GAZA, (PIC)– The ministry of prisoners’ affairs deplored Tuesday the Israeli prisons authority (IPA) for barring Palestinian families from visiting their sons in the prisons of Hadarim and Shikma and allowing settlers to organize a protest outside these prisons to demand the termination of visits in Israeli jails.

The ministry revealed that it had informed the Red Cross a week ago about the intention of Israeli settlers to close streets and block Palestinian families from visiting their sons and called on it to protect the families from settlers’ attacks.

It accused the Israeli occupation authority of unleashing the settlers to harass the families of prisoners and prevent them from visiting their sons.

The ministry appealed to the international community to provide protection for prisoners against Israel’s violation of their rights as well as for their families against settlers’ assaults.

The Hebrew radio reported Monday that the IPA announced cancellation of the visits made by families of Palestinian prisoners in Hadarim and Shikma and added that this decision was taken as a result of the intention of settlers to organize a protest in solidarity with captive soldier Gilad Shalit, who is held by Palestinian resistance in Gaza Strip.