Conflict Incident Report

The suffering of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails engaged in an open-ended hunger strike was reflected in religious sermons in the southern city of Sidon Friday.

Mosques in Sidon unified their sermons in line with a call by Sidon Mufti Sheikh Salim Sousan to unite the weekly sermon to touch on the hardships of the Palestinian prisoners.

More than 50 mosques in Sidon and the nearby Palestinian refugee camps abided by the call.

Sermons focused on the sacrifices offered by the prisoners and their hunger strike, demanding that Palestinians join efforts and speeches and focus on the conflict with Israel.

"Palestine is the land of resistance," Sousan said.

The open-ended hunger strike was initiated on April 17, on Palestinian Prisoners’ Day, and is one of the largest in recent years. Prisoners have now been on hunger strike for 25 days. Their conditions are said to be critical, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Club.

In Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp, near Sidon, believers gathered to perform the Friday prayers in a protest tent that was erected by the Palestinian Liberation Organization.

All factions took part in the prayers.

Sheikh Shawkat Shbaitah, who led the prayer, spoke of the heroic act by the prisoners against Israel.

Palestinians in Shatila held a day of solidarity Thursday in support of the prisoners.

Activists affiliated with the Palestinian National Forum, the Children and Youth Center, the Forum of Prisoners Liberated from the Occupation’s Prisons and the Popular Initiative of Shatila Camp began a three-day solidarity hunger strike, which will last until Sunday.