A number of Palestinian families left the Gaza Strip through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing at dawn Monday to visit their relatives jailed in Israel’s Nafha prison.

Spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza Suheir Zaqqout said that 10 Palestinians including three children under 16 headed aboard buses for Nafha jail to visit seven prisoners.

Nearly 7000 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli jails under harsh conditions including 300 prisoners from the Gaza Strip.

Due to the deliberate medical neglect policy pursued by the Israel Prison Service against Palestinian prisoners 218 detainees have died while in Israeli custody.

A number of families from the Gaza Strip were able on Monday to visit their relatives jailed in Nafha jail in the Negev.

According to a spokesperson for the Red Cross 17 members of Gazan families including six children headed aboard buses for the Nafha prison to visit 11 prisoners.

Families of Gazan prisoners have been banned from visiting their relatives in jails for many years especially those affiliated with Hamas Movement.

However the Red Cross coordinates with the Israeli authorities every once in a while to allow very few numbers of families to visit relatives in jails.

Approximately 6500 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli jails including 350 children 62 women and 500 administrative detainees.