4 hunger striking Palestinian prisoners in PA jails

Three Palestinian prisoners being held by the Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank have announced that they have started a hunger strike, Hamas announced yesterday.

According to information published by the Palestinian Information Centre this brings to four the number of Palestinian prisoners currently on hunger strike in the PA’s prisons.

Hamas said the prisoners are taking action because they have been arrested on purely political grounds and not because they have committed any offences. No charges have been brought against any of the detainees.

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While two have been in detention for a week, the two others were arrested only days ago after their homes were raided by Palestinian security forces, a statement released by Hamas and given to the Palestinian Information Centre said.

Student Asaad Al-Taweel has been on hunger strike in a jail in Jericho for nine days in protest against his detention on the basis of his activism in university.

The PA has cracked down on activism and on supporters and members of Hamas in particular. This is in part part of its campaign to ensure its ongoing power in the occupied West Bank and part of its ongoing measure of security coordination with the occupation.