89 GAZA FAMILIES VISIT THEIR RELATIVES IN ISRAELI NAFHA PRISON

Gaza, 23 Jumadil Awwal 1435/24 March 2014 (MINA) – Gaza residents left the coastal enclave on Monday morning via Beit Hanoun crossing, Erz, to visit their relatives in the Israeli jails, the International Committee for the Red Cross(ICRC) announced.

ICRC spokesperson Nasser al-Najjar said, 89 Gazans including 17 children will visit their detained relatives in Nafaha Prison. Palestinian Al Ray media reported as quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).

The Israeli occupation imposes restrictions on the detainees’ families including banning the entry of food and books to prisoners.

The Israeli Prison Services (IPS) put barriers between the prisoners and their relatives during the visit to prevent them from contacting directly.

About 5,000 Palestinian prisoners are held behind the Israeli bars, including 490 from the Gaza Strip, according to the Ministry of Detainees and Ex-detainees.

Also Read: Germany Cancels Meeting with Israel after New Settlement Law Passed

It is noteworthy that family visits stopped and then resumed after the prisoners had launched an open-ended hunger strike lasted for 28 days in 2012 which led to the signing of al-Karama Agreement between prisoners and the IPS under the Egyptian auspices.

A human rights society said the female Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails numbered 22, seven of them are tried and 15 detained without charge or trial.

Palestinian Prisoners’ Club stated in a report marking the International Women’s Day that the oldest-serving female prisoner is Lena Jerboni, detained since 2002 and sentenced to 17 years.

While the youngest of the prisoners, 17 of whom are held in Hasharon prison, is Maram Hassouna, with 18 years of age.

Also Read: ICRC Warns Against "Health Consequences" of Palestinian Hunger Strikers

A report published recently by Ahrar Center for Prisoners Studies and Human Rights showed that most of the female prisoners jailed in the Hasharon prison are suffering from various diseases and are in need of treatment.

Fouad Khuffash, the director of the center, said Lena Jerboni, from Nablus, suffers from the effects of a gall bladder operation she underwent about six months ago, while Dunya Waked, from Tulkarem, has diabetes and suffers from asthma and shortness of breath.

Inam al-Hasanat, from Bethlehem, is reeling from migraines.

Prisoner Nawal Saadi, from Jenin, 52, who is the eldest of the female prisoners, suffers from high blood pressure, the report said.

Tahrir Alqani, from Nablus district, suffers from severe eye infections since her arrest and her condition is deteriorating if the prison administration fails to provide the necessary treatment.

Also Read: ISRAELI ATTEMPTS TO TURN BURAQ SQUARE INTO SYNAGOGUE

Nahil Abu Eisha, from Hebron, suffers from severe abdominal pain and is in need of treatment.

Mona Ka’adan, from Jenin, is suffering from high blood pressure.

Intisar al-Sayad, from Jerusalem, is suffering from respiratory problems because of the congested atmosphere in the small prison rooms with polluted air.

Fouad Khuffash, described the situation inside the Hasharon prison as “catastrophic”, saying, “the prison and its interiors are not adequate for living, and these conditions created by the Israeli occupation which it forces the Palestinian prisoners to live in are punishment. (T/P04/P03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)