Israeli occupation to deny prisoners treatment if strike not ended

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The head of the Palestinian Prisoners and Ex-prisoners Affairs Commission, Qadri Abu Bakr, stated on Wednesday that the Israeli occupation threatens prisoners to deny them any access to medical treatment if they do not end their open-ended hunger strike.

While speaking to Al Mayadeen, Abu Bakr added that the prisoners need support and backing from the whole of occupied Palestine and from international institutions to pressure "Israel".

He stated that a number of prisoners were assaulted in "Hadarim" Prison, as part of a series of vicious attacks on prisons, leaving the striking prisoners with no choice but to win or be martyred.

It is noteworthy that the administrative prisoners in the occupation prisons continue to boycott the occupation courts for the 166th day to demand an end to the policy of administrative detention.

There has recently been increased fear and anxiety concerning prisoners in Israeli prisons, following the escalation of brutal measures used by the Israeli occupation.

On Monday, Palestinian factions and forces held an emergency meeting in Gaza, in which they discussed the Israeli escalation in the occupied territories, in addition to the seriousness of the deteriorating health situation of the prisoners on hunger strike.

The prisoner Khalil Awawdeh marks his 105th day of open hunger strike, as does prisoner Raed Rayan, who marks his 69th day in refusal of arbitrary administrative detention. 

During the meeting, the factions affirmed "the right of the Palestinian people to defend themselves, and the right of the resistance, represented by the joint operations room, to confront the occupation," deciding to consider next Friday a day of popular action and open public confrontation with the Israeli occupation.

Palestinian prisoner Zakaria Al-Zubaidi, one of the prisoners behind Operation Freedom Tunnel, which saw six brave prisoners liberating themselves from the unjust prisons of the Israeli occupation, is also on hunger strike, which he initiated in solidarity with the hunger-striking prisoners, Muhjat Al-Quds Foundation reported.