Palestinian Prisoners on Hunger Strike

<font face="Courier New">On 15 August 2004, Palestinian political prisoners began an open-<br />ended hunger strike supported by all political factions inside and <br />outside the prisons. The strike promises to be one of the most <br />significant acts of resistance from inside the prisons in decades. Up <br />to 8000 political prisoners are expected to join the strike in the <br />coming days and a series of solidarity actions are planned across <br />occupied Palestine. Zionist leaders have promised harsh repression <br />and have publicly stated that the prisoners can &quot;starve to death.&quot; <br /><br />In response to the hunger strike, prisoners reported the use of <br />coercive measures by Israeli authorities against hunger strikers, <br />including threats, and psychological and physical pressures such as <br />beatings. Israeli guards often raid prison cells and force prisoners <br />to strip naked. Israeli guards have confiscated salt, cigarettes, <br />books, and stationary, as well as fans, which has caused breathing <br />difficulties in the stuffy cells, especially among those in solitary <br />confinement.<br /><br /><br />The Palestine Right to Return Coalition, also known as Al-Awda, has <br />issued a statement pointing out that:<br />„h Over 7500 Palestinian men, women, and children are currently being <br />held in Israeli prisons.<br />„h The prisoners are denied all basic human rights guaranteed to them <br />under international law. Many are being tortured.<br />„h These prisoners are resisting the brutal Zionist occupation of <br />Palestine in all of its formations and it is essential that we <br />support them.<br /><br />Al-Awda is asking organizations and individuals from all over the <br />world to sign on to a solidarity fast taking place today and to send <br />their own letters of support to the Palestinians in the Zionist <br />prisons at: palprisoner@yahoo.com or by fax to 1-928-752-8355 .<br /><br />In the latest updates, yesterday (Sunday) marks the first martyr of <br />the hunger strike. The mother of one of the Palestinian and Arab <br />prisoners in Zionist jails, who herself had been on hunger strike in <br />Nablus since August 15, passed away. Aisha el-Zaben, the mother of <br />prisoner Ammar el-Zaben, was 55 years old.</font><br />

<p><font face="Courier New">On 15 August 2004, Palestinian political prisoners began an open-<br />ended hunger strike supported by all political factions inside and <br />outside the prisons. The strike promises to be one of the most <br />significant acts of resistance from inside the prisons in decades. Up <br />to 8000 political prisoners are expected to join the strike in the <br />coming days and a series of solidarity actions are planned across <br />occupied Palestine. Zionist leaders have promised harsh repression <br />and have publicly stated that the prisoners can "starve to death." </font></p> <p>In response to the hunger strike, prisoners reported the use of <br />coercive measures by Israeli authorities against hunger strikers, <br />including threats, and psychological and physical pressures such as <br />beatings. Israeli guards often raid prison cells and force prisoners <br />to strip naked. Israeli guards have confiscated salt, cigarettes, <br />books, and stationary, as well as fans, which has caused breathing <br />difficulties in the stuffy cells, especially among those in solitary <br />confinement.</p> <p>The Palestine Right to Return Coalition, also known as Al-Awda, has <br />issued a statement pointing out that:<br />„h Over 7500 Palestinian men, women, and children are currently being <br />held in Israeli prisons.<br />„h The prisoners are denied all basic human rights guaranteed to them <br />under international law. Many are being tortured.<br />„h These prisoners are resisting the brutal Zionist occupation of <br />Palestine in all of its formations and it is essential that we <br />support them.</p> <p>Al-Awda is asking organizations and individuals from all over the <br />world to sign on to a solidarity fast taking place today and to send <br />their own letters of support to the Palestinians in the Zionist <br />prisons at: <a href="mailto:palprisoner@yahoo.com">palprisoner@yahoo.com</a> or by fax to 1-928-752-8355 .</p> <p>In the latest updates, yesterday (Sunday) marks the first martyr of <br />the hunger strike. The mother of one of the Palestinian and Arab <br />prisoners in Zionist jails, who herself had been on hunger strike in <br />Nablus since August 15, passed away. Aisha el-Zaben, the mother of <br />prisoner Ammar el-Zaben, was 55 years old.</p>