Settlers set up barbeques outside prison to taunt Palestinian hunger strikers

Members of Israel’s right-wing National Religious Party, typically known by its Hebrew name “Mafdal”, held a barbecue today in front Israel’s Ofer prison where Palestinian prisoners have entered the fourth day of a mass hunger strike.

The group, which dissolved as a formal political party in 2008, said they wanted to “celebrate the hunger strike”, and to break the will of the Palestinian hunger strikers by barbequing so that the smells would enter the prison cells, according to Hebrew-language media.

Local Palestinian Ibrahim Ikhmayes told Ma’an that the behaviour of the Israelis was “stupid and ridiculous”, adding that it would not affect the Palestinian prisoners’ determination, but would strengthen their resolve.

Read: Sick prisoners inside Israeli jails join hunger strike

He added that the smell of barbeque would not deter their hunger strike aimed at gaining their dignity in Israeli prisons.

Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody launched an open-ended mass hunger strike on Monday morning on Palestinian Prisoners’ Day, led by imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouthi, under the banner of “Freedom and Dignity” for prisoners. As of Tuesday, the estimated number of participating prisoners was 1,500.

Israeli solider eats from the barbeque which was set up by settlers outside Ofer Prison to taunt Palestinian prisoners who are on hunger strike on 20 April 2017 [Joe Dyke/Twitter]

Settlers set up barbeques outside Ofer Prison while Palestinian prisoners held inside continue the fourth day of their hunger strike to demand their basic rights on 20 April 2017 [Joe Dyke/Twitter]

Settlers set up barbeques outside Ofer Prison while Palestinian prisoners held inside continue the fourth day of their hunger strike to demand their basic rights on 20 April 2017 [Joe Dyke/Twitter]

Settlers set up barbeques outside Ofer Prison while Palestinian prisoners held inside continue the fourth day of their hunger strike to demand their basic rights on 20 April 2017 [Joe Dyke/Twitter]

Settlers set up barbeques outside Ofer Prison while Palestinian prisoners held inside continue the fourth day of their hunger strike to demand their basic rights on 20 April 2017 [24FM/Facebook]

Settlers set up barbeques outside Ofer Prison while Palestinian prisoners held inside continue the fourth day of their hunger strike to demand their basic rights on 20 April 2017 [24FM/Facebook]

Settlers set up barbeques outside Ofer Prison while Palestinian prisoners held inside continue the fourth day of their hunger strike to demand their basic rights on 20 April 2017 [24FM/Facebook]