Negev prison hunger strike 'being suppressed'

Hamas detainees in the Negev prison said Friday that the prison administration has suppressed dozens of prisoners who are on hunger strike and placed them in isolation. The detainees said in a statement that the Negev prison administration isolated some 30 prisoners who are on hunger strike and confiscated their belongings in addition to other privileges. The detainees said that some sick detainees who are on hunger strike will stop taking their medicine in the next 48 hours. They appealed to local and international human rights groups to intervene. Meanwhile, Israel's prison administration has agreed to meet several demands made by hunger-strikers, including allowing them to receive visitors and make phone calls, a Palestinian official said. Prisoners minister Issa Qaraqe said a committee formed by the Prison Service decided to grant detainees one phone call per month, and allow them to spend 100 extra shekels on personal items. Among several outstanding issues is visits for Gaza Strip detainees, he said. The committee has postponed its response for two weeks to make arrangements with the army and Red Cross, he said.