Prisoners\' conditions rapidly deteriorating

Palestinian prisoners' health conditions are rapidly deteriorating after 17 days of an open hunger strike due to Israel’s lack of response to the prisoners' demands, said an official. Minister of Detainees Affairs, Issa Qaraqe, on his arrival in Cairo to attend the Arab League meeting regarding the prisoners issue, said the League has affirmed it will set a plan to pressure the government of Israel to stop its inhuman actions against the prisoners. He said many of the prisoners can no longer walk and others are suffering from a heath breakdown, adding, “If Israel does not cooperate with the prisoners, a catastrophe might happen.” “The Israeli government is pressuring the prisoners psychologically and depriving them of essential medical care,” he added.   Qaraqe said the League will call the International Court of Justice to compel Israel to treat Palestinians in Israeli prisons as prisoners of war according to international law. He welcomed the prisoners exchange deal with Hamas to release the imprisoned Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for the release of more than 1000 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons. “This deal does not mean that we will stop working to free the remaining 5000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons,” he added.