On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, processions were held in Israeli cities and towns: Umm al-Fahm, Kfar Kana, Jaffa and Haifa, during which some youths declared the start of a three day hunger strike of their own, a display of solidarity with the prisoners. Political organizations from both sides of the Green Line issued a public statement of support for the prisoners, especially for prisoners held in administrative detention.

The public manifesto was signed by political movements both in Israel and Palestine: Hadash (Democratic Front for Peace and Equality – Communist Party of Israel), Balad, Fatah, The Palestinian People’s party, Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, among others. “The immediate demand to the Israeli government is the release of all administrative detainees, and all prisoners, those on hunger-strikes and those who aren’t,” read the statement.

Activist reading poems dedicated to the hunger strikers at the Prisoners’ tent in Clock Square in Ramallah, West Bank, on May 12, 2012 (Photo: Activestills)

“Also, we are calling for the end of the policy of administrative detention, as a method for arrest without trial, based on secret information not shared with prisoners or layers. This policy is not in line with basic standards of justice,” continued the statement. The statement also accused the Israel Prison Service of ignoring the demands of long-time prisoners to end extended solitary confinement, and permit visits from family members residing in Gaza. The statement also noted that the hunger strike is not being carried out only as a struggle for prisoners, but as part of the national struggle to end the occupation of Palestine as well.