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Photo: Effie Shrir
Prisoners on strike?
Photo: Effie Shrir

Palestinian prisoners launch hunger strike

Eighty-five security prisoners incarcerated in Nafha, Eshel, Ramon and Ketziot jails send back meals in protest of separation of some inmates from general prison population. Palestinian minister: Strike will be held three days a week

The Prison Service confirmed Wednesday that 85 security prisoners incarcerated in the Nafha, Eshel, Ramon and Ketziot prison have launched a hunger strike.

 

The inmates are protesting against the fact that some of the prisoners have been separated from the general prison population and are demanding their transfer to the regular wings.

 

Some of the prisoners sent back two meals on Tuesday but the Prison Service said they were unaware of inmates' plans to hold a continuous hunger strike.

 

Palestinian Minister for Prisoner Affairs Issa Karaka said that the prisoners decided to hold the hunger strike on three days of the week: Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

 

He also noted that they decided to disobey the prison rules if the management fails to respond to their demands. He added that the inmates' protest measures would include failing to appear for the daily count and would refuse to wear the prison uniform.

 

At this time the Prison Service is not treating the strike as a hunger strike.

 

Strike are only considered to be hunger strikes when the prisoners have sent back six meals in a row at which point, the Prison Service implements strike measures. These measures include taking all food products out of the inmates' cells as well as luxury items like electric kettles, televisions and radios.

 

The Prison Service also noted that the prisoners' response to the call to go on strike was meager with only 85 out of the 6,000 security prisoners joining the strike.

 

Elior Levy contributed to the report

 

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 09.28.11, 12:30
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