July 19, 20120 comments
Ministry of Detainee Affairs
16/07/2012
The Ministry of Detainee Affairs received a European youth delegation and informed them about the conditions of
Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli jails. The Ministry also told them about the suffering of the prisoners’ families,
who are prevented from visiting their relatives inside the Israeli jails.
Deputy Minister Mohammed Alkatri, other released prisoners, families of prisoners, managers and employees from the
Ministry of Detainees Affairs all participated in receiving the solidarity delegation.
At the beginning of the meeting, Alkatri warmly welcomed the solidarity delegation. He explained that the suffering of
the Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli jails is part of the ongoing suffering of the Palestinian people for the past
several decades.
Alkatri said that the prisoners in Israeli jails are living under difficult circumstances, especially after going
through the open hunger strike. He also pointed out that the Israeli prison services are stalling in applying the
agreement that was signed with the High Committee of Leadership of Hunger Strike, which was brokered by Egypt.
Alkatri noted that the suffering of the prisoners increases in summer because the weather is very hot and the occupation
does not allow the prisoners to have fans. The occupation also keeps the prisoners in unhealthy rooms with small
windows.
He also said that Israel is trying to deceive the world by allowing a small number of prisoners’ families to visit their
relatives in Israeli jails under difficult restrictions and very complicated procedures, saying this is just an attempt
by Israeli to appear in front of the world as if Israel is committed to human rights. He pointed out that the prisoners’
families should be allowed to visit their relatives in the Israeli jails without any restrictions or conditions, and
that more families should be permitted to visit.
The delegation demands to expose the Israeli occupation violations, adopt the prisoners cause in European forums, and
influence public opinion to put pressure on the Israeli occupation.
At the end of the delegation’s visit, they toured the gallery of the prisoners movement. The delegation saw the models
that the prisoners made while they were imprisoned. The models express the prisoners suffering when they were behind
bars.
Translation by Mukarram AbuAlouf
ENDS