CAIRO: Activists in the West Bank protested on Tuesday in front of the Israeli-run Ofer Prison to protest worsening conditions for Palestinian prisoners. The protest was followed up today by a general strike in Palestinian Authority offices and offices on non-governmental organization. “The strike went well. It started from 8-10 am and then there was a small demonstration in Ramallah…very little number of people participated, and I guess that is because of the agreement yesterday,” a Ramallah citizen told BikyaMasr.com, referring to the prisoner swap deal agreed upon last night. The general strike is taking place in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike inside of Israeli jails. The strike was initiated on September 27 to protest the long-term solitary confinement of Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) leader Ahmad Saadat. The main demand of those on the strike is an end to sanctions put upon Palestinian prisoners by Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu last June, intended to pressure Hamas into releasing Israeli prisoner Gilad Shalit. Prisoners have been forced into prolonged solitary confinements, family visits have been limited, and prisoners have been obligated to wear handcuffs while meeting with lawyers. A change might be on its way now, as an extensive prisoner's swap was agreed on yesterday between Hamas and Israel. Israeli prisoner Gilad Shalit has been released in return for Palestinian prisoners. PFLP leader Ahmad Saadat was not included in the list of Palestinian prisoners given over. The full swap of a total of 1,027 Palestinians will be carried in November. According to latest reports from the Palestinian Authority, 6,000 Palestinians are being detained in Israeli prisons, including 219 in Administrative Detention, who are beling held without charge. BM
