Middle East

Palestinian prisoners' hunger strike leader sent to solitary

Associated Press
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FILE - In this Jan. 25, 2012 file photo, jailed Senior Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti appears in a Jerusalem court. Qadoura Fares, an advocate for prisoners' rights, said Monday, April 17, 2027, that more than 1,500 Palestinian prisoners have launched an open-ended hunger strike to demand better conditions in Israeli prisons, including more contact with relatives, and an end to Israel's practice of detentions without trial. The protest began Tuesday and was led by Marwan Barghouti, imprisoned since 2002. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE -- In this April 6, 2003 file photo, Marwan Barghouti waves as he enters a Tel Aviv court. Gilad Erdan, Israel's minister of public security said Tuesday, April 18, 2017, that he will not negotiate with hundreds of Palestinian prisoners who launched a hunger strike to press for better conditions. Erdan also said prominent Palestinian prisoner Barghouti, the organizer of the protest, has been placed in solitary confinement. Barghouti, a leader of the 2000 Palestinian uprising, is serving five life terms after being convicted by an Israeli court of directing two shooting attacks and a bombing that killed five people. (AP Photo/Jeremy Feldman, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Aug. 4, 2001 file photo, Marwan Barghouti marches with bodyguards and Palestinian gunmen in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Gilad Erdan, Israel's minister of public security said Tuesday, April 18, 2017, that he will not negotiate with hundreds of Palestinian prisoners who launched a hunger strike to press for better conditions. Erdan also said Barghouti, the organizer of the protest, has been placed in solitary confinement. Barghouti, a leader of the 2000 Palestinian uprising, is serving five life terms after being convicted by an Israeli court of directing two shooting attacks and a bombing that killed five people. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser, File) (The Associated Press)

Israel's minister of public security says a prominent Palestinian prisoner has been placed in solitary confinement for inciting a large-scale hunger strike.

Gilad Erdan tells Israel's Army Radio Tuesday that Marwan Barghouti was punished for "instigating mutiny and leading the hunger strike."

Activists said more than 1,500 of about 6,500 Palestinian security prisoners joined the open-ended protest. The strikers' immediate demands included better conditions and more contact with relatives.

Barghouti was arrested in 2002 during the second Palestinian uprising and convicted on multiple counts of murder. Israel charged him with directing suicide bombings and he was sentenced to five life terms.

Erdan says the prisoners receive all privileges required by international law. He said the strike was part of an internal Palestinian struggle for power.