Palestinian Prisoners in ’’Israeli’’ Jails Retell Days of Hunger Strike: Various Scenes of Torture
"My fellow inmates at "Eshel" prison refused to sign a document stating that if they died during the strike, it would be their own responsibility," he said.
Last September, Palestinian prisoners in "Israeli" jails launched an open hunger strike to protest harsh prison conditions, in particular the practice of solitary confinement.
For 20 consecutive days, detainees refused food until Zionist authorities agreed to meet their demands. But since then, nothing has changed.
The detainee affairs ministry in Ramallah released a report Thursday detailing the experiences of prisoners during the strike.
Shadi al-Sharafa, a prisoner in "Ashkelon" jail, said striking detainees were put in separate cells and banned from communicating with each other.
"They slept on the floor as their mattresses and blankets were confiscated, and clothes, soap and all electronic goods were seized," he said.
"Striking detainees were denied medical treatment and family visits," he added.
"While we were on strike, we were beaten up. Despite the fact that according to the law ... prisoners on strike have the right to have a one-hour outdoor break, we were prevented from that," he further mentioned.
Al-Sharafa noted that prisoners suspended the strike because the prison administration agreed to their demands, but uncovered that as usual "Israeli" authorities have not met their commitments.
Prisoners are still held in solitary confinement, including Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine leader Ahmad Saadat, who has been in an isolation cell for three years.
For his part, Muhammad Abdul Muhsin, from "Abu Dhis", said "Israeli" jail authorities transferred the prisoners between cells to deliberately tire them out during the strike.
He also mentioned that prison authorities confiscated part of the money detainees were sent by families, estimating that seized funds amounted to ($6,986).
Ahmad Al-Arida, from Nablus, added that guards would wake prisoners at 5 a.m. for cell searches during the strike.
"The prison administration used to provoke us and to pressure us," he said.
"We were prevented to meet with lawyers. Salt was taken from us and we were told many times that the strike will be suspended and that we will fail in achieving our goals," he added.
Similarly, Majdi Mabrouk, from Al-Ain refugee camp, explained that "the prison authorities confiscated cleaning products leading to poor sanitary conditions."
"It smelled terrible," he said.
Mabrouk also described prisoners being summoned to the "Isreali" jail's administration.
"His feet and hands would be cuffed with metals and he would be pulled over from his feet," Mabrouk said.
"Since ending the strike, isolation cells continue, prisoners' visiting periods were not increased, and they are still barred from moving between cells to see fellow prisoners," representatives said.
Source: Maan News Agency, Edited by moqawama.org
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