5,100 Palestinian Prisoners to Go on Hunger Strike

Local Editor

Nearly all Palestinian prisoners in "Israeli" jails went on hunger strike for one day on Thursday in solidarity with administrative detainees who have been on strike for nearly two weeks, an official said.

Prisoner Abu Mukatel said on Wednesday that the prisoners decided to practically express their solidarity with the administrative detainees who have been on hunger strike for 13 days.

A wave of hunger strikes is planned to begin on or around Prisoners' Day on Tuesday, held under the slogan: "We will live in dignity." About 1,600 prisoners have agreed to take part in the protest, according to Palestinian prisons minister Issa Qaraqi. "The situation inside "Israeli" prisons has become very dangerous and serious," he was quoted as saying.

There are around 4,600 Palestinians held in "Israeli" prisons, according to the prisoners' rights group Addameer. More than 300 are held under "administrative detention", meaning they and their lawyers are not informed of accusations or evidence against them, no trial is held, and their term of imprisonment is determined by an "Israeli" military judge.

Over 800,000 Palestinians have been detained since 1967, with 5,224 currently being held in Israeli prisons, according to the PLO.

Khadar Adnan, the first prisoner to begin a hunger strike in the current wave, refused food for 66 days before agreeing to a deal that should see him released this week after four months in administrative detention.

Hamas has said that the only way to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners is by abducting "Israeli" soldiers to use as bargaining chips. "If the enemy has not learned, we are prepared to give them practical lessons," Khaled Meshaal, the Hamas leader in exile, told a conference in Qatar this month. "The only way to free prisoners is by exchanging them for "Israeli" prisoners and leaders.

Source: Agencies