[Ppnews] Palestinian political prisoners begin nonviolent action: Al Naqab on hunger strike

[Political Prisoner News]

Palestinian political prisoners begin nonviolent action: Al Naqab on 
hunger strike

http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1426

(Ramallah) Palestine News Network
Thursday, 11 January 2007

Hundreds of Palestinian political prisoners stood in the yard of Al 
Naqab (Negev) Israeli Prison during the early morning hours reading 
statements. They had all been quickly penned after Israeli forces 
attacked their kitchen facilities as the Palestinians slept. 
Regardless of being hastily written, the sentiment was clear and 
consistent. The prisoners are on hunger strike and they have 
withdrawn their representatives, therefore no one will be 
communicating with the prison administration.

All sections in Al Naqab are considering additional action in 
response to the grave breach of the delicate balance that is struck 
between the occupied and occupier in a prison that operates in direct 
contravention to international law.

When Israeli forces stormed the cells of Al Naqab Prison last night, 
they concentrated on the cooking areas created by Palestinian 
political prisoners to prepare meals. The Palestinians were asleep 
when the Israeli forces tore through the kitchens.

The destruction was conducted without prior warning to 
representatives of the prisoners or officials of prisoner support 
organizations. This breach in conduct led to a strong reaction by the 
2,400 Palestinians in Al Naqab, 700 of whom are being held  in 
Administrative Detention. The political prisoners demanded to see 
representatives of the prison officials and organizations to find out 
why the sudden intrusion.

No answers came other than that this is a part of the escalation in 
Israeli prison administration actions against Palestinians, including 
repeated strip searches and harassment of visiting family members, in 
addition to a worsening standard of health care in an already abysmal state.

Via the Ministry of Detainees and Ex Detainees Affairs, the prisoners 
sent an urgent appeal to all human rights organizations and 
international human rights bodies to intervene quickly in order to 
stop the actions of the Prisons Department. There are currently 
11,000 Palestinian and Arab political prisoners in Israeli prisons.


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