We urge the media to extensively report their plight, and condemn Israel's reaction, such as making barbecues and eating in front of the detainees, and Minister of Internal Security Tzachi Hanegbi saying "as far as I am concerned they can strike for a day, a month and onto death."

Arab Media Watch spokespersons are available for media interviews on this subject. E-mail info@arabmediawatch.com or call 07956 455 528.

For a calendar of solidarity events, a sample protest letter, pictures and prisoners' stories, click on:

http://www.palsolidarity.org/prisoners/

Articles on the hunger strike:

Sheikh Al-Tamimi, Father Hanna join detainees' hunger strike

Chief Islamic judge in Palestine Sheikh Tayseer Al-Tamimi and official spokesman of the Orthodox Church in Jerusalem and the Holy Land father Attalla Hanna joined Monday the hunger strike launched Sunday by some 8,000 detainees in Israeli jails as the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) declared a psychological war on the hunger-striking detainees with the aim of breaking their resolve and morale.

http://www.palestine-pmc.com/details.asp?cat=1&id=1405

Israel turns up heat on prisoners

Israel has launched a psychological war against hundreds of Palestinian inmates on hunger strike for better conditions. Prison officers are setting up barbecues outside cells and have told guards to eat in front of prisoners.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3569760.stm

Palestinian prisoners demands are humanitarian not political

During the month of August 7,500 Palestinian political prisoners will take part in a massive series of hunger strikes hoping to draw international attention and support to a campaign against the gross violations of their rights and against the appalling conditions under which they are being detained. Whilst the Israeli authorities have tried to undermine the protest, dismissing it as a political action organized by the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement and Islamic Jihad, the complaints and demands of the prisoners clearly highlight the humanitarian nature of the campaign.

http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article3006.shtml

Battle of wills begins between Palestinian detainees, Israeli jailers

The Palestinian Leadership has reconfirmed a previous decision declaring Wednesday, August 18, a National Day of Solidarity with Detainees and Prime Minister Ahmad Qurei said that the peace process is dependent on the release of all the 8,000 detainees held in Israeli jails, as MP Marwan Al-Barghouthi and PFLP leader Ahmad Sa'adat joined the open-ended hunger strike launched Sunday.

http://www.palestine-pmc.com/details.asp?cat=1&id=1403

Israel's Internal Security Minister is "indifferent" to lives of Palestinian prisoners

The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI) condemns the ruthless and irresponsible remark made by Tzachi Hanegbi, Minister of Internal Security, regarding the hunger strike by security prisoners that "as far as I am concerned they can strike for a day, a month and onto death".

http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article3005.shtml