RAMALLAH, June 3, 2012 (WAFA) – Minister of Prisoners’ Affairs Issa Qaraqe’ Sunday told reporters that Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are threatening to go on hunger strike if their imprisonment conditions continue as they are.

The prisoners, who went on a four-week hunger strike that ended in May with an agreement with the Israeli Prisons’ Service (IPS) on enhancing their living conditions in prison, threaten to return to their strike if Israel continues it administrative detention policy, raids and cell inspections, along with other violations, said Qaraqe’ in a press conference in Ramallah.

Qaraqe’, along with head of the Palestinian Prisoners Club Qaddura Fares, reviewed in the conference the conditions of the sick Palestinian prisoners following the death of a former prisoner who died of chronic illnesses only a week after his release from Israeli prisons.

IPS continues to breech the recent agreement it signed with the striking prisoners by issuing administrative detention orders against 30 prisoners at once, banning prisoners from using the canteen services, as well as not providing necessary medical care, he added.

Statistics showed that there are over 1000 sick prisoners in Israeli jails, of whom around 18 suffer chronic diseases, said Qaraqe’, noting that the number is increasing amid deteriorating living conditions, malnutrition and medical negligence.

Prisoners Mahmoud Sarsak and Akram al-Rikhawi continue on their open-ended hunger strike for the 80th and 54th days respectively demanding their release, added Qaraqe’.

R.Q./F.R.