RAMALLAH April 17, 2011 (WAFA) –  Qaddura Fares ,the head of the Palestinian Prisoner’s Club (PPC) Sunday told WAFA that prisoners started hunger strike  under the slogan `Unity For Liberty`, marking the anniversary of Prisoners Day which coincides April 17 of each year.

Fares pointed out that the announcement of the strike also came to protest the Israeli policy of isolation against the prisoners, and to demand proper treatment for prisoners, as guaranteed by human rights conventions.

Therefore, Fares explained that among the detainees’ demands, is releasing Akram Mansour who is the third earliest prisoner jailed in the Israeli prisons, sufferes from brain tumor and is in serious bad health condition, in Ashkelon prison, north of Gaza.

Fares pointed out that the Israeli authorities arrested more than 6000 prisoners distributed on over than 23 prisons and detention centers.

Palestinian Prime Minister, Salam Fayyad, launched on Saturday from Akram Mansour`s house, in Qalqilia city, northwest of the West Bank, the events of the Palestinian Prisoner’s Day, who said: “The issue of prisoners is the highest priority of the Palestinian National Authority(PA), particularly regarding their legal rights and the necessity of dealing with them as prisoners of war according to international conventions.

Palestinian Minister of Detainees and Ex-Detainees’ Affairs, Issa Qaraqe, called for considering the Palestinian Prisoner’s Day as a national and international day; in order to support the prisoners and gather as much public participation in its events.

W.S. /F.R.