PA calls for protection of Palestinian prisoners

The Palestinian Authority called Tuesday for international protection for prisoners in Israeli jails. In a statement issued by the cabinet, ministers called for the international community to intervene urgently to "force Israel to grant prisoners in occupation jails their natural rights stipulated by international law, and end their suppression and maltreatment." Ill-treatment has forced a "large number of prisoners to go on an open hunger strike as a means to challenge the humiliating policies of strip-searching, isolation, financial fines, continuous raids of cells, and deprivation of visitations, education, newspapers and televisions. "The Cabinet warned of the deterioration of prisoners’ health making the Israeli government fully responsible," a statement said.