Dozens of residents held, on Thursday, a protest in front of the United Nations – Red Cross headquarters in the central West Bank city of Ramallah, demanding the UN to perform its duties in protecting the rights of Palestinian political prisoners held by Israel.The father of detainee Thaer Halahla, who has been on hunger strike for 74 consecutive days, was among the protesters.
The protesters, including families of political prisoners, carried Palestinian flags and pictures of their detained loved ones, in addition to carrying posters calling for saving the lives of the detainees facing abuse and ongoing violations in Israeli prisons.
On Wednesday, protesters held a similar protest in front of the United Nations office, and closed its entrance demanding that the UN intervene and protect the political prisoners.
Hundreds of detainees started their open-ended hunger strike 23 days ago, while more detainees are expected to join the strike in a planned manner. Eight detainees have been on hunger-strike for more than one month.
The Israeli Prison Administration is refusing to meet the demands of the detainees, but offered allowing visitations to families of Gaza Strip detainees, the Hossam Foundation for Detainees and Ex-detainees reported.
Hunger-striking detainees Bilal Thiab and Thaer Halahla, who started their strike 73 days ago, remain determined to continue their strike despite the sharp deterioration in their health conditions, and insist that Israel must release them without preconditions as they are being held under administrative detention without charges.
Also, the Ad-Dameer Foundation For Human Rights, reported that several hunger-striking detainees, held at the Ramla Israeli prison, might be facing severe health deterioration as they are developing serious symptoms.
Ad-Dameer lawyer, Mahmoud Hassan, visited the Ramla Prison hospital, that lacks basic medical equipment, and met detainees Ja’far Iz ed-Deen and Mahmoud as-Sarsak.
He said that Ja’far is suffering from constant dizziness, and is complaining from constant headache and pain in his chest, in addition to pain in his kidneys. He also fainted and fell to the ground resulting in a cut to his head.
