«Israel» Prepares for Clashes with Hamas Prisoners

By Staff, Agencies

The “Israeli” Prison Service is preparing for confrontations in its security wings after Hamas leaders at an “Israeli” prison announced their resignation from their posts as prisoner representatives over a plan to install a device that blocks cellphone service in prisons.

Leaders in other prisons also said they intend to resign.

The device, which will also be installed at other prisons as well, has created a crisis in relations between prison officials and jailed Hamas leaders.

In “Israeli” prisons' security wings, each wing has a head and a spokesman, who are selected in democratic elections held by the prisoners (in Hamas, every four months; in Fatah, every six months).

It is the job of the spokesman to maintain contact with the IPS personnel running the prisons, but the head of the security wing has more power: It is he who manages the affairs of the inmates and is entrusted with contact with the leadership of the Palestinian organizations in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank.

An announcement disseminated on social media over the weekend, in the name of a “prisoners’ movement,” stated that the “Prison Service and politicians have launched a war against us. We urge the Palestinian public to support our struggle. This is a test, a time to open hearts and prove commitment to prisoners... don’t leave us alone on the battlefield, we’re experiencing an unprecedented attack, we must fight back. We’ve become a bargaining chip in the election, can you agree to that?”

The Prison Service has reinforced its staff at all prisons that hold security prisoners, particularly at Ketziot, Nafha and Ramon prisons, as part of its preparations.

According to an assessment by a senior prison service official, Hamas members are behind this announcement, but there is concern that jailed Fatah leaders will also announce their intention to resign. Prisoners said that the installed device endangers their lives, also noting the entity’s decision to interfere with Palestinian Authority payments to prisoners.

Tension arose following violent clashes between Islamic Jihad prisoners and guards at Ofer Prison three weeks ago, a result of searches conducted for unauthorized cellphones. During the clashes, twenty prisoners were taken for medical treatment.

Last month, clashes broke out in three security prisons across the country, in protest against a snap search in prisoners’ cells.