Seven prisoners join hunger strike against administrative detention

RAMALLAH (Ma’an) -- Seven Palestinian prisoners on Sunday joined an open hunger strike against their administrative detention, bringing the total number of Palestinian hunger strikers to 14, thePrisoners' and Former Prisoners' Affairs Committeesaid in a statement.

The committee said the seven new hunger strikers have joined seven others who have already been on an open hunger strike for 31 days.

The committee identified the 7 new strikers as Muath Abu-Nassar, Odai Bayumi, Muhammad Hawarin, Mutasem Raqban, Ahmad Adawi, Ashraf Ezeghari, and Hassan Ezeghari.

The statement added that "many more" Palestinian prisoners have threatened to join the open strike on Oct. 10, if the Israeli government does not meet the demands of prisoners currently on strike by stopping their administrative detention. Administrative detention is a controversial Israeli policy in which prisoners can be held without trial or charge for renewable six-month periods, indefinitely.

Prisoners asking for an end to their administrative detention usually request their release, unless charges can be brought against them. The first seven hunger strikers who have refused food for 31 days have not been transferred to a hospital, according to the committee, which claims is against an Israeli lawthat allegedly requires authorities to transfer hunger striking prisoners to a hospital after 15 days of strike. more

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