Hamas inmates in Israeli prisons end hunger strike after demands are met
The prisoners several times postponed planned hunger strikes over the last week, which they announced in protest to jamming devices in a number of prisons.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFPalestinian prisoners wait to be released from Ketziot prison, southern Israel, October 1, 2007(photo credit: RONEN ZVULUN / REUTERS)
An agreement has been reached between the Israeli Prison Service and the leadership of Hamas prisoners, which will end the inmates' hunger strike in return for meeting the security prisoners' demands, Palestinian reports said Monday.The "Palestinian Prisoners' Information Ministry" said that as part of the agreement, prisoners would receive public phones in their cells to circumvent the phone-jamming devices, which prevents them from using private cell phones in their cells.This will allow security officials to supervise the prisoners' phone calls with the outside world.The prisoners held in Israeli prisons several times postponed planned hunger strikes over the last week, which they announced in protest to the jamming devices in a number of prisons.Following the stabbing of two guards by Hamas prisoners at Ketziot Prison in the Negev last month, the IPS imposed restrictions on dozens of prisoners for their reported involvement in the incident, and for a subsequent riot that erupted in the prison.The inmates demanded the removal of signal-jamming devices, lifting sanctions placed on some prisoners following the stabbing, and the resumption of family visits.
