Palestinians in Israeli detention camps live under rough living conditions

Additional Reporting by Yasser Al-Banna, IOL Palestine correspondent

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, February 2 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – Suffering from poor and rough living conditions and treatment, the Palestinian detainees in the Ketziot military detention camp in Israel's southern Negev desert had to revolt against the camp authorities in a show of protest, but occupation forces responded with the usual repressive use of force.

More than 70 prisoners were injured when Israeli occupation forces fired tear gas and stun grenades at the Palestinian detainees, who simply used stones to defend themselves on Saturday, February 2.

"The clashes ferociously remained for three hours during which bombs were fired at the detainees, leaving 70 injured and many others suffered from smoke inhalation," said Abu Hammam, one of the detainees.

"We live here in tragic conditions, as camp authorities only treat us as animals" Abu Hammam said in a telephone interview with IslamOnline on Sunday, February 3.

The camp authorities prevent sick Palestinians from being referred to the health centre, and they only bring food rations enough for 600 detainees in a 1250-detainee camp, he lamented.

"The representatives of detainees tried to present their demands to the camp authorities, but found procrastination and unwillingness, leaving detainees with no other option but to rise against this deteriorating situation," said Abu Hammam.

But he added calm was restored after "the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces" involved in the clashes.

"We have achieved a great victory in these clashes as occupation forces were seen crawling out of the area and began succumbing to our demands," he added.

A delegation of the camp authorities was sent for negotiations with the detainees.

If doomed, the Palestinian detainees will keep up their struggle for better living conditions in the camp, Abu Hammam added.

In a different account, Agence France-Presse (AFP) quoted an Israeli military source as saying the clashes only left an Israeli soldier and about 10 detainees wounded.

Israeli forces went in to break up the riot, which took place in the Ketziot military detention camp, using tear gas and stun grenades, the source said.

He claimed that the prisoners had set fire to their own tents during the riot.

"An Israeli soldier and about 10 Palestinians were lightly injured from smoke inhalation from the stun grenades or from the burning tents," he said.

The Ketziot camp, largely consists of makeshift tents, was erected following Israel's six-week incursion in the West Bank launched in late March 2002, and is where several hundred Palestinians alleged to be involved in anti-Israeli attacks are detained.

The riots coincided with Israeli large scale Winter Hot incursion in the divided West Bank city of Al-Khalil (Hebron) that left on Sunday 28 Palestinian houses razed to ground and made dozens homeless.