A statement from the Union of Agricultural Work Committees in Gaza: An Appeal for Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners and detainees on hunger strike in Israeli prisons
To all Human Rights and human dignity defenders…
To all who oppose Israel crimes and terrorism …
Palestinian Prisoners and detainees are on an open hunger strike for their 24th day, demanding of their basic rights. The brutal Israeli Occupation has detained their freedom as a punishment for their legitimate struggle against the occupation of their homeland, it even deprives them of their basic needs, and practices systematic repressive policies against them, which violate principles of International Law.
Today Israeli Authorities are threatening prisoners with forced feeding; which is a brutal procedure that inflicts severe bodily harm against hunger striking prisoners which might result in death; and is against international law.
Israeli prison authorities ramping up punitive procedures in an attempt to pressure prisoners to break their strikes, hunger-striking prisoners has continuously been transferred into solitary confinement, Israel Prison Service has banned lawyers from visiting the prisoners, in addition to unannounced inspections and searching the prisoner’s rooms, also they ban prisoners from having salt, which resulted in a serious deterioration of hunger-striking prisoners’ health.
The continuous denial of the Israeli occupation to respond to the Hunger Strikers’ demands is a renewed episode of their arrogance, which does not take International conventions and declarations seriously. Palestinian Prisoners and detainees persist in continuing their hunger strike, as is their right, recognized by all Legislations and International conventions as a legal mean to face the inhumane conditions practiced by Israeli jailers. These inhumane conditions contradict all declarations and agreements undertaken by the International Community represent as permanent principles, rules and procedures governing relations between detainees and prisoners on the one hand, and the military occupation on the other.
Everyone is called upon today to protest and hold activities in solidarity with Palestinian Political Prisoners Hunger Strike;
Let our message of solidarity be to all Palestinian detainees who are resisting with their empty stomachs: the tyrants are trembling at your steadfastness.
In Solidarity
Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC)