Palestine witnesses inclusive strike in solidarity with prisoners

Palestinian shops closed their doors on Thursday, while the public transportation in the Palestinian territories was halted in the framework of strike organized by Palestinians to express their solidarity with hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli prisons. The action comes in coincidence with the 11th day of the hunger strike launched by the Palestinian prisoners in protest against the conditions of their imprisonment.

The inclusive strike has been witnessed in the West Bank and Jerusalem, as it extended to the shops governmental and private institutions and educational schools and universities. However, a number of Palestinian activists turned to close streets and roads leading to major cities using stones and burned tires since the early morning.

President of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce in Palestine Khalil Rizk said, in a press statement, that the strike organized by the Palestinians comes to express solidarity to the Palestinian prisoners who suffer from critical conditions inside the Israeli prisons. He added that these critical conditions pushed the prisoners to organize hunger strike.

The Palestinian official added, “It is the first time for the Palestinian people to organize such inclusive strike for years. We should appreciate the role performed by the Palestinian private sector to extend the strike to all the Palestinian governorates.”

He added, “The strike is considered the beginning of our support for the Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli prisons.” He blamed the Israeli authorities for adopting repressive approach against the prisoners, calling the international organizations of human rights for monitoring violations against the prisoners.

On his hand, Palestine's Minister of Prisoner Affairs Issa Qaraqe on Sunday denied rumors by Israeli media that 88 prisoners stopped their hunger strike in Israeli jails. He defied the Israeli prisons' authorities if they are confident of the rumors to allow the attorneys to visit the prisoners. He pointed out that the occupation authorities are very concerned about the consequences of the hunger strike, whether inside or outside the jails. 

He added that the opposite is true, as new groups will join the strike today in Raymond and Megiddo prisons in support of the striking prisoners and in response to the arbitrary measures and the ongoing violations against the striking prisoners.