5,100 PALESTINIAN PRISONERS TO GO ON HUNGER STRIKE THURSDAY

Bethlehem, 9 Rajab 1435/8 May 2014 (MINA) – Nearly all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails will go on hunger strike for one day on Thursday in solidarity with administrative detainees who have been on strike for nearly two weeks, an official said.

Ziad Abu Ein, undersecretary of the ministry of prisoners’ affairs, told Ma’an Wednesday that some 5,100 Palestinians in Israeli jails would be going on hunger strike the following day, Maan News Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Additionally, some 50 convicted prisoners willbe starting an open hunger strike Thursday in solidarity with administrative detainees, who are held without charge or trial.

More than 100 Palestinians in Israeli prisons launched a mass, open-ended hunger strike on April 24 in protest against their detention without trial.

Administrative detainees are often held for months and without access to the evidence leading to their detention, even though international law stipulates this tactic only be used in exceptional circumstances.

As of April 1, there were 186 Palestinians being held in administrative detention in Israeli jails, including nine Palestinian Legislative Council members, according to the prisoners’ rights group Addameer.

Over 800,000 Palestinians have been detained since 1967, with 5,224 currently being held in Israeli prisons, according to the PLO. (T/P015/E01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)