Protesting ill detention conditions, Palestinian and Arab prisoners in Israeli prisons are continuing their hunger strike, which started on Sunday 15 August 2004.
According to sources in prisons, prisoners being held at Nafha, Beir Sheva, Hadarim, and Shatta joined the strike yesterday.
Other prisons are expected to join them soon.
Israel detains some 7,500 Palestinian and Arab prisoners, mostly inside Israel.
According to statements made by prisoners, the strike was started as a last resort after the Israeli Prison Agency (IPA) refused to ameliorate the conditions of detainees in prisons.
Prisoners are demanding the following: Allowing relatives to visit regularly without exposing them to degrading treatment, and removal of viper glass barriers from visit windows.
Providing phones and allowing landline telephone contact with lawyers and families without interference.
Increasing the quality and quantity of food, and allowing for purchase of significant food items.
Providing better medical care and allowing surgery for prisoners who need it.
Ending solitary confinement of prisoners, many of whom are still in isolation cells.
Allowing distance learning for prisoners without frequent disruption.
Ending of collective punishment of prisoners, including financial penalties, confiscation of personal belongings and the use of beating and teargas.
Ending the presence of male guards inside women prisoners' sections.
Decreasing numbers of prisoners in cells and prison rooms.
Allowing for disabled prisoners to undergo surgery to replace lost limbs.
Yesterday, Israeli Public Security Minister, Tzachi Hanegbi, said that the prisoners "can strike for a day, a month, even starve to death, we will not respond to their demands".
Al Mezan is highly concerned by the attitude of Israeli officials in this crisis, which shows disregard for prisoners' lives.
In light of the deteriorating situation in Israeli prisons, Al Mezan calls the International Community to urgently intervene and pressure Israel to end the arbitrary procedures imposed on Palestinian political prisoners.
Such procedures are a clear breach of international law, and especially of the internationally accepted minimum standards for the treatment of prisoners.
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