Palestinian Hunger Strike Gains Strength
"Freedom"
Hundreds more Palestinian prisoners have joined a four-day-old hunger strike, Israeli prison officials say. A total of 2,264 of 3,800 prisoners in jails run by the prison service were now refusing their meals, prison service spokesman Ian Domnitz said. The strike was declared on Sunday to protest against conditions for Palestinians held by Israel. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has urged people to fast for one day in solidarity with the striking prisoners. The prisoners are demanding mandatory visiting rights, better sanitary conditions, public telephones and an end to strip searches. Israel has vowed not to give way, calling the protest a ploy to secure easier communication between prisoners and militant allies waging an uprising against Israeli occupation since 2000. [ more
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Pictured above:
An elderly Jordanian woman holds a banner with the word 'Freedom,' during a protest in front of the United Nations office in Amman, August 18, 2004. Dozens of Jordanians took part in a sit-in to show solidarity with their relatives and fellow Palestinians who have gone on a hunger strike [
more ]
Hundreds more Palestinian prisoners have joined a four-day-old hunger strike, Israeli prison officials say. A total of 2,264 of 3,800 prisoners in jails run by the prison service were now refusing their meals, prison service spokesman Ian Domnitz said. The strike was declared on Sunday to protest against conditions for Palestinians held by Israel. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has urged people to fast for one day in solidarity with the striking prisoners. The prisoners are demanding mandatory visiting rights, better sanitary conditions, public telephones and an end to strip searches. Israel has vowed not to give way, calling the protest a ploy to secure easier communication between prisoners and militant allies waging an uprising against Israeli occupation since 2000. [ more
]
Pictured above:
An elderly Jordanian woman holds a banner with the word 'Freedom,' during a protest in front of the United Nations office in Amman, August 18, 2004. Dozens of Jordanians took part in a sit-in to show solidarity with their relatives and fellow Palestinians who have gone on a hunger strike [
more 
]