The Israeli Prison Administration police and "Nakhshon" Units executed a large-scale barbaric attack against the Palestinian prisoners at Naqab Prison. The Israeli prison guards used teargas bombs and sonic bombs and rubber-coated metal bullets and clubs in curbing the protest of prisoners causing the martyrdom of a prisoner and the injury of more than 250 prisoners who suffered suffocation and bruises; two prisoners tents were also burnt and all personal belongings of the prisoners were destroyed. Ashraf al-Ajrami, Prisoners Affairs Minister, confirmed later last night the martyrdom of Mohammed Safi al-Ashqar at Soroka Prison in Be'r al-Sabe' (Beer Sheva) after several bullets penetrated his body at Naqab desert prison. Al-Ashqar, from Saida Village in Tulkarem, married and father of one child, was serving a two-year prison sentence and was about to be released after fifty days. The Palestinian Minister accused the Israeli prison administration of using internationally banned bullets against the detainees at Naqab Prison.

The Palestinian Prisoners Club announced that 11,000 Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli prisons decided to observe today, Tuesday, a hunger strike in protest against the events at Naqab Prison.

The official spokesperson for the Palestinian Presidency Nabil Abu Rdeineh condemned the act and demanded from the Israeli government to stop such aggressions. He added: We demand from the US Administration to interfere and stop the Israeli violations that we consider as part of the Israeli policies that aim to obstruct the peace process. Without closing the prisoners file, the peace process cannot move forward. This is a priority for us and President Abbas always stresses that a comprehensive peace won't be achieved if the prisoners file is not closed.

Published at Al Ayyam NewsPaper on October 23, 2007