By Reem Qadan

RAMALLAH, October 3, 2011 (WAFA) – Hundreds of Palestinians Monday demonstrated in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails who have been on an open hunger strike since Wednesday protesting against the administration’ solitary confinement policy and the humiliating practices imposed against them.

The prisoners said they will continue in the hunger strike until the Israeli prison administration meets their demands, which caused serious concern for their families and the public in general who started activities in support of the prisoners.

Um Muhammad, 86, with her face wrinkled and flying a Palestinian flag as high as she could, leaned on a walking stick as she welcomed people gathering around a tent set up in Ramallah’s city center.

Even though she does not have relatives in Israeli jails, Um Muhammad decided to make the long trip from her village near Ramallah dressed in her traditional Palestinian caftan to participate in the prisoners’ solidarity activity.

“All of the prisoners are my children,” she said.

Family members, representatives of civil society organizations and solidarity groups chained their hands as a symbol of the suffering of the prisoners in Israeli jails. They held out banners supporting the prisoners’ demands as well as pictures of prisoners and number of the years they have been in prison.

A picture of Abdul Khaleq, 26, who was arrested in 2007 and sentenced to 10 years, and who is one of the prisoners on hunger strike, hovered above his mother’s head in the gathering.

She has decided to also go on hunger strike in support of her son and the other prisoners.

“Would they treat their own Israeli prisoners this way?” she bitterly wondered.

Issa Qaraqe’, minister of prisoners’ affairs, considered the gathering a “Palestinian message of support” for the prisoners. He called on local and international groups to rally in support of the prisoners, who have entered their sixth day of hunger strike.

R.Q./M.S.