Israeli 'mistreatment' prompts strike by hundreds of Hamas-affiliated prisoners

Hundreds of Hamas prisoners are expected to launch a mass hunger strike to protest against Israel’s latest move to isolate detainees as well as harsh policies and practices in Israeli prisons.

More than 300 Palestinian detainees say Israel’s prison service is purposely separating cellmates after a large number were relocated to other facilities across the country overnight.

"The next few hours will see a large number of prisoners from the [Hamas] movement as well as other Palestinian factions, entering an open-ended hunger strike, Abdulrahman Shadeed, director of Hamas' prisoners' media centre told The New Arab, noting that they "reject recent Israeli policies towards prisoners."

A deterioration took place across the board, especially in the Eshel prison in Beersheba and at Nafha prison near Mitzpe Ramo, he confirmed, where many members of the Hamas Islamic resistance movement are held for alleged terror offences.

Detainees also complained of “humiliating” strip searches conducted by guards and the recent sacking of the chief leader of the prisoner’s movement, Mohammed Arman.

Meanwhile, dozens of other Palestinian prisoners have already refused food in recent days to support an inmate that launched a hunger strike more than 50 days ago.

Bilal Kayed was detained for more than 14 years before being placed in isolation and administrative detention the day he was due to released.

Of more than 7,500 Palestinians currently in Israeli jails, around 700 are being held without charge under so-called administrative detention, Palestinian rights groups say.

Palestinians have regularly gone on hunger strike in protest at their detention.