As part of Israeli efforts to ratchet up pressure on Palestinian prisoners, Israeli prison wardens have removed TV sets from their cells to prevent them from watching the soccer World Cup currently underway in Brazil, Israeli media has reported.
The move is at the top of a list of measures ordered by the Israeli government to worsen prison conditions for Palestinian prisoners in response to the alleged kidnapping of three Jewish settlers in the southern West Bank last week.
Among these measures are closing prison cantinas, depriving prisoners of newspapers and curtailing family visits, Israel's Walla news website reported.
Head of the Palestine Prisoners' Society, Qadura Fares, condemned the moves, describing them as "inhumane."
"Such an inhumane decision by the Israeli authorities reflects the racist policy against Palestinian prisoners," Fares told Anadolu Agency.
"Israel's policy of collective punishment has not changed, but I assure you the prisoners are steadfast in their fight for freedom," he added.
The Israeli government accuses Palestinian resistance group Hamas of abducting the three missing settlers, who reportedly disappeared last Thursday from the Jewish-only Gush Etzion settlement in the occupied West Bank.
Since then, Israeli forces have detained scores of Palestinians, including several Hamas lawmakers and former ministers.
On Tuesday, Israel's security cabinet vowed to ratchet up military pressure on the Gaza-based Hamas movement and worsen conditions for Hamas-affiliated detainees in Israel's prisons.
No Palestinian group has claimed responsibility for the alleged kidnapping thus far, nor has Israel produced any evidence of Palestinian involvement.
By Anees Barghouthy
englishnews@aa.com.tr
www.aa.com.tr/en
