RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails stand ready to wage an open battle with prison guards amid escalating tensions with the Israel Prison Service (IPS), which has again toughened conditions on prisoners.
On March 24, violent skirmishes flared up between prisoners and guards in Negev prison's Section 4. The Metzada unit — the IPS hostage rescue and special operations unit — raided the section, fought with prisoners and fired tear gas.
The prisoners stabbed two jailers with sharp objects. Dozens of prisoners were wounded. Seven of them were transferred to Soroka Hospital for treatment, including two who were seriously injured.
The next day, the Metzada unit raided the prisons of Ramon, Nafha, Eshel and Gilboa. This prompted the Palestinian prisoner leaders, elected by the prison population, to announce March 25 that they were dissolving all prisoners’ regulatory committees and canceling prisoners’ representation inside Israeli jails. These committees negotiate and communicate with the IPS on behalf of the prisoners and represent prisoners' decision-making authority. This lack of leadership will make it more difficult to control prisoners and places them in direct confrontation with IPS forces. The leadership also said it held the prison administration fully responsible for the situation as of March 26.
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