Six years of agony in Israeli prisons

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:14:02 GMT | PressTV

The following is an exclusive Press TV interview with Shrirn Sehikh Khalil (photo) a former Palestinian prisoner who had been held in Israeli custody for six years. Shirin is a resident of the occupied West Bank but has been released in the Gaza Strip.

Press TV: Shirin tell us what it was like to spend six years in Israeli jails?

Khalil: I was in Israeli prisons for six years and they [Israelis] kept transferring me from one prison to another. I did not visit my family for six years because although my family lives in the West Bank, they hold Gazan ID cards and Gazans were not allowed to meet me. I had a hard time not being able to see my family.

Press TV: Shirin you were there for six years, tell us how the Israelis treat Palestinians prisoners?

Khalil: Their treatment was definitely terrible. They adopt a policy of solitary confinement and punishment toward us.

They moved detainees from one prison to another to destroy their morale and in the latest of such moves they transferred female prisoners from Hamas and Islamic Jihad to HaSharon prison and female detainees with Fatah and the Popular Front [for Liberation of Palestine] to Damun Prison.

Press TV: What can you tell us about the situation of the detainees -- especially women -- held in Israeli jails?

Khalil: Like other prisoners in Israeli jails who are subject to mistreatment, they ill-treated me; they were no difference between male and female detainees in this regard.

For example, Amal Joma suffered from uterine cancer and Amni Mona developed another disease, Sina Abu Qalam suffered from gastrointestinal and other chronic diseases and Israelis did not provide us with adequate medical care -- they would just give us analgesics.

Press TV: Many describe Gaza as an open air prison. How do you describe it?

Khalil: The situation in Gaza is certainly very painful. No body has been able to enter or leave the Gaza Strip for two years, while unemployment and the lack of vital supplies have made life difficult for the Gaza people.