Terrorists aligned with Hamas in Israeli prisons had planned and announced a hunger strike, that included not drinking water, set for Sunday. The terrorists announced on Sunday that they postponed the onset of the strike as they began negotiations with Israeli prison services.

Sunday morning saw the hunger strike begin with prisoners returning their breakfasts uneaten. The prison service warned the prisoners in advance that if a strike were to take place then prisoners would suffer harsh measures including the possibility of forced feedings and even the denying their ability to speak to their lawyers.

The reason for the strike is not due to ill-treatment or difficult living conditions in the prisons, but rather the terrorists are demanding that the prison service remove cellular signal jamming devices that have been installed in their cells. They are also demanding that the service refrain from recent implementing punitive measures that were the result of recent violent clashes begun by the prisoners. Lastly, they are demanding that they are allowed once again to receive visits from their relatives, a benefit that was also revoked due to the recent clashes.

Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan has denied the reports that Israel or the prison service have entered into negotiations with Hamas or the jailed terrorists. “In light of the false reports, I would like to clarify that the cellphone jammers have not been frozen in IPS security prisons and an option of a freeze has not been offered.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)