Prisoners call on Palestinian organizations to highlight their plight

Tuesday August 07, 2007 13:11 by Ali Samoudi - IMEMC News

Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention centers have directed a call to all the Palestinian organizations, factions and leaders to revive the prisoners' cause, asking that they not be forgotten.

In a message sent to the Prisoners' Center for studies and research, prisoners stated that "we are loosing our lifetime far from the excitement of life, far from our wives and children, for the sake of our nation".

There are approximately 11,000 prisoners in Israeli detention centers, among them over 300 elderly prisoners, some of whom have spent 30 years in prison.

Ra'fat Hamdonah, director of the Prisoners' Center for studies and research, stated that the center publicized the message for all the concerned parties.

The prisoners’ messages refers to medical neglect, ransacking operations, and the practice of prisoners having to bare themselves for searching by an Israeli gang called "Metsada," in addition to daily harassment and harsh treatment.

They added in their statement that they have lost their rights to higher education and other human rights, indicating that, "we are suffering forcible transferal to far-off detention centers in order to increase our suffering. We have been separated according to our factional affiliation as a result of incidents that we are not part of it. We are punished in isolation for weeks or even years. The prison administration has banned our relatives from visiting. "

At the end of their statement, the prisoners stated that they are eager to see their relatives and appealed for all honorable Palestinians to deal with their cause seriously until they achieve their freedom.

Translated by - Nisreen Qumsieh

palestine | prisoners | news report nisreen at imemc dot org