As more Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli prisons are joining the hunger strike that started 28 days ago, at least 40 more detainees have joined the strike, while all 5200 detainees, held by Israel, would hold a one-day hunger strike Thursday, in solidarity with the striking detainees.The Palestinian Ministry of Detainees has reported that thousands of detainees, in all Israeli prisons and detention camps, could join the open-ended hunger strike starting next week.
The Minister added that 120 detainees, including Fateh leader Marwan Barghouthi and Secretary General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) Ahmad Saadat, held at the Hadarim Israeli prison, held a one-day strike as a warning before joining an open-ended strike.
It further stated that 40 detainees, held under arbitrary Administrative Detention orders at the Negev Detention Camp, have joined the hunger strike.
Twenty striking detainees were moved to a number of Israeli hospitals after losing consciousness, while several detainees were forced into solitary confinement, an issue that indicates Israel’s intention to escalate its violations against the detainees who are demanding basic, internationally guaranteed rights.
Minister of Detainees, Issa Qaraqe’, stated that the Palestinian leadership, under instructions by President Mahmoud Abbas, have contacted various officials and groups in different countries, urging them to intervene and demand Israel to adhere to international law, and to the legitimate demands of the detainees.
In a separate statement, the Ministry listed the names of hunger striking detainees who suffer from various illnesses and regularly receive medications, and warned that those detainees could lose their lives, especially since they stopped taking their medications.
The detainees are;
1. Adnan Younis Abu Tabbana; high blood pressure, diabetes.
2. Abdul-Khaleq Hasan an-Natsha, 66 years of age; high blood pressure.
3. Hussein Amro, 63; high blood pressure, diabetes.
4. Mohammad Abu Sharkh, 43; health issues in his kidneys, Liver.
5. Hussein Abu Kweik, 43; high blood pressure.
6. Azzam Shweiki; high blood pressure, heart disease.
7. Yasser Mansour, 50; high blood pressure, diabetes.
8. Mahmoud ar-Ramahy, 50; high blood pressure, diabetes.
9. Hasan Amro, 44; high blood pressure.
10. Moayyad Sharaab; heart disease.
The Ministry also said that detained lawyer, Shireen al-Eesawy, is currently the only detained woman holding hunger strike. She started her strike on May 12th, and was moved into solitary confinement in the HaSharon Prison for women.
She is suffering from a number of health issues due to her strike, including dizziness, significant weight loss, extreme pain in her abdomen and muscles.
The prison administration is also denying her the right to family visits.
