 01:01 PM ]

RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- Palestinians held in the Israeli Etzion prison are in the process of announcing a hunger strike in protest of inhumane treatment at the facility, the Palestinian Prisoner Society said. The prison administration has yet to offer a reason for its stubborn refusal to allow blankets and clothes, the PPS's attorney said. The captives also complain of the poor quality and lack of food there. Separately, prisoners jailed in Nafha have begun taking steps to see their demands are met. They are demanding that university students there are permitted to complete studies, blankets, treatment for the sick and an end to degrading searches, the PPS said. Meanwhile in the Eichel prison, administration has recently replaced the once large yard there for a restricted area with a concrete roof blocking the sun, another human rights group said in statements on Sunday. Because of crowding, prisoners force the prisoners not to stay there more than ten minutes, the Tadhamon (Solidarity) rights group. As the oldest Israeli prison, built in 1970 and holding 350 Palestinians, it is rife with abuses. In addition to a food crisis, prisoners are medically neglected, many of them not provided medicines they require. They have filed several requests for improvements on conditions, but the prison administration has yet to respond. ------------------ Group: Prisoners denied basic needs   RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- Palestinian detainees held in Israel's Etzion prison near Bethlehem are denied basic needs, Palestinian Prisoners' Society lawyer said Sunday. The lawyer said Israeli authorities refused to allow the organization to bring blankets, clothing or food to detainees. He said the prisoners were considering starting a hunger strike in protest at conditions in the facility.