Hamas prisoners in the Nafha, Rimon, Eshel, Hadarim and HaSharon prisons sent back their breakfast as protest against planned aggravation of their conditions.
The Prison Service said that the inmates announced their intention to send back all three meals today but added that the prisoners have food in their cells which they purchased in the canteen.
The Prison Service only treats hunger strikes when six meals are returned consecutively, and then takes steps against the prisoners, such as removing luxury food items and equipment from their cells.
- Last week the prisoners announced their intention tostrike following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech in which he said that prisoner privileges would be taken away inan attempt to pressure Hamas into agreeing to a prisoner exchange deal for captive soldier Gilad Shalit.
Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch said that he instructed the Prison Service to discontinue studies for security prisoners and that he would work towards the purchase of electronic systems that would block cell phone usewithin the prisons.