Political detainees held by Palestinian Authority launch open-ended hunger strike

Political detainees from Jenin refugee camp held by the Palestinian Authority in al-Junaid prison in Nablus have begun an open-ended hunger strike in protest at their continued detention and to demand their release.

The Committee of Families of Political Prisoners said in a statement on Monday that the strike was launched in response to violations of prisoners’ rights, including torture and solitary confinement, and the Palestinian Authority’s failure to address their demands.

The committee said it holds the responsible authorities fully accountable for the detainees’ lives and safety, warning of potentially serious health consequences arising from the hunger strike.

It called for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners and urged human rights organisations and media outlets to intervene and apply pressure to end what it described as the practice of political arrests.

The committee added that the current circumstances require unified national efforts in light of ongoing attacks against the Palestinian people by the occupation, rather than the pursuit and detention of resistance fighters and political opponents in Palestinian Authority prisons.