A second convicted Arab terrorist on a hunger strike died today in a hospital after food he was forced-fed got into his lungs. He was identified as Mouhammed Haloua, 28, of Gaza, who was sentenced to life imprisonment nine years ago for throwing hand grenades in the center of Gaza killing one Arab and injuring others.
Another prisoner, Ali Mohammed Jaapri, 30, of Jordan, died of the same causes Tuesday. A third prisoner is in a hospital in serious condition.
The three were among 75 prisoners who went on a hunger strike July 14 at the Nafha prison in the Negev demanding better conditions at the prison which opened two months ago to hold convicted terrorists. Twenty-six of those who continued their strike, including the two who subsequently died, were moved to the Ramleh central prison this week. Other prisoners at Ramleh staged a hunger strike yesterday in sympathy with the terrorists but it ended peacefully this morning after 24 hours.
Meanwhile, extra police and border policemen have been sent to Jerusalem to prevent any demonstrations. After Joapri’s death was announced yesterday, Arab women demonstrated through the streets of East Jerusalem clashing with police.
In another development, Gaza Mayor Rashad Shawa has cabled protests to President Yitzhak Navon, Premier Menachem Begin, Deputy Premier Yigael Yadin and the Military Governor of Gaza demanding that the Nafha prison be closed. He said he intends to protest to President Carter and the United Nations about the two deaths.
(Commenting on the death of the first prisoner, the State Department’s chief spokesmen, John Trattner said, in reply to a question today, “We have seen reports on that and we are deeply concerned. We are taking up the matter with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”)
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