Palestinians Start Hunger Strike in Israeli Prisons

PNN

28.03.11 - 16:32 Palestinian detainees in five Israeli jails started hunger strikes on Monday in protest against their inhuman treatment and in solidarity with Hamas leaders Ahmed Saadat and Abbas al-Sayyad.

(PNN Archive)

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club stated that prisoners at Nafha, Ramon, Eichel and Ashkelon prisons and some parts of the Negev prison are to refuse meals from today in protest against Israeli actions including the humiliation of the Israeli authorities’ inspection of their families during visits, the policy of solitary confinement and a general lack of a response by the Israeli Prison Service to their demands.  The PPS said that the abuses taking place in these prisons are not acceptable under international law.Al-Sayyad has been on hunger strike for twenty days and is said to be in poor health while Saadat has been placed in solitary confinement.
Over 7000 Palestinians have been detained in Israeli prisons and detention centres. Conditions in these jails are said to be poor and many prisoners suffer from chronic illnesses. According to some estimates up to one fifth of the Palestinian population has been imprisoned at some point since 1967. The future of these prisoners is considered a key element of any possible peace deal between Israel and Palestine.

Palestinian detainees announce hunger strike

 

Published Monday 28/03/2011 23:49

 

RAMALLAH (Ma’an) -- Palestinian detainees in five prisons in Israel announced a hunger strike Monday in protest over their treatment.

Prisoners held in Israel's Nafha, Raymon, Eshel, Ashkelon and Negev prisons will participate in the strike to demand an end to abuse by prison guards, a prisoners' center said.

The detainees were also demanding that Israeli prison authorities stopped the practice of solitary confinement, the center added.

The center called on human rights organizations to intervene on behalf of political prisoners, noting that many Palestinians had died in Israeli custody.