UPDATE - Tension rises in Israeli jails after punitive measures on Palestinian detainees

UPDATES WITH MORE INFO, HAMAS REMARKS

By Qais Abu Samra

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - Tension is rising in most Israeli jails following punitive measures announced by the Israeli authorities against Palestinian detainees, a Palestinian prisoners' NGO said on Wednesday.

Israel's new measures were announced in response to the escape of six Palestinians from the heavily-guarded Gilboa prison, northern Israel.

In a statement, the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) said Palestinian detainees in the Negev and Rimon prisons, southern Israel, set fire to their prison cells, protesting Israel's abuses and threats against them.

Palestinian detainees, according to the same source, in Section 6 of the Negev prison set ablaze to seven cells out of 12 while the prisoners in the Rimon prison raked two cells.

Israeli special forces also stormed several prisons where they assaulted detainees and transferred some to other prisons.

The PPS added that tension would escalate between Palestinian detainees and the Israeli prison service staff over the targeting of some detainees from the Islamic Jihad group, as most of the six escapees are believed to be affiliated with the group.

The statement said all Palestinian detainees announced they would confront any punitive measures imposed on them.

The resistance group Hamas, for its part, warned Israel against the "continued attacks against the Palestinian prisoners."

In a statement, Hamas leader Mousa Dudin called on the Palestinian people "everywhere" to "escalate" against the Israeli occupation.

"The Israeli attacks against Palestinian detainees and their families will not deter us from continuing resistance," he asserted.

Israeli prison service has yet to comment on this development.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army continues its manhunt operation in an attempt to find the six Palestinians who fled from their prison.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara