1,550 Palestinians are on hunger strike. Four of them have been striking for over 60 days and are at risk of death, and one passed out in court today. Thousands have been demonstrating daily in solidarity, and at least ten demonstrators were arrested outside the Ramle prison this evening – and the Israeli Prison Service is finally about to decide on its response to the prisoners’ struggle.
Gazans demonstrate in support of prisoners in May Day demonstration (Anne Paq / Activestills)
More than 200 demonstrators called for the release of Palestinian prisoners this evening (Thursday) in a protest outside the Ramle prison compound in central Israel, where many Palestinian political prisoners are held. Among the demonstrators were several mothers of Palestinian prisoners with Israeli citizenship or residency permits, who held pictures of their loved ones now behind bars. At least ten demonstrators were arrested, while several Palestinians were also arrested or injured in yet another protest outside the Ofer Prison near Ramallah. Similar demonstrations have been taking place throughout the West Bank and Gaza in recent days, strengthening the popular pressure on Israel to rethink its policy on prisoners.
The demonstrations took place on the 16th day of the prisoners’ mass hunger strike, which began on Prisoner’s Day on April 17. The Israel Prison Service (IPS) confirmed today that 1,550 prisoners (out of a population of 4,500 Palestinians defined as “security prisoners”) are on hunger strike. They have been separated from prisoners not on strike. They are drinking water, and are under medical observation. The IPS defines their present condition “satisfactory.”
Palestinian mothers outside the Ramle prison compund (Oren Ziv / Activsetills)
However, a group of about 20 administrative prisoners have been striking for longer periods. Four of them launched their hunger strikes more than 60 days ago. They are presently hospitalized, and have been described by doctors as at risk of death. One of the four, Bilal Diab, fainted today in a High Court hearing on his and Thaer Halahleh’s appeal against their detention. The court decided to postpone ruling on the matter.
The administrative detainees are demanding an end to their detention without trial or charges. Their attorney, Jawad Boulos, recently told Haaretz that he fears that after the release of Khader Adnan and Hana Shalabi, Israel will prefer seeing detainees die behind bars than allow them to chip away at its system of administrative detention.
(Palestinians demonstrating near Ofer prison on May Day. Another demonstration took place today)
While administrative detainees are demanding they be released unconditionally, the majority of convicted prisoners who joined the strike recently are struggling for better conditions in prison (much like those who took part in the famous IRA hunger strike in the 1980s). Prisoners are demanding the cancelation of new restrictions placed just before the Schalit prisoner swap, which – in addition to existing discrimination between criminal and political prisoners – include an increased use of the solitary confinement of prominent leaders; a ban on Arabic newspapers, books and television; a halt to the transfer of funds from family members to prisoners, necessary for many basic food products, cigarettes and more; and an end to academic studies in Israel’s Open University, which enables distance learning.
Israeli demonstrators arrested outside Ramle prison compound (Oren Ziv / Activestills)
The IPS spokesperson told +972 this evening that decisions will be reached within days on how to deal with the strike and the prisoners’ demands. “The [Prison] Service set up a team to investigate the prisoners’ demands prior to the beginning of the strike,” the spokesperson wrote. “The team’s recommendations will be submitted within days.”
Read also:
Prisoner on hunger strike faints in court; judges delay ruling
‘Empty Stomachs’ hunger strike spreads across prisons
As prisoners reach the breaking point, what will Israel do?
Palestinian Prisoners’ Day: Hundreds join hunger strike
WATCH: Palestinians protest in support of hunger strikers
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caden
Should cut down on food costs in the jails.
Jared
Can we get this troll Caden’s posts deleted and the user banned? His comments are often disgusting, disrespectful of the matter at hand, and beyond that, completely unhelpful and not constructive in the least.
David T.
@Caden
You obviously have learned a lot from the holocaust.
caden
Not feeling the love guys.
max
“the majority of convicted prisoners who joined the strike recently are struggling for better conditions in prison”
I’d expect the post to explain how good or bad are the conditions. Saying that something was stopped doesn’t mean it had to be there.
It would also be interesting to understand how many are from Hamas (who detained Shalit with zero communication with the world) and how many from Fatah.
As it stands, the post says that a new tool is being used to advance requests; not very helpful.
Haggai Matar
Max – I listed the conditions that have been changed, and the requests of strikers. What more need you know of contidions? Ask me, I promise to answer.
As to the prisoners’ political affiliation – from I hear they are from all parties except Fatah.
David T.
“Not feeling the love guys.” (Caden)
After reading some of your comment(s) I’m not surprised you’re emotionally crippled.
max
Haggai – I fully understand the grievance over the administrative detention policy, but not at all that of the convicted. If accepted _privileges_ have been dropped due to a political motive (you mentioned Shalit in the context of timing, so presumably used as to make pressure – though very late), you can question the reasoning but not present it as a humanitarian issue.
My motivation is the view that hunger strike is a tool (powerful in its resonance because one assumes its cost) that, however, says nothing about the cause.
Haggai Matar
I don’t think anyone said anything about it being a humanitarian situation. Nobody is claiming that they are being regularly beaten or denied food in prison, or anything like this. This is a political question, and a political struggle.
Palestinian prisoners have always been discriminated against in prison (as opposed to Israelis they have no vacations, no phones, no chance of being getting time off for good behavior, etc.). Since the powers to be decided to pressure Hamas for Schalit – conditions got even worse. However, as mentioned above, they were not restored when Schalit was released. This is what the struggle is about.
max
Thanks, Haggai
Greg Pollock
I’m not trying to provoke anything here, but I do wonder what Adnan is saying post release. Has the discourse changed at all? What did his struggle do to him? I certainly don’t expect him to be a pacifist; I just wonder how these remarkable resolved actions might change future action.
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And, Haggai, I’m not following you around. I’m following the stories around.