Palestinians mark Detainee Day calling for the release of over 9,000 prisoners held in occupation jails

Source: Al Manar, 17-4-2006
Thousands of Palestinians across the West Bank and Gaza Strip marked the Detainee Day. 9400 Palestinians are held in "Israeli" jails. MPs were also holding a parliament session devoted to the plight of the detainees.
Mothers of the detainees marked the Palestinian Detainees Day outside a Red Cross office in Gaza City, and like every year calling for the release of their beloved ones from "Israeli" occupation prisons.
For them it is enough and they want their sons and daughters free.
According to the latest figures the overall number of Palestinians being held by the "Israeli" authorities is 9,400 -- around 86 percent from the West Bank. Hundreds are held in administrative detention with no trial and on daily basis the occupation is detaining more Palestinians in an attempt to suffocate their struggle for independence and freedom.
Yousef Rezka, the new Palestinian Minister of Information, said the prisoners would not be forgotten, and this issue is a priority for the Hamas-led government.
In a letter addressed to the ICRC, information minister Yussef Rizqa urged the organization to put pressure on "Israel" to release Palestinian prisoners as well as improve their conditions. He said ""Israel" is always hindering the visits for the families of prisoners.
Thousands demonstrated throughout West Bank and the Gaza Strip while chanting "you have sacrificed your freedom and Free Our Detainees". For more than 20 years, Palestinians have marked April 17 as Detainee`s Day. A total of 369 Palestinians who were jailed before the 1993 Oslo autonomy accords are still languishing in "Israeli" prison.
Islamic Jihad Leader Khader Habib said "We say in a message to our prisoner heroes to be patient and know that the Palestinian people in all its colors will not forget you and your cause is the number one cause of all the Palestinian causes".
Meanwhile, "Israeli" occupation soldiers were confronted by the residents of the West Bank city of Nablus during one of their latest arrest raids.
The soldiers took over the top floor of the home a crowd of protesters hurled stones at them. The soldiers responded with gunfire wounding two people, including a 13-year-old boy.
Meanwhile "Israeli" occupation police briefly arrested seven Hamas members including newly elected parliamentary deputy Mohammed Abu Teir. Abu Teir was detained on Sunday in occupied east Jerusalem (al-Quds) one day after police issued a prohibition order against a planned rally by Hamas in the city`s Zur Bakher neighborhood.