Palestinian youth support the detainees (AFP)

By Yasser Al Banna, IOL Correspondent

GAZA, August 28 (IslamOnline.net) – Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails continued with resolve their hunger strike for the 14th day running Saturday, August 28, as some 350 Palestinian prisoners in the Ashkelon prison temporarily called off their hunger strike after Israeli jail authorities said they would partially meet their demands, in what is seen as a victory.

"The prisoners in Ashkelon prison are stopping their hunger strike until Monday as they have reached a partial agreement with the prison administration there," Issa Qaraqe of the Palestinian Prisoners' Club in the West Bank told the Reuters news agency.

The decision Friday, August 27, to temporarily halt the hunger strike came after the Ashkelon prison authorities agreed to stop humiliating strip searches of the prisoners, allow family visits during which the detainees can hug their children and improve their ratios.

Qaraqe said the suspension of the strike in the Ashkelon prison was to allow the prisoners to pursue talks with the jail authorities on fulfilling the rest of the prisoners' demands.

He said other Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli jails will be informed on the terms of agreement reached with the jail authorities.

"Other prisons may accept terms of the agreement or they may not," Qaraqe said.

Qaraqe appealed to the International Committee of the Red Cross to monitor the implementation of the agreement, saying demonstrations in solidarity with the prisoners would continue.

Qaraqe threatened the prisoners would resume the strike if other demands were not fully met including allowing prisoners to make phone calls with their families and removing glass barriers.

Some 1700 Palestinian prisoners began their hunger strike Sunday, August 15. On Wednesday, August 18, the number reached 4,000 of the some 8,000 Palestinian prisoners jailed by Israel.

The prisoners are protesting their deplorable prison conditions, demanding mandatory visitation rights as well as an end to "humiliating" strip searches and the removal of glass barriers in visitation rooms.

Israel has repeatedly refused to negotiate with the Palestinian prisoners on fulfilling their demands.

"As far as I'm concerned they can strike for a day, a month, until death. We will ward off this strike and it will be as if it never happened," Internal Security Minister Tzahi Hanegbi told reporters.

Incorrect Reports

For his part, Palestinian prisoner Abul Harith told IslamOnline.net that the Palestinian prisoners in other Israeli jails will continue their 'empty stomach' battle till their demands are fully met.

He said the hunger strike will be collectively halted when representatives of the Palestinian strikers reach an agreement with Israeli jail authorities on the demands of the Palestinian prisoners.

"Another way to do this through calling prisoners in other jails to agree on collectively halting the strike."

Abul Harith expressed dissatisfaction over the media reports talking about suspension of the hunger strike.

"The strike was set for fulfilling some basic demands, and when these demands are met, the strike will be halted."

The higher Islamic national strike association also criticized media reports on naming Ashkelan strike suspension as a collective halt, stressing the suspension is only for the 350- Ashkelan inmates.

The association said in a statement, a copy of which was sent to IOL, the Ashkelan prisoners only agreed to drink milk and liquids till their demands are fully met and that prisoners in other Israeli jails will enjoy the same rights.

The UN had urged Friday, August 27, Israel to comply with its obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention and other related agreements which provide the protection for prisoners and civilians during the wartime.

"The UN agencies and offices remind Israel of its obligations under the fourth Geneva Convention and relevant international human rights instruments which provide for the protection of detainees and prisoners," UN Middle East peace envoy Terje Roed-Larsen said in a statement.