Israeli forces attack inmates at Negev prison facility

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - Israeli Special Forces on Thursday attacked Palestinian inmates at an Israeli prison facility in the Negev Desert, members of a Palestinian committee said.

"Israeli forces stormed a section of the Nafha Prison, expelling inmates and forcing them to take off their clothes in freezing weather," the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)’s detainees committee said in a statement.

"Israeli forces humiliated the prisoners and destroyed their property," the committee added.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, committee head Issa Qaraqe warned of the "grave" situation at the detention facility.

He went on to urge the international community to intervene to protect Palestinian detainees from "repression and torture" by the Israeli authorities.

"The world must act swiftly to stop the repeated violation of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails," he said.

On Wednesday, the Israeli Prison Service announced several punitive measures against detainees being held at the Nafha facility after an inmate allegedly stabbed an Israeli prison guard.

Over 7,000 Palestinians are currently languishing in prisons located throughout the Jewish state, according to the Palestinian government.

In a related development, dozens of Palestinians took part in a Thursday demonstration outside the Gaza City offices of the International Red Cross to condemn the Israeli assault on prison inmates.

Participants of the demonstration, which was organized by the National and Islamic Forces (a grouping of various Palestinian factions), raised banners reading, "We will never forget our imprisoned brothers" and "The issue of prisoners unites us all".

During the protest, leading Hamas member Ismail Radwan delivered a speech in which he decried Israel’s policy of raiding prison facilities.

"We warn the Israeli occupation against taking such measures against our imprisoned brothers and sisters, which will have dangerous consequences," Radwan asserted.