RAMALLAH (BNO NEWS) -- At least 7000 Palestinian prisoners on Sunday began a one-day hunger strike in all Israel's prisons in protest of Israeli policies against them, the Palestinian Prisoners' Club (PPC) said in a statement.

According to the Palestine News & Information Agency, the statement said the prisoners decided to go on hunger strike to protest Israeli policies, such as solitary confinement and intentional medical negligence, and to raise the alert of deteriorating prison conditions. It also called on Palestinians to participate in a demonstration held by the Supreme Committee for Prisoners and Palestinian Prisoners' Club in the city of Ramallah on Sunday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on June 23 that the country will revoke "benefits and privileges" from Palestinians incarcerated in Israeli prisons. Netanyahu was responding to Hamas' refusal to let the International Red Cross visit soldier Gilad Schalit.

On June 25, 2006, Shalit, a Staff Sergeant with the Israeli Defense Forces, was abducted by Hamas militants and has been held in captivity since. His family has been trying to have contact with him without avail.

Following Netanyahu's speech, Hamas prisoners held in Israeli jails announced that they will go on a one-day hunger strike, in protest against Netanyahu's decision to deprive them of certain privileges.

Riyad al-Ashqar, spokesman for the Hamas-run Ministry for Prisoners Affairs, threatened to take further steps after the hunger strike if prison authorities don't stop their new measures. The ministry called on the Palestinian groups holding Schalit to stick to their demands and not to make any compromises for a prisoner swap with Israel.

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