[ 04/05/2011 - 09:32 AM ]
GAZA, (PIC)-- Palestinians held in four Israeli prisons began an open-ended hunger strike on Tuesday.
The prisoner affairs ministry in Gaza has put their number at 2,000, a third of all Palestinians detained in Israeli jails.
They are demanding an end to the prison authority's policy of isolating prisoners and improvements in living conditions.
The strike will gradually escalate, said the ministry's media director Riyadh al-Ashkar. New prisoners will join the strike later because of the effect that will have on pressuring the prison authority to respond to their humanitarian demands.
The Hadarim prison would be the first to join the strike followed by Ofer, bringing the count to more than 2,800 prisoners, Ashkar added. Supportive steps will also be taken at the Negev prison where most of the prisoners are.
Ashkar explained how the strike would progress. The prisoners will go on hunger strike every Saturday and Wednesday in May. The next month, they will boost the number of days fasted to three or four, and more prisons will join them. If the prisons fail to respond to demands, they will declare a comprehensive strike effecting all prisons in the last stage.
Ashkar said the ministry has been frequently and directly contacting prisoners to follow their circumstances. They said Tuesday morning that they have high spirits and are armed with will, determination, and the support of the Palestinians.
[ 04/05/2011 - 09:29 AM ]
AL-KHALIL, (PIC)-- Israeli occupation forces (IOF) rounded up four Palestinian citizens in Al-Khalil city and nearby Dora village including former minister of local government Issa Al-Jabari.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC that the IOF soldiers forced their way into the home of Jabari, 51, who was released from occupation jails less than six months ago and took him away.
The soldiers also detained a young man in the city while two others were arrested at a roadblock at the southern entrance to Dora.
In a separate incident, locals reported that IOF soldiers opened fire at a Palestinian car near Samu village, also in Al-Khalil, but the car sped away with no damage or injuries reported.
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian