Palestinian prisoners go on hunger strike en masse to protest inmate's death

The hunger strikers charge Israel with failing to provide adequate care for the man, who was diagnosed with cancer. Israel's Prison Service says it took him to a hospital and was arranging an early release.

By Arthur Bright, Staff writer / April 3, 2013

A Palestinian woman holds a portrait of Maisara Abu Hamdiyeh during a rally in Gaza City, Tuesday. Abu Hamdiyeh who was serving a life sentence for his role in a foiled attempt to bomb a busy cafe in Jerusalem in 2002, died Tuesday of cancer in an Israeli jail. Tensions are high in Israeli lockups where thousands of Palestinian security prisoners are being held.

Hatem Moussa/AP

Thousands of Palestinian prisoners began a planned three-day hunger strike this morning in protest of the death of a Palestinian inmate who died of cancer yesterday, while in Israeli custody.

The Palestine News Network writes that some 4,500 Palestinian prisoners sent back their food this morning as part of a protest over the death of Maisara Abu Hamdiyeh, a 64-year-old Hamas member who was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in February. The Palestinian establishment widely blames his death, the cause of which has not yet been conclusively determined, on Israel for failing to provide him with adequate care, reports Haaretz.

"The Israeli refusal to address our appeals

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http://www.csmonitor.com/World/terrorism-security/2013/0403/Palestinian-prisoners-go-on-hunger-strike-en-masse-to-protest-inmate-s-death