Near 50 Palestinian Detainees Start Open-Ended Hunger Strike in Etzion Prison

A total of 46 Palestinian detainees Thursday began an open-ended hunger strike in protest of their improper living conditions, said a lawyer representing the Palestine Prisoner’s Society (PPS).

WAFA reported on Jacqueline Fararjeh as saying the detainees at Etzion jail are starting an open-ended hunger strike in protest of the quality and quantity of food served to them and inadequate basic services and medical care.

She said the majority of hunger-striking detainees have not bathed in 15 days, highlighting their lack of regular access to showers.

Fararjeh explained: although 11 Palestinians are placed under administrative detention, implying that they should be transferred from Etzion prison, they have not been transferred due to overcrowding at other prisons.

The rest of the detainees have been detained for over 15 days in Etzion prison although the facility itself is ill-equipped to receive prisoners for such a long period.

She concluded that Etzion prison falls under the Israeli military jurisdiction, not that of the central Israeli Prison Service, and is considered one of the worst detention centers where Palestinians are held.

Source : WAFA