2000 Palestinian inmates go on hunger strike in Israeli prisons

The strike, organized by inmates loyal to Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, has been staged in protest mainly against Israel’s “administrative detention” rules and the use of solitary confinement, denial of family visit, maltreatment of sick detainees, Haaretz reported on Friday.

The administrative detention rules allows the Israeli forces to arrest and incarcerate the Palestinians without charge, trial or even without any information about accusations or evidence against them. More than 300 Palestinians have been incarcerated at Israeli prisons.

Israel Prison Service has resorted to harsh punitive measures against hunger strikers, including solitary confinement, confiscation of personal belongings, transfers and denial of family visits, Palestinian organizations say.

Seven Palestinian strikers, including Tha'er Halahleh, 34, and Bilal Diab, 27, who have been on hunger strike for nearly 60 days, have been transferred to a prison medical centre due to the their deteriorating health conditions.

Meanwhile, three prisoners released during the Israel-Hamas prisoners’ swap in October 2011 have set up a tent at Ramallah's Clock Square in support of the hunger strike. Similar tents have also been erected in other Palestinian towns.

According to Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics and prisoner advocacy groups, there are currently over 6,000 Palestinian prisoners, including legislators, in Israeli jails, many of whom have been rounded up without charge or trial.

Independent sources put the number of the inmates at 11,000.