Press release

Conditions of Palestinian and Arab Prisoners on Hunger Strike since

30 April 2000

Ref.,: 61/2000

Date: 16^th May, 2000

PCHR expresses its deep concern over the deteriorating conditions of Palestinian and Arab prisoners inside Israeli jails following their hunger strike which started on 30^th April 2000. The prisoners went on strike as a desperate way of protesting against the inhumane conditions and treatment they are subjected to, in violation of international standards and humanitarian law.

While PCHR asserts the right for prisoners to strike as a way of collective protest for their basic human rights regarding detention, it asserts further, of their rights to receive the necessary medical and humanitarian treatment, in accordance with international standards, during their hunger strike. PCHR places therefore full responsibility on the State of Israel for any dramatic consequence which might occur due to the current physical and mental conditions of the hunger strikers.

According to information delivered to PCHR by the lawyers who met the prisoners on strike and those who are striking in isolation, their conditions are as follow:

In Hadariem prison north of Tel Aviv,( rehabilitated in 1999, with stricter security measures put in place ).As a result of such intensified security measures, the prisoners were separated from the visitors by a glass window and can only communicate through telephone. The prisoners refused then to receive visits for a period of eight months. The glass window was then replaced by metallic bar, which made the communication and the face to face even more difficult, especially in a sit down position. The visit led to some confrontations with the guard forcing prisoners to remain seated. The prisoners resumed their refusal to receive visits up until 25^th of April 2000.

On 1^st May 2000, the prisoners went on hunger strike also in protest of isolation practices.

In accordance with the IV Geneva Convention and the Minimum Standard Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, the prisoners demand in their protest, improvement of the conditions under which they receive family visits; they demand full and regular access to their families; the improvement of their daily conditions of detention; access to education; health facilities; the right to worship; they demand that proper measures are taken against the highly congested cells, the end of collective and arbitrary punishment, they overall demand the release of all Palestinian and Arab political prisoners from Israeli jails.

On 7^th May 2000, the State of Israel is still holding 80 prisoners in Hadariem prison. Among the group, 10 went on hunger strike and were subsequently transferred to Ashkelon prison.

Those prisoners are the following:

1.Jihad Yaghmour

2. Salah El Hazami

3. Ali Abu Elrb

4. Majd El Jabah

5. Mansour Shamasanah

6. Said Badaranh

7. Azeldien Elkrki

8. Abdul Ebdel El Rahman Hamad

9; Mouaz Bilaal

10. Amar El Zibin

The prisoners have started suffering from health complications especially since the prison administration refused to provide them with any liquid, as an attempt to force them to end their hunger strike. Consequently, between the 1^st and 12^th of May, the following prisoners were transferred to the medical section of the prisons:

1. Ratib Abdeallah Zidan
2. Haroun Mansour Nasser El Dien
3. Mohmoud Abu Sriah
4. Mohammad Sliman Bisharat
5. Abdel Hakiem Aziez Hanni

Isolation:

Since the very beginning of the Israeli Occupation in 1987, the Israeli Authorities have continuously resorted to the practice of isolation towards Palestinian and Arab political prisoners, holding them under inhumane conditions. The other practice was also to mix them with Israeli common law criminals, exposing the Palestinian and Arab prisoners to further potential violence. Some of them were held, for over 5 years, either in isolation or mixed with other common law criminals.

Accordingly, the prisoners in their protest are requesting their removal from isolation and to be returned to the cells with other Palestinian and Arab prisoners.

On 12^th May 2000, the following prisoners are still suffering isolation:

 

Ashkelon Prison

1. Mahmoud Issa
2. Hassan Salmah
3. Khwilid Ramdan
4. Ahmad Shkri
5. Abdel Rahman Ghnimaat

 

Beer Shiva Prison

1. Mahmoud Atwaan
2. Musa Akari
3. Mohammed Dokhaan
4. Mohammed Dawaas
5. Zahr Jabareen
6. Mohammed El Sharateh
7. Yahya El Sinwaar
8. Abdel Nasser Issa

 

One prisoner named: Awida Klaab, is suffering from psychological disorder as a result of his prolonged isolation.

 

Ramleh Prison

1. Tyseer Suliman
2. Taha’ El Shakhshier

The prisoners hospitalised in El Ramlah hospital, have joined the other prisoners in their hunger strike.

According to information obtained from the prisoners and delivered by their Lawyers, all the Palestinian and Arab prisoners in Israeli prisons went on hunger strike, manifesting thereby, their solidarity. However, their general health conditions have seriously deteriorated, despite their strong will to pursue their protest.

PCHR places the entire responsibility on the Israeli Authorities on what may occur to the prisoners due to their prolonged hunger strike. At the same time, PCHR calls upon the International Human Rights Orgnisations and Institutions to exercise pressure on the State of Israel to improve the prisoners living conditions until their release.

Moreover, PCHR calls upon the PNA and the negotiating team to address, as a priority, the issues of conditions, treatment and release of all Palestinian and Arab political prisoners in Israeli prisons.

In addition, PCHR calls upon the PNA to conclude with the State of Israel a specific agreement determining and adopting a schedule of release, draw upon international models of prisoners release such as South-Africa and Ireland.

 

“END”