- Title: Hundreds of Palestinians in Israeli jails begin hunger strike
- Date: 17th April 2017
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) WIFE OF JAILED PALESTINIAN LEADER MARWAN BARGHOUTI, FADWA BARGHOUTI, SAYING: "First of all, Israel wants to tell every prisoner that he is alone by himself. It (Israel) wants to tell the prisoner that his people do not care about his case, this is what it tells the prisoners. It wants every prisoner to regret sacrificing his freedom for the freedom of the Palestinian people. However, our people's message will be clear when the people protest in the streets, in demonstrations and marches, everywhere and in the diasporas. The free people in the world and in the Arab Islamic world will support this humanitarian cause and will win for it and for our rights as Palestinians seeking freedom and our right to struggle. The occupation will know that it can't bet on the Palestinian people because they will never give up or break down but will see the reaction inside the prisons from the prisoners, our heroes, and the Palestinian people." GAZA CITY, GAZA (APRIL 17, 2017) (REUTERS) TWO MEN ACTING AS ISRAELI PRISONERS MAN ACTING AS ISRAELI PRISONER PEOPLE PROTESTING, HOLDING SIGNS AND PALESTINIAN FLAGS
- Embargoed: 1st May 2017 12:34
- Keywords: Palestinian prisoners hunger strike Israel prisons authority
- Location: RAMALLAH AND BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK / GAZA CITY, GAZA / JERUSALEM / RAMLE, ISRAEL
- City: RAMALLAH AND BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK / GAZA CITY, GAZA / JERUSALEM / RAMLE, ISRAEL
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA0036CSE43R
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
Hundreds of Palestinians in Israeli jails began a hunger strike on Monday (April 17) in response to a call by prominent prisoner Marwan Barghouti, widely seen as a possible future Palestinian president.
Palestinians termed the open-ended strike a protest against poor conditions and an Israeli policy of detention without trial that has been applied against thousands since the 1980s. Israel said the move by the prisoners, many of whom were convicted of attacks or planning attacks against Israel, was politically motivated.
The protest was led by Barghouti, 58, a leader of the mainstream Fatah movement of the Palestine Liberation Organization, serving five life terms after being convicted of murder in the killing of Israelis in a 2000-2005 uprising.
The strike, if sustained, could present a challenge to Israel and raise tensions between the two sides as the 50th anniversary of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip approaches in June. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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