Eritrean migrants protesting detention with hunger strike

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JERUSALEM (JTA) — Some 170 African migrants being held in an Israeli detention center moved into the second week of their hunger strike, while at least 130 quit their strike.

The migrants from Eritrea began the hunger strike eight days ago at the Saharonim detention facility in the Negev Desert. They are protesting their detentions.

The hunger strikers in one wing of the prison ended their strike over the weekend.

The privileges of the 170 remaining hunger-striking prisoners, including access to telephones, have been revoked, the Times of Israel reported. They also are being separated from the rest of the prison population, and some may be moved to other detention facilities.

More than 1,700 African migrants are jailed in Israel. Most are waiting for their refugee requests to be processed or to file such requests.

The migrants can be detained for up to three years without a trial.

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