Palestinian Minister of Detainees, Issa Qaraqe’, stated Saturday that Palestinian political detainees in Israeli prisons are ongoing with their hunger strike demanding their legal rights, yet, Israel is escalating its violations against them in an attempt to break their strike.
Qaraqe’ added that the Israeli Prison Administration is trying to claim it is negotiating with the detainees, and listening to their demands, but its main aim is to delay the “talks” as long as possible without seriously listening to the legitimate demands, the Maan News Agency reported.
The minister’s statements came during a visit to a solidarity tent in the Duheisha refugee camp in Bethlehem, where a number of residents are holding a solidarity hunger strike.
Qaraqe’ stated that the Israeli Prison Administration is “physically and emotionally torturing the striking detainees, placing dozens of them in solitary confinement, and is even preventing them from having plastic cups for water, and salt, in their rooms”.
He also stated that the detainees in Asqalan Prison are now also boycotting the prison clinic due to the bad and harsh treatment they face while seeking medical attention, and that the Prison Police is forcibly dragging them to the clinic.
All sorts of communication with the detainees are now blocked, visitations denied, TV sets and Radios confiscated, and communication between the detainees in different sections of Asqalan prison are also denied.
The minister said that four detainees in Asqalan who are currently in solitary confinement are facing seriously deteriorating health conditions.
The Israeli Prison Administration also forced 65 striking detainees in Ohali Kidar Prison into solitary confinement by placing every four detainees in one tiny cell, and also confiscated their watches to keep them confused.
The 53 striking detainees, held in Shatta Prison, are undergoing attacks and psychological warfare practiced against them by the Prison Administration and the prison guards.
In Ofer prison, the Prison Administration placed 12 striking detainees into solitary confinement after violently attacking and beating them.
Qaraqe’ issued an appeal to the International Red Cross to act fast and visit the striking detainees, and warned of a potential humanitarian crisis in all Israeli prisons and detention centers.
He said that all activities and protests, held in solidarity with the detainees, in Palestine and in exile, would continue and escalate until Israel abides by the International Law and starts treating the detainees in accordance to all international treaties, including the Fourth Geneva Conventions.
International Middle East Media Center
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