Palestinian prisoners to go on a mass hunger strike: Ministry

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
5 May 2023 20:21
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The Director of Information at the Ministry of Detainees and Ex-Detainees says that administrative prisoners will go on a collective hunger strike to pressure Israeli authorities into meeting their demands and to protest the killing of Khader Adnan.

A Palestinian activist holding a poster with the name and picture of Khader Adnan, a leader in the Islamic Jihad group, and Arabic that reads "The high committee of the prisoners sends condolences, a martyr after 86 days of hunger strike," during a protest in the West Bank city of Ramallah Tuesday, May 2, 2023 (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

The Director of Information at the Ministry of Detainees and Ex-Detainees, Islam Abdo, confirmed to Al Mayadeen that Palestinian prisoners have decided to go on a collective hunger strike on Friday in response to the assassination of Sheikh Khader Adnan by Israeli authorities.

Abdo said to Al Mayadeen that administrative prisoners will initiate an open hunger strike which shows that Israeli threats will not deter prisoners from pushing for justice and their rights.

He further pointed to "the real strength of the prisoners is their unity," as he called upon Palestinians to support those held captive in Israeli prisons at this critical stage.

The official's statement comes after, the Committee of Administrative Prisoners in Israeli occupation prisons announced on Friday that it has decided to carry out a mass open-ended hunger strike in the coming days.

In a leaked statement conveyed by the Prisoners Information Office, the committee indicated that the strike seeks to pressure Israeli authorities into meeting the demands of those held in administrative detention, as well as a response to the deliberate neglect of Khader Adnan's health which led to his martyrdom on Tuesday after he embarked on an 87-day hunger strike to protest his imprisonment.

The Prisoners' Information Office stated that "Israel" has issued 1014 warrants to hold Palestinians under administrative detention which is almost double the amount issued in the same period of 2022.

Administrative prisoners are held in Israeli prisons without charges filed against them, and their detention is renewed arbitrarily as it nears its end, the Prisoners' Information Office stated that "Israel" has issued 1014 warrants to hold Palestinians under administrative detention which is almost double the amount issued in the same period of 2022.