Second group of Gaza families visit relatives in Israel jails

A group of families from the Gaza Strip visited relatives in Israeli jails early Monday, in the second visit of its kind since 2007, a prisoners group said. A bus carrying 52 people set out from the offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza City to the Erez crossing, before family members were transferred to Nafha prison facility, Gaza-based prisoners group Waed said. The Palestinian liaison department said only 33 out of the 52 family members were allowed to continue their journey by Israeli authorities. Last week, 48 people from Gaza visited relatives in Israeli jails for the first time since 2007. "We have repeatedly called for the resumption of family visits, which are a lifeline for detainees and their families. Under international humanitarian law, Israeli authorities have an obligation to allow the detainees to receive family visits," said Juan Pedro Schaerer, the head of the ICRC delegation in Israel and the occupied territories, after the visit. In 2007, Israel started limiting what it considers privileges for Hamas and Gaza prisoners in a bid to put pressure on Hamas to release Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was held in Gaza until last fall. The visitors issue was one of the key demands of the hundreds of prisoners who went on a hunger strike in the spring. In a deal to end the strike, Israeli authorities agreed to allow limited personal visits.