Jerusalem: As hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails began on Monday an open-ended hunger strike in conjunction with Palestinian Prisoners' Day, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) extended its support and also called on world leaders to intervene in the matter.
Prisoners in Ashkelon, Nafha, Rimon, Hadarim, Gilboa and Beer-Sheva put all the food out of their cells and declared their hunger strike.
Issa Qaraqe, chairman of the Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs Commission, said that more than 1,300 prisoners in various prisons in the Israeli occupation are participating in the mass hunger strike in protest against the policy of medical negligence, violations, detention without charge or trial, unfair trials and prevention of family visits by the Israeli prison authorities.
He added that the number is expected to increase in the coming days.
Qaraqe called upon the Palestinian people and the official and popular national institutions to participate in the activities supporting the prisoners. He also called on the human rights institutions to compel Israel – the occupying state – to respect international law, as well as exposing Israel's violations of the law in its prisons.
Meanwhile, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) reiterated its support for the issue of Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli jails, hailing their determination to stage hunger strike in order to convey their message, voice, and suffering to the world in the face of arbitrary Israeli measures, inhuman treatment, and denial of basic rights.
Secretary General of the OIC Yousef Al-Othaimeen affirmed the organization's support for the legitimate demands of Palestinian prisoners and their continued efforts to achieve freedom, justice, and dignity for them.
He also stressed the importance of internationalizing their cause in international forums and exposing the Israeli policies of occupation against them.
At the same time, Al-Othaimeen called on the international community to act in order to compel Israel to respect the provisions of international humanitarian law, the Geneva Conventions, and all the provisions of the relevant international conventions.
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