Palestinian detainees stage one-day hunger strike in Israel

By Awad al-Rujoub

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails on Monday announced a one-day hunger strike in protest of Israeli punitive measures against them.

The Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) said in a statement that the strike was launched to protest such measures, which includes the deprivation of visits by detainees' families.

Tensions have also arisen in Israeli jails for nine days after authorities reduced the duration of yard time for the detainees, the statement added.

The PPS also said Israeli authorities were imposing further restrictions on detainees after the successful prison break of six Palestinians in September, before later being recaptured.

As of last January, Palestinian non-governmental organizations estimated that there were around 4,500 Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails, with at least 500 suffering from illness, as well as 180 juveniles and 34 women inmates.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara