Since 17 April, some 2000 prisoners in Israeli jails embarked on an open-ended hunger strike to protest the conditions of their detention. News about an imminent deal mediated by Egypt and the Palestinian National Authority with Israel to respond to the prisoners' demand have spread on Monday. Many celebrated the news as victory for the prisoners' steadfast resistance. Palestinian Poet and Professor of Political Science Sharif Elmusa wrote the following poem in tribute to the prisoners of Israeli jails. When I entered the cell I looked at the ceiling it was moving coming down harassing me I smoked a cigarette I touched my nose with a fresh one as if to remind myself why I smoked I kept shifting the end in my mouth like someone sifting through his vague thoughts some days I inhaled four packs and expelled a dozen demons I kept a bucket of water by my side to moisten my dry mouth cool my agitated guts and bring my pulse down when I ate my eyes stared into the distance away from the rotten food I sang songs to remember the glow of the moon summer's ripe fruit I listened to her Sirens voice two tones lower than the voice of the day woman I felt I was the intended sailor before my time came One inmate confided to me that when his cellmate lost his head he asked the warden to give him a moment after which he kneeled before the head kissed it held it against his chest and told the warden to do what he was paid to do When I went back to my hole I heard the warden's footsteps approach the steel door I lifted my head up and watched the insinuation of the ceiling.
