Palestinian striking detainees boycott prison clinic

Palestinian administrative detainees and political prisoners on hunger strike are boycotting the prison clinc, reported Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association following a legal visit to Ramle prison on May 21.

Prisoners and detainees reported that the prison clinic pressures detainees to end their hunger strike. Some are also boycotting vitamins and salt and consuming only water. Approximately 47 administrative detainees are taking part in the open hunger strike which began on April 27 in Ramle prison, including 3 who were taken to the prison hospital. Detainees have lost between 12-16 kilograms of weight each since the beginning of the strike.

They reported that they were prohibited from taking daily exercise in the yard and that their personal property had been confiscated by the prison administration in retaliation for their strike.

Mahmoud Shabana, 45, a representative of the striking prisoners, reported to Addameer that their morale is high and the strike continues and that he had demanded of the prsion administration to stop interfering with and blocking lawyers’ visits with striking detaines. “Our battle is not really with the administration but with the Shin Bet security service. We are prepared for another 28 days of strike to achieve our demands to abolish administrative detention. We are ready for the worst case and the harshest results, and death with dignity and pride,” said Shabana.