The Prisoners Rights organization ‘Mandela’ said that the Israeli Prisons’ Authority is executing a plan to thwart the Palestinian Prisoners’ Hunger strike that entered its 9th day so far.
The authorities are trying to disconnect the prisoners from their lawyers and create a status of instability through the intensive transfer of prisoners that reache twice a day sometimes, said ‘Mandela’ in a press release issued Sunday.
The Hadarim prison’s administration moved the Lebanese prisoners Samir Qintar, and the Palestinian Law Maker, Husam Khader to the solitary confinement in Ofek prison, said ‘Mandela’ and added that Nafha prison administration moved Tawfiq Abu Na’eem and some other prisoners to ‘Eshel’ prison solitary confinement in Bir Sheva.
‘Mandela’ said it contacted Ofik prison and asked permit to visit the confined prisoners, however, the administration refused to allow the lawyers to visit them without giving any reasons.
Additionally, informed Palestinian sources said that around 240 Palestinian and Arab prisoners in Niztan and AYalon prisons decided to join the striking prisoners that stated last Sunday, August 15.
According Israeli sources the Hunger strike enters its 9th day with around 2900 prisoners striking in 10 Israeli jails where Palestinian sources confirm that currently over 3200 prisoners are on hunger strike. Around 1500 prisoners started the hunger strike.
The Palestinian Prisoner’s Association said some prisoners are in critical conditions because the prison’s authorities denied them access of proper medical treatment.
Israeli authorities denied that prisoners do not receive medical care and claimed that several prisoners resorted to the prisons clinics to legalize suspending their hunger strike.
On the other hand, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, in a letter to the Israeli Prison Services (IPS), offered to supply independent medical professionals to follow up on the prisoners on hunger strike.
Based on prior experiences in the world in regards to treating prisoners on hunger strike, various organizations, including the World Medical Association (WMA), concluded that during a hunger strike it is extremely important that the treatment of the prisoners be done by independent doctors that do not come from within the prison system.
The well-being of the prisoner and his expressed wishes regarding his desire to eat, must be the priority of the doctor at all times.
Trust between the prisoner on hunger strike and their doctor is very important. The doctor, in this situation, acts as an intermediary between the striking prisoners and the prison authorities.
This trust is important in order to find prisoners who are being pressured by the prison authorities to end the strike. Also, it is reasonable to assume that a hunger striker will be more willing to take into consideration the professional medical advice of an independent doctor, more than that of a prison doctor, the organization said.
It is forbidden to force-feed a hunger striker who expressed refusal to this when he is fully competent. When the prisoner is no longer fully competent (or unconscious) the decision whether to force-feed is that of the doctor and must rely on the prisoners wishes which were expressed before he lost mental competency.
Physicians who are member of Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, expressed readiness to tour the various prisons during the strike, and to medically examine the prisoners. The physicians’ organization proposed to offer their help in full cooperation with the medical staff of the IPS.
Currently, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel is writing a handbook in Hebrew, which will include rules of medical ethics for the medical staff treating the prisoners on hunger strike. The handbook will be based on books and instructions of the WMA and international conventions and declarations.
The Israeli prison Authorities said lately that the strikers are in a good health conditions. Earlier reports by the Society of the Palestinian Prisoner said there are at least 800 prisoners who suffer bad health conditions already before starting the strike.
