Six Palestinian prisoners continue “the Battle of Empty stomachs”

Occupied Al-Quds, (ST) – Six Palestinian prisoners continue their hunger strike and wage the “the Battle of Empty stomachs” to protest against the continuous crimes of the Israeli occupation towards the prisoners. They want to deliver a message to the whole world about the suffering of about 5,000 prisoners in the occupation’s prisons.

Meanwhile100 prisoners announced entering a gradual hunger strike in refusal of the oppressive occupation practices against the prisoners, especially after the heroic Freedom Tunnel operation.

The prisoners on hunger strike are Kayed Phosphos, who has been detained since July 2020, on strike now for 69 days, Miqdad Al-Qawasma, who has been detained since last January, on strike now for  62 days, and Alaa Al-Araj, who has been detained since last June, and has been on hunger strike for 44 days, Hisham Abu Hawash, who has been detained since October 2020, on strike now for  36 days, Rayek Bisharat, who has been detained since last July and has been on a hunger strike for 31 days, and Shadi Abu Aker, who has been detained since October 2020, and has been ona  hunger strike for 28 days.

 In a statement to SANA, 7-year-old girl, Joan Al-Fosfus, who is the only child of the captive Kayed Al-Fosfus, said: “I want the world to feel my daily pain and suffering and listen to the pains of my father, who has been on hunger strike for 69 days, despite him suffering from diseases.

  “I want to see him as all the children of the world. I have not seen him since his arrest,” Joan added.

Khaled Al-Fosfous, brother of the captive, Kayed, said that, the health condition of his 32-year-old brother is very bad, as he suffers from pain and diseases in the heart. He has been detained for more than a year and was previously arrested for five years. Since his arrest, the occupation has prevented his family from visiting him.

Al-Fosfous indicated that his captive brother Kayed decided to refrain from drinking water during the next two days, in light of the occupation turning a blind eye to the prisoners demands  .He  would continue to fight the “battle of the empty stomachs” until he attained his freedom or martyrdom.

The spokesman for the Palestinian Prisoners Club, Amjad Al-Najjar, pointed out that the health conditions of the six prisoners on hunger strike was very critical.  The occupation prevents providing treatment to them despite the serious health condition.

Al-Najjar revealed a series of steps that the prisoners will implement gradually in the coming days to compel the occupation to stop its arbitrary and hard measures against them.

He called for the continuation of the popular activities in support of the prisoners in the battle of freedom and dignity, which they are waging with steadfastness to force the occupation to stop its fierce war on the prisoners inside the prisons.

Member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Wasel Abu Yousef, stressed that, the occupation uses the silence of the international community and abuses the prisoners and their families in an attempt to break the will of their legendary steadfastness.

He pointed out that a series of popular events will be launched in the coming days in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank in supporting the prisoners and the rejection of the practices of the occupation.

Member of the Central Committee of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the liberated prisoner Ahmed Abu Al-Saud, indicated that the six prisoners on hunger strike are fighting a battle of pride and dignity in order to gain their freedom and raise the slogan of freedom or martyrdom.

He added that more than 750 prisoners need urgent surgery and hundreds of prisoners suffer from various diseases, including cancer, heart, kidney and anemia due to the policy of medical negligence and harsh detention conditions.

Raghda Sawas