Palestinian detainees held at the Israeli Asqalan Prison have started an open-ended hunger strike, after special units of the Israeli army invaded the prison on Monday, November 18, 2013, the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) has reported.
Several detainees have been injured.The PPS said that tension is gradually mounting in the prison compound as more troops are seen, apparently preparing for an additional assault against the detainees.
It added that the army broke into room 15 of the prison, where several detainees are held, and conducted a violent search while also attacking the political prisoners.
The soldiers then broke into room 13, for another search, and alleged that one of the soldiers was injured after being attacked by the detainees. Detainees deny the Israeli claim, describing it as baseless.
The thirteen detainees held in room 13 were moved out of their room, after being strip-searched and cuffed. The soldiers then moved several Palestinian political prisoners to section 4 of the prison compound, where Israeli prisoners detained for criminal offenses are held. The rest were forced into solitary confinement.
The Prison Administration also decided to strip the detainees of their right to family visits for a full month, confiscating all of their electrical equipment, in addition to causing damage in the rooms.
In related news, the PPS stated that a court session was held for hunger-striking detainee Karam Al-Faseesy, and that a ruling in his case might be issued in the coming few days.
The detainee started his hunger strike on August 29 protesting his arbitrary Administrative Detention orders without charges, especially after Israel decided to keep him imprisoned for an additional three months.
