Palestinian prisoners resist Ben-Gvir’s repressive measures

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
28 Feb 2023 12:45

The Palestinian prisoners pursue their protests against the Israeli repressive measures by initially declaring civil disobedience and announcing a hunger strike on the first day of Ramadan.

Palestinian prisoners raising victory signs (Archive)

For the 15th consecutive day, Palestinian prisoners in Israeli occupation prisons continue their civil disobedience against the arbitrary and unjust measures of the Israeli prisons administration, in rejection of the orders issued by Israeli Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to deprive them of their most basic rights, not to mention the brutal attacks launched by the Prison Authority against them, as per the Prisoners Information Office.

The Office reported that the prisoners decided to close all sections in the prisons from 11 am to 3 pm, as part of the escalating steps to confront the repressive measures against them.

Israeli Prison Service (IPS) threatened to harshen its already brutal repressive measures against the prisoners if they carried on with civil disobedience.

It is worth noting that the steps come in response to the Prison Authority's announcement to start implementing the procedures recommended by Ben-Gvir.

Israeli media lately reported on a decision taken by Ben-Gvir to "reduce the duration of each prisoner's shower to only four minutes as part of his policy of harassing the prisoners."

In early February, Palestinian prisoners sent a message from inside the Israeli occupation prisons, asking their people to prepare to wage a major battle against Ben-Gvir's oppression.

In their message, the prisoners stressed their readiness for all possibilities and called on fellow Palestinians to take to the streets across occupied Palestine.

The prisoners called on the Palestinian people to support them in their strategic and decisive battle, which they intend to launch on March 21.

According to institutions specialized in the affairs of prisoners, all options regarding acts of disobedience will be considered until the date set for the hunger strike on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan, which starts on March 22.

The prisoners' steps will depend on the position of the prisons administration and the developments that may occur during the coming period, while the Prisoners' Emergency Committee will remain in a state of alert.

More than 4,780 Palestinian prisoners were still in Israeli occupation prisons by the end of 2022, including 29 women and 160 children, and about 914 administrative detainees, including 7 children, two female prisoners, 5 deputies in the Palestinian Legislative Council, and 15 journalists.

Among the Palestinian prisoners, 330 have been detained for more than 20 years, 25 before the signing of the so-called "Oslo Accords" in 1993, and 552 prisoners have been sentenced to life imprisonment.