BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Three Palestinian prisoners on long-term hunger strikes are in immediate danger following rapid deterioration in their conditions, prisoner rights group Addameer said Wednesday. Addameer lawyer Fares Ziad visited the Ramle prison clinic on Tuesday but was unable to meet with Samer al-Barq, who is permanently confined to bed as he unable to walk. Al-Barq is on his 114th day of a renewed hunger strike, following a previous month-long strike that ended in May. The lawyer met with Hassan Safadi, who has not eaten for 84 days and was previously on hunger strike for 71 days. Safadi was unable to drink water at all on Monday as consuming water now causes swelling in his hands and feet. "Other health conditions that Hassan is suffering from include: low immunity; contractions of the heart muscles; liver problems; kidney stones; chronic pain in his kidneys; low pulse; low blood pressure; chronic pain in his joints," Addameer said in a statement. Saf...

The Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) reported that the clinic at the Ramla Prison is trying to bargain with an ailing hunger striking detainee, and told him that he will be able to get the needed injection should he end his strike. The PPS said that detainee Ayman Sharawna, who has been on hunger strike for 63 days, stated that he will not allow the Prison Administration to force him end his strike in exchange for medication despite his pain and deteriorating condition. It added that Sharawna was one of the detainees who were released by Israel under the prisoner swap deal that secured the release of Israeli corporal, Gilad Shalit, in return for the release of over a thousand Palestinian detainees. He was first taken prisoner in 2002 and was sentenced to 38 years. more

Today, Israeli police confronted protestors outside of prisons in both the West Bank and Israel with rubber bullets, tear gas and electric shock, arresting 15. Protesters gathered in support of approximately 2,500 Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike since April 17, 2012. In Ramle, demonstrators amassed outside the prison medical clinic where police shot electrical currents from a Taser gun and arrested eight demonstrators chanting for prisoner rights. Later, protestors moved to the Ramle police station where those arrested where held, and seven more were taken into Israeli custody. "They beaten us and arrested some because we refuse to leave our comrades who were arrested alone," tweeted journalist Abir Kopty, whose hand was injured by police. According to Kopty's updates, Israeli authorities also shouted expletives while arresting protestors. Within hours, several of the detained, including a bus driver who transported the activists, were released. Although, remainin...

Israeli policemen kidnapped, on Thursday evening, more than 20 protesters during a massive protest held in front of the Al-Ramla prison in solidarity with hunger-striking Palestinian detainees. The protesters also demanded the release of seven who were taken prisoner during a previous protest held in solidarity with Palestinian political prisoners. The kidnapped protesters, Arabs and Jewish-Israelis, are from different areas, including Lod, Ramla, Shfa-Amr, Majd Al-Koroum, and several other areas. The protest was organized by youth groups and peace activists to express solidarity with Palestinian political prisoners, held by Israel, and conducting an open-ended hunger-strike demanding their internationally guaranteed rights. The Arabs48 news website reported that, following the arrests, dozens of residents, including the families of the detainees, held a peaceful protest in front of the police base where the kidnapped protesters were held, and demanded their immediate and unconditional...

RAMALLAH ( Ma'an ) -- The Palestinian Center for Detainees announced Thursday that it is organizing a general strike in solidarity with detainees on hunger strike. The strike also aims to bring attention to the poor health of two detainees currently on hunger strike, Yousef Skafi and Atef Rweidat, who are in Ramla prison hospital. The date of the strike is to be announced. A lawyer who visited the two detainees on Tuesday told Ma'an that both were confined to wheelchairs and in poor health. Maan

(Abeer, pictured above, died after being refused permission to visit her father) From the International Middle East Media Center The Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) reported Friday that detainee Yousef Skafi, who has been on hunger strike for 34 days, was moved to Al Ramla prison hospital; he is currently in a serious condition. He went on strike after the death of his daughter who suffered nervous breakdown after being prevented from visiting him. Skafi went on hunger strike after the death of his daughter, Abeer, who came to visit him with her mother, but the Israeli soldiers kept her waiting under the sun for an extended period, and eventually prevented her from visiting him. After being forced back home without being allowed to visit her detained father, Abeer suffered a nervous breakdown that developed to paralysis before she passed away. Skafi is suffering from kidney issues, while his health condition is gradually deteriorating; he currently cannot stand or walk and is const...