Palestinian prisoners in dangerous conditions

Palestinian Authority Minister of Prisoners Affairs Issa Qaraqe warned on Thursday of life-threatening serious conditions suffered by Palestinian prisoners held behind iron bars in Israel. Qaraqe emphasized in a statement to the officil radio, Voice of Palestine, that "the Israeli jailers are making suffocating conditions for the Palestinians prisoners. "What the prisoners are suffering from violate the agreement reached with the Israeli authorities couple of months ago." Thousands of Palestinian prisoners observed a strike for almost four weeks last April, he said, calling for better conditions for the inmates, and allowing for more family and lawyers' visits, as well as ending administrative detention and solitary confinement . The strike had ended by agreeing to respond to these demands in line with a deal reached with Egyptian mediation, however, the Israelis "later breached all terms of the accord," he said. Some of the inmates have been deprived of families' visits for more than six years, and some have been sick, without receiving needed treatment. He called on the international community to intervene to alleviate the suffering of the prisoners, especially old ones who have been behind bars for more than 20 years.