Date : 05/05/2012
GAZA, May 5 (KUNA) -- Palestinian Minister of Prisoners' Affairs Issa
Qaragea said on Saturday that the Israeli authorities failed to reply clearly
to demands of inmates on hunger strike.
Qaraqea, in remarks to Voice of Palestine radio station, said a panel
representing the Israeli prisons directorate delivered written responses to
the striking prisoners, but these replies were mainly shrouded with ambiguity,
particularly with regard of visitation and halt of detention in solitary
confinement.
Israel, in these replies, promised to start in two weeks examining
procedures for starting families' visits to inmates who hail from Gaza.
However, the Israelis did not clarify how these visits will be organized and
who are the eligible inmates for such visits.
The Israeli team promised to study four cases of prisoners held in solo
cells each month, he said noting that many Palestinian prisoners have suffered
from the imprisonment alone.
These Israeli replies to demands of the striking inmates, who have been
holding the protest since 20 days ago, were insufficient, he said, noting that
the hunger strike was observed, mainly for sake of promoting plight of those
suffering from solitary confinement.
Four of the inmates have been on hunger strike since more than 60 days ago,
and their condition has been described as critical.
Meanwhile, Abdul Nasser Farawneh, in charge of the statistics department of
the ministry, said 63 Palestinian prisoners have been held in Israeli prisons
since more than 20 years ago. (end)
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