31 dec 2013
Clare Short
Israeli Minister of Defense Moshe Ya'alon declared, on Tuesday, that former British International Development Secretary Clare Short and three other European legislators would be arrested if they try to come to Israel, due to their involvement in a European-Palestinian organization calling for an end to the Israeli siege on Gaza.
The Israeli government, last week, outlawed the organization, Council for European Palestinian Relations (CEPR), which allows the Israeli government to seize its assets and arrest any members of the organization.
Clare Short is a member of the Board of Directors of the non-profit group, and is a British Parliament member with the Labour Party, as well as a former Cabinet member in the British government. In response to Ya'alon's declaration, she said, “Given Israel’s track record, the Defence Minister’s action is not surprising, but it is yet more evidence that Israel’s claim to be a democracy is eroding very fast.”
The CEPR states that its aim is “to promote dialogue and understanding between European, Palestinian and Arab parliamentarians and policy-makers. It seeks a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on justice and the restoration of Palestinian rights, in accordance with international humanitarian and human rights law.”
Although Israel has declared the organization to be a threat to its national security, it has yet to provide evidence of the group's involvement in any terrorist activity. In his statement, Ya'alon referred vaguely to the group's opposition to the Israeli siege on Gaza as the reason for its being declared illegal.
Israeli Minister of Defense Moshe Ya'alon declared, on Tuesday, that former British International Development Secretary Clare Short and three other European legislators would be arrested if they try to come to Israel, due to their involvement in a European-Palestinian organization calling for an end to the Israeli siege on Gaza.
The Israeli government, last week, outlawed the organization, Council for European Palestinian Relations (CEPR), which allows the Israeli government to seize its assets and arrest any members of the organization.
Clare Short is a member of the Board of Directors of the non-profit group, and is a British Parliament member with the Labour Party, as well as a former Cabinet member in the British government. In response to Ya'alon's declaration, she said, “Given Israel’s track record, the Defence Minister’s action is not surprising, but it is yet more evidence that Israel’s claim to be a democracy is eroding very fast.”
The CEPR states that its aim is “to promote dialogue and understanding between European, Palestinian and Arab parliamentarians and policy-makers. It seeks a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on justice and the restoration of Palestinian rights, in accordance with international humanitarian and human rights law.”
Although Israel has declared the organization to be a threat to its national security, it has yet to provide evidence of the group's involvement in any terrorist activity. In his statement, Ya'alon referred vaguely to the group's opposition to the Israeli siege on Gaza as the reason for its being declared illegal.
Israeli occupation forces arrested two students from the Greens, on Tuesday, after chasing them on the way to their homes, following school.
According to Ahmed Salah, coordinator of the Popular Committee Against the Wall and settlements in al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem, Israeli soldiers attacked the students as they were walking near the area of the hill, in the Old Town. After firing tear gas and sound bombs, they arrested Wael (14), and Omar (13), Radio Bethlehem 2000 reports.
Greens school students are regularly exposed to considerable harassment by Israeli soldiers stationed near the school.
According to Ahmed Salah, coordinator of the Popular Committee Against the Wall and settlements in al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem, Israeli soldiers attacked the students as they were walking near the area of the hill, in the Old Town. After firing tear gas and sound bombs, they arrested Wael (14), and Omar (13), Radio Bethlehem 2000 reports.
Greens school students are regularly exposed to considerable harassment by Israeli soldiers stationed near the school.
Palestinian Minister of Prisoners in Gaza Dr. Atallah Abul Sabbah called for supporting the captive movement in the protest steps, it intends to start in the Israeli prisons, against the ongoing policy of medical neglect. Abul Sabbah, in a press statement on Monday, called for joining the official and popular efforts to support the captive movement's struggles and the sick prisoners threatened with death in the occupations jails.
The captive movement, he said, has faced in 2013 a persistent repressive policy by the Israeli prison administrations, represented especially in the deliberate medical negligence that killed four captives during this year.
The movement decided to start a series of steps in solidarity with the patient prisoners and in protest against the medical neglect. The first of these steps begins on Tuesday by boycotting all the prison clinics.
Meanwhile, a number of sick prisoners in Israeli jails gave testimonies about their deteriorating health conditions, during lawyers' visits.
Lawyer Shirin Iraqi reported that prisoner Yahya Daraghmeh, aged 34 and sentenced to 22 years, suffers from serious health conditions and a concussion. He lost his memory for several years because he had been beaten on the head by Israeli soldiers.
Captive Mamoun Abu Shamma, from Jalazoun refugee camp sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, told the lawyer Fadi Abbas that he has been suffering from concussion and psychological fatigue, while the prison administration refuses to offer him proper treatment.
For his part, the administrative detainee Adel Shenior, who is held in the Negev prison, told the lawyer Abbas that he had lost sight in his right eye due to the medical negligence.
Lawyer Fadi Abbas also added that the Palestinian captive Abdullah Abu Latifa, sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, has been suffering from a tumor in the head for the 5th year without being offered necessary treatment.
The captive movement, he said, has faced in 2013 a persistent repressive policy by the Israeli prison administrations, represented especially in the deliberate medical negligence that killed four captives during this year.
The movement decided to start a series of steps in solidarity with the patient prisoners and in protest against the medical neglect. The first of these steps begins on Tuesday by boycotting all the prison clinics.
Meanwhile, a number of sick prisoners in Israeli jails gave testimonies about their deteriorating health conditions, during lawyers' visits.
Lawyer Shirin Iraqi reported that prisoner Yahya Daraghmeh, aged 34 and sentenced to 22 years, suffers from serious health conditions and a concussion. He lost his memory for several years because he had been beaten on the head by Israeli soldiers.
Captive Mamoun Abu Shamma, from Jalazoun refugee camp sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, told the lawyer Fadi Abbas that he has been suffering from concussion and psychological fatigue, while the prison administration refuses to offer him proper treatment.
For his part, the administrative detainee Adel Shenior, who is held in the Negev prison, told the lawyer Abbas that he had lost sight in his right eye due to the medical negligence.
Lawyer Fadi Abbas also added that the Palestinian captive Abdullah Abu Latifa, sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, has been suffering from a tumor in the head for the 5th year without being offered necessary treatment.
"Building in the territories in exchange for freeing prisoners is the equation created by the Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu since the negotiations began," Israel's channel 2 stated in a recent report on its screen. Since the beginning of the negotiations, the Israeli government has progressed in the construction of 8,056 housing units in the occupied territories, the channel said.
The channel claimed that the building of these housing units has still not started, but it affirmed that an aerial tour of the West Bank reveals the actual construction of thousands of housing units already.
"The largest amount of construction is reported to be in Bracha, close to Nablus. Not far away, in Yitzhar, another construction project appears to be in the works these days. A similar picture emerges in the landscape of Nehemiah. The building boom did not skip over Ariel either," the report elaborated further.
"So how many housing units are being built these days in the territories? According to estimates by settlers, about 1,400 housing units are being built in the territories. The Israel central bureau of statistics states about 2,500 housing units are being constructed, while if you ask Peace Now, the number is about 3,000."
"Every increase in settlement construction within the territories brings home the message that PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas cannot justify the Palestinians continuing to negotiate with Israel."
"If Netanyahu really wants a two-state solution, there is no reason now to build thousands of housing units in the territories," the channel quoted Lior Amichai of Peace Now as saying.
"Netanyahu is exploiting the negotiations and the release of prisoners in order to build and certify thousands of housing units," Amichai added.
It also quoted Yigal Dilmoni, Yesha council head, as saying that the release of Palestinian prisoners "is designed to satisfy their desire for negotiations, the Palestinians and some elements of the government."
The channel claimed that the building of these housing units has still not started, but it affirmed that an aerial tour of the West Bank reveals the actual construction of thousands of housing units already.
"The largest amount of construction is reported to be in Bracha, close to Nablus. Not far away, in Yitzhar, another construction project appears to be in the works these days. A similar picture emerges in the landscape of Nehemiah. The building boom did not skip over Ariel either," the report elaborated further.
"So how many housing units are being built these days in the territories? According to estimates by settlers, about 1,400 housing units are being built in the territories. The Israel central bureau of statistics states about 2,500 housing units are being constructed, while if you ask Peace Now, the number is about 3,000."
"Every increase in settlement construction within the territories brings home the message that PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas cannot justify the Palestinians continuing to negotiate with Israel."
"If Netanyahu really wants a two-state solution, there is no reason now to build thousands of housing units in the territories," the channel quoted Lior Amichai of Peace Now as saying.
"Netanyahu is exploiting the negotiations and the release of prisoners in order to build and certify thousands of housing units," Amichai added.
It also quoted Yigal Dilmoni, Yesha council head, as saying that the release of Palestinian prisoners "is designed to satisfy their desire for negotiations, the Palestinians and some elements of the government."
Tadhamun Foundation for Human Rights said that the Israeli intelligence officers are still interrogating the doctoral student and journalist Bilal Dofesh, who is held in Petah Tikva interrogation center, despite suffering a nervous breakdown. Dofesh, 35, from al-Khalil, is a doctoral student at Cyprus University and works in the field of photography and production of documentaries.
Lawyer at Tadhamun Foundation Mohammed Abed, who visited the detainee, said that Dofesh suffered a nervous breakdown during his arrest on November 24, 2013, and that he did not eat for 3 days because of the ongoing daily interrogation.
He pointed out that the Israeli investigators placed Bilal on a lie detector three times, and subjected him to psychological torture and sleep deprivation.
The journalist will appear before the Israeli court in Ofer on the first of January.
Munther Dofesh, Bilal's older brother, told Tadhamun Foundation that the occupation forces arrested his brother at the Karama border crossing, between Jordan and the West Bank, as he came with a Cypriot media delegation to film a documentary in the city of Ramallah.
Lawyer at Tadhamun Foundation Mohammed Abed, who visited the detainee, said that Dofesh suffered a nervous breakdown during his arrest on November 24, 2013, and that he did not eat for 3 days because of the ongoing daily interrogation.
He pointed out that the Israeli investigators placed Bilal on a lie detector three times, and subjected him to psychological torture and sleep deprivation.
The journalist will appear before the Israeli court in Ofer on the first of January.
Munther Dofesh, Bilal's older brother, told Tadhamun Foundation that the occupation forces arrested his brother at the Karama border crossing, between Jordan and the West Bank, as he came with a Cypriot media delegation to film a documentary in the city of Ramallah.
Israeli Nahshon forces stormed Raymond jail at dawn Tuesday and evacuated all Palestinian prisoners from section two after assaulting them. The Palestinian prisoner society said that the jail administration did not say where those prisoners were taken.
The society said that all sections were on the alert after the attack on the prisoners.
The society held the Israeli occupation authority fully responsible for lives of those prisoners, who were assaulted during the forced evacuation procedure.
The society said that all sections were on the alert after the attack on the prisoners.
The society held the Israeli occupation authority fully responsible for lives of those prisoners, who were assaulted during the forced evacuation procedure.
A number of Israeli settlers on Tuesday morning stormed al-Aqsa Mosque from the Mughrabi Gate, and toured its courtyards, under the protection of the occupation forces. Large numbers of Jerusalemite worshipers and students have intensified their presence inside al-Aqsa in order to confront any attempt to storm it, despite the ongoing security measures imposed against them on the mosque's gates.
Al-Aqsa Mosque has been exposed to almost daily incursions by settlers in an attempt to divide it and impose the Israeli control over it.
Another group of extremist settlers torched three Palestinian vehicles east of Ramallah near the Israeli settlement of Beit El, early Tuesday
Ghassan Daghlas, PA official in charge of Israeli Settlements File in the northern part of the occupied West Bank, said that Price Tag gangs set fire to the citizens' cars and sprayed racist slogans on the walls of houses nearby.
He pointed out that statistics of 2013 showed that there are a significant increase in the pace of attacks by the occupation forces and settlers compared to last year, especially with regard to settlement expansion and attacks on citizens' properties and lands.
Separately, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) arrested at dawn a Palestinian young man after raiding his home in the town of Beit Fajjar, south of Bethlehem.
Locals reported that the IOF withdrew after vandalizing and damaging the residents' houses.
Al-Aqsa Mosque has been exposed to almost daily incursions by settlers in an attempt to divide it and impose the Israeli control over it.
Another group of extremist settlers torched three Palestinian vehicles east of Ramallah near the Israeli settlement of Beit El, early Tuesday
Ghassan Daghlas, PA official in charge of Israeli Settlements File in the northern part of the occupied West Bank, said that Price Tag gangs set fire to the citizens' cars and sprayed racist slogans on the walls of houses nearby.
He pointed out that statistics of 2013 showed that there are a significant increase in the pace of attacks by the occupation forces and settlers compared to last year, especially with regard to settlement expansion and attacks on citizens' properties and lands.
Separately, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) arrested at dawn a Palestinian young man after raiding his home in the town of Beit Fajjar, south of Bethlehem.
Locals reported that the IOF withdrew after vandalizing and damaging the residents' houses.
Nahshon Israeli forces raided on Tuesday Ramon Israeli jail, broke into Section 2 and assaulted the prisoners.
According to the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS), the prisoners were transferred to an unknown location; no further details were revealed.
The PPS holds the Israeli occupation full responsibility for the lives of the prisoners who have been abused.
According to the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS), the prisoners were transferred to an unknown location; no further details were revealed.
The PPS holds the Israeli occupation full responsibility for the lives of the prisoners who have been abused.
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) bulldozed land south of Jenin on Monday night and arrested two citizens in Burqin village to the west of Jenin. Local sources said that two IOF bulldozers leveled land of a former Israeli army base that was evacuated in 2005 under protection of dozens of soldiers, adding that they continued work on the area until Tuesday morning.
Meanwhile, eyewitnesses reported that IOF soldiers detained two young men in Burqin village after raiding a number of homes and shops on Monday evening.
They said that the first youth was taken from his home while the other was taken from a coffee shop, which he owns.
In another incident, IOF soldiers raided Seelat Al-Harithiya village, west of Jenin, and searched its land for water wells.
Local sources said that officers of the so-called Israeli water authority accompanied the soldiers and broke into the home of lawyer Baha’a Ziyad and questioned him about presence of water wells in his house’s backyard.
The sources said that the soldiers searched the backyard and dug in several places amidst dismay on the part of the lawyer before leaving the house and the village.
Meanwhile, eyewitnesses reported that IOF soldiers detained two young men in Burqin village after raiding a number of homes and shops on Monday evening.
They said that the first youth was taken from his home while the other was taken from a coffee shop, which he owns.
In another incident, IOF soldiers raided Seelat Al-Harithiya village, west of Jenin, and searched its land for water wells.
Local sources said that officers of the so-called Israeli water authority accompanied the soldiers and broke into the home of lawyer Baha’a Ziyad and questioned him about presence of water wells in his house’s backyard.
The sources said that the soldiers searched the backyard and dug in several places amidst dismay on the part of the lawyer before leaving the house and the village.
30 dec 2013
Dozens of family members of Palestinian prisoners from the Gaza Strip on Monday morning left the coastal enclave to Israel via Erez crossing to visit relatives in Nafha prison.
A representative of the Red Cross confirmed that 93 Gaza residents including 23 children left to Nafha prison to visit 49 relatives held in Israel’s custody.
The official, Nasser al-Najjar, highlighted that visitors were loaded in buses near the committee’s headquarters in Gaza City.
Some 420 Palestinians from the Gaza Strip are held in Israeli jails and they were deprived of family visits for several years after Hamas took over the coastal enclave.
A representative of the Red Cross confirmed that 93 Gaza residents including 23 children left to Nafha prison to visit 49 relatives held in Israel’s custody.
The official, Nasser al-Najjar, highlighted that visitors were loaded in buses near the committee’s headquarters in Gaza City.
Some 420 Palestinians from the Gaza Strip are held in Israeli jails and they were deprived of family visits for several years after Hamas took over the coastal enclave.
The Palestinian Prisoners' Society said on Sunday that 32 veteran Palestinian prisoners will remain in Israeli jails after 26 are released early Tuesday.
Twenty-six more pre-Oslo prisoners are scheduled to be released in early 2014, which would leave just six of such prisoners left in Israeli jails.
The remaining Prisoners who fit the agreed-upon criteria for the release are as follows:
1. Karim Yusif Fadel Yunis
2. Maher Abd al-Atif AbdulKadir Yunis
3. Mohammad Abd al-Hamid al-Tus
4. Ibrahim Nayef Hamdan Abu Mukh
5. Rushdi Hamdan Mohammad Abu Mukh
6. Walid Nimr Asad Dakka
7. Ibrahim Abd al-Razzaq Ahmad Bayadsa
8. Ahmad Ali Hussein Abu Jabir
9. Samir Ibrahim Mahmoud Abu Nimah
10. Mohammad Adel Hassan Dauwod
11. Bashir Abdullah Kamil al-Khatib
12. Mahmoud Othman Ibrahim Jabareen
13. Juma Ibrahim Juma Adam
14. Mahmoud Salim Suleiman Abu Kharbish
15. Samir Salih Taha Sirsaoui
16. Raed Mohammad Sharif al-Sadi
17. Faris Ahmad Mohammad Baroud
18. Ibrahim Hassan Mahmoud Ighbariya
19. Yahia Mustafa Mohammad Ighbariya
20. Mohammad Said Hassan Ighbariya
21. Mohammad Tawfiq Suleiman Jabareen
22. Diya Zakaria Shaker al-Falouji
23. Mohammad Fawzi Salama Falna
24. Nasser Hassan Abd al-Majid Abu Srour
25. Mahmoud Jamil Hassan Abu Srour
26. Mahmoud Moussa Issa Issa
27. Nael Rafiq Ibrahim Salhab
28. Mohammad Yusif Abd al-Jawad Shamasna
29. Abd al-Jawad Yusif Abd al-Jawad Shamasna
30. Aladin Fahmi Fahd al-Karki
31. Sadi Mahmoud Said al-Gharabli
32. Saed Yusif Abed Khatatba
Israel agreed to release 104 veteran Palestinian prisoners who have been in custody since before the 1993 Oslo Accords as part of a plan to resume peace negotiations after talks were halted for more than two years.
The release of the 26 Palestinian prisoners set for Dec. 31 is the third part of that four-stage deal, and Israel has already released 52 prisoners in two previous rounds.
Before the names of this round of prisoners were made public, Israeli military radio said Netanyahu would announce the construction of 1,400 new settlement homes in the occupied West Bank coinciding with the release.
Over 5,200 Palestinians are being held in Israeli jails according to the Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Prisoners' Affairs.
Since 1967, more than 650,000 Palestinians have been detained by Israel, representing 20 percent of the total population and 40 percent of all males in the occupied territories.
Under international law, it is illegal to transfer prisoners outside of the occupied territory in which they are detained, and the families of Palestinian prisoners' face many obstacles in obtaining permits to see their imprisoned relatives.
The internationally recognized Palestinian territories of which the West Bank and East Jerusalem form a part have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
Twenty-six more pre-Oslo prisoners are scheduled to be released in early 2014, which would leave just six of such prisoners left in Israeli jails.
The remaining Prisoners who fit the agreed-upon criteria for the release are as follows:
1. Karim Yusif Fadel Yunis
2. Maher Abd al-Atif AbdulKadir Yunis
3. Mohammad Abd al-Hamid al-Tus
4. Ibrahim Nayef Hamdan Abu Mukh
5. Rushdi Hamdan Mohammad Abu Mukh
6. Walid Nimr Asad Dakka
7. Ibrahim Abd al-Razzaq Ahmad Bayadsa
8. Ahmad Ali Hussein Abu Jabir
9. Samir Ibrahim Mahmoud Abu Nimah
10. Mohammad Adel Hassan Dauwod
11. Bashir Abdullah Kamil al-Khatib
12. Mahmoud Othman Ibrahim Jabareen
13. Juma Ibrahim Juma Adam
14. Mahmoud Salim Suleiman Abu Kharbish
15. Samir Salih Taha Sirsaoui
16. Raed Mohammad Sharif al-Sadi
17. Faris Ahmad Mohammad Baroud
18. Ibrahim Hassan Mahmoud Ighbariya
19. Yahia Mustafa Mohammad Ighbariya
20. Mohammad Said Hassan Ighbariya
21. Mohammad Tawfiq Suleiman Jabareen
22. Diya Zakaria Shaker al-Falouji
23. Mohammad Fawzi Salama Falna
24. Nasser Hassan Abd al-Majid Abu Srour
25. Mahmoud Jamil Hassan Abu Srour
26. Mahmoud Moussa Issa Issa
27. Nael Rafiq Ibrahim Salhab
28. Mohammad Yusif Abd al-Jawad Shamasna
29. Abd al-Jawad Yusif Abd al-Jawad Shamasna
30. Aladin Fahmi Fahd al-Karki
31. Sadi Mahmoud Said al-Gharabli
32. Saed Yusif Abed Khatatba
Israel agreed to release 104 veteran Palestinian prisoners who have been in custody since before the 1993 Oslo Accords as part of a plan to resume peace negotiations after talks were halted for more than two years.
The release of the 26 Palestinian prisoners set for Dec. 31 is the third part of that four-stage deal, and Israel has already released 52 prisoners in two previous rounds.
Before the names of this round of prisoners were made public, Israeli military radio said Netanyahu would announce the construction of 1,400 new settlement homes in the occupied West Bank coinciding with the release.
Over 5,200 Palestinians are being held in Israeli jails according to the Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Prisoners' Affairs.
Since 1967, more than 650,000 Palestinians have been detained by Israel, representing 20 percent of the total population and 40 percent of all males in the occupied territories.
Under international law, it is illegal to transfer prisoners outside of the occupied territory in which they are detained, and the families of Palestinian prisoners' face many obstacles in obtaining permits to see their imprisoned relatives.
The internationally recognized Palestinian territories of which the West Bank and East Jerusalem form a part have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
A relative of prisoner Said al-Tamimi weeps as family and friends prepare his home after receiving the news of his impending release from an Israeli jail, in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh, on December 29, 2013.
By Charlie Hoyle
Conditions attached to the release of Palestinian prisoners prove that Israel is not serious about the peace process, the director of rights group Addameer said Monday as 26 Palestinians prepared to be freed from Israeli jails.
Israeli authorities are expected to release the veteran Palestinian prisoners after midnight in the third stage of a phased agreement to free 104 detainees in line with commitments to US-brokered peace talks, which began in July.
In October, Israel released a group of 26 Palestinians detained before the 1993 Oslo Accords, while a first group was freed on Aug. 13.
Sahar Francis, general director of rights group Addameer, said that while any release of prisoners is welcome, strict Israeli conditions on freed detainees undermine "hope" and "trust" in the peace process.
"Israel has showed it is putting conditions on prisoner releases and the US supports these conditions. Prisoners held before 1993 should have been released 20 years ago, and not today," she told Ma'an.
Francis says that Israel restricts the freedom of movement of Palestinians freed as part of political agreements, with residents of East Jerusalem banned from visiting the West Bank or Gaza Strip following their release.
West Bank residents are banned from leaving their district for months, and in some cases up to a year, following a return to civilian life, while released prisoners are also prohibited from leaving the country for varying periods of time depending on their sentence, with some permanently banned.
Any involvement in political activities can be also grounds for rearrest and imprisonment by Israeli authorities.
"These practices show that the Israelis are not really seeking justice and a lasting peace with the Palestinians," Francis said.
"If the Israelis really had good intentions to end the conflict and grant Palestinians basic rights under international law they should release all Palestinian prisoners and stop arresting Palestinians in the occupied territories."
Israel treats Palestinians like 'terrorists'
In past prisoner releases, Israel has rearrested dozens of ex-detainees under Military Order 1651, which Francis says violates the most "basic rights" of Palestinian prisoners.
The order, which was implemented in 2009, allows for an Israeli military committee to sentence detainees to serve the remainder of their previous sentence under secret information not made available to lawyers.
Francis says the order was implemented by Israel to prepare "legally" for the release of prisoners which Israel would be reluctant to free and to impose conditions which would allow them to be rearrested in the future.
Israel has also violated international law by stipulating that freed detainees be deported to the Gaza Strip, or abroad, as part of the conditions of their release, Francis said.
Both Samer Issawi and Ayman Sharawna were rearrested by Israel under Military Order 1651 after being freed in the 2011 prisoner swap deal between Israel and Hamas, with Sharawna eventually deported to Gaza for 10 years after agreeing to end hunger strike action.
Hana Shalabi was also rearrested under the military order and subsequently deported to Gaza for three years under the conditions of her release.
These new procedures represent "serious violations" of human rights and prove that the Palestinian community can see little hope in the future of the peace process, Francis says.
Furthermore, Israel continues its policy of daily arrests in the occupied West Bank, which has increased in recent months, and has never committed to stopping the mass arrest of Palestinians while negotiations are taking place, Francis says.
"Israel recognizes Palestinians as terrorists and not as people seeking their independence and self determination, and this makes the whole difference in the treatment of prisoners in the political channel."
"We are happy that these 26 prisoners who spent years of their life in jail are being freed, of course the sadness is in thinking of the remaining 5,000 prisoners who are suffering behind bars."
By Charlie Hoyle
Conditions attached to the release of Palestinian prisoners prove that Israel is not serious about the peace process, the director of rights group Addameer said Monday as 26 Palestinians prepared to be freed from Israeli jails.
Israeli authorities are expected to release the veteran Palestinian prisoners after midnight in the third stage of a phased agreement to free 104 detainees in line with commitments to US-brokered peace talks, which began in July.
In October, Israel released a group of 26 Palestinians detained before the 1993 Oslo Accords, while a first group was freed on Aug. 13.
Sahar Francis, general director of rights group Addameer, said that while any release of prisoners is welcome, strict Israeli conditions on freed detainees undermine "hope" and "trust" in the peace process.
"Israel has showed it is putting conditions on prisoner releases and the US supports these conditions. Prisoners held before 1993 should have been released 20 years ago, and not today," she told Ma'an.
Francis says that Israel restricts the freedom of movement of Palestinians freed as part of political agreements, with residents of East Jerusalem banned from visiting the West Bank or Gaza Strip following their release.
West Bank residents are banned from leaving their district for months, and in some cases up to a year, following a return to civilian life, while released prisoners are also prohibited from leaving the country for varying periods of time depending on their sentence, with some permanently banned.
Any involvement in political activities can be also grounds for rearrest and imprisonment by Israeli authorities.
"These practices show that the Israelis are not really seeking justice and a lasting peace with the Palestinians," Francis said.
"If the Israelis really had good intentions to end the conflict and grant Palestinians basic rights under international law they should release all Palestinian prisoners and stop arresting Palestinians in the occupied territories."
Israel treats Palestinians like 'terrorists'
In past prisoner releases, Israel has rearrested dozens of ex-detainees under Military Order 1651, which Francis says violates the most "basic rights" of Palestinian prisoners.
The order, which was implemented in 2009, allows for an Israeli military committee to sentence detainees to serve the remainder of their previous sentence under secret information not made available to lawyers.
Francis says the order was implemented by Israel to prepare "legally" for the release of prisoners which Israel would be reluctant to free and to impose conditions which would allow them to be rearrested in the future.
Israel has also violated international law by stipulating that freed detainees be deported to the Gaza Strip, or abroad, as part of the conditions of their release, Francis said.
Both Samer Issawi and Ayman Sharawna were rearrested by Israel under Military Order 1651 after being freed in the 2011 prisoner swap deal between Israel and Hamas, with Sharawna eventually deported to Gaza for 10 years after agreeing to end hunger strike action.
Hana Shalabi was also rearrested under the military order and subsequently deported to Gaza for three years under the conditions of her release.
These new procedures represent "serious violations" of human rights and prove that the Palestinian community can see little hope in the future of the peace process, Francis says.
Furthermore, Israel continues its policy of daily arrests in the occupied West Bank, which has increased in recent months, and has never committed to stopping the mass arrest of Palestinians while negotiations are taking place, Francis says.
"Israel recognizes Palestinians as terrorists and not as people seeking their independence and self determination, and this makes the whole difference in the treatment of prisoners in the political channel."
"We are happy that these 26 prisoners who spent years of their life in jail are being freed, of course the sadness is in thinking of the remaining 5,000 prisoners who are suffering behind bars."
The leadership of Hamas captives in Israeli jails said that prisoners decided to boycott prison clinics on Tuesday in protest at the deliberate policy of medical neglect exercised against them. The captive movement told Ahrar center for prisoner studies and human rights on Monday that it decided to launch a number of protest steps against this policy starting with Tuesday.
It said that the step would be a preliminary one and that other escalatory steps might be adopted in the event this first message was not heeded.
Fuad Al-Khafsh, the director of Ahrar, said that the prisoners’ demands include releasing all cancer patients, providing an ambulance to transfer sick detainees instead of the prison’s vehicle, accelerating surgeries for those in need of them, allowing doctors from outside prison to check on the prisoners and holding periodical check-ups on prisoners.
Khafsh urged human rights groups and international organizations concerned with rights of prisoners to back the Palestinian prisoners in their just demands.
It said that the step would be a preliminary one and that other escalatory steps might be adopted in the event this first message was not heeded.
Fuad Al-Khafsh, the director of Ahrar, said that the prisoners’ demands include releasing all cancer patients, providing an ambulance to transfer sick detainees instead of the prison’s vehicle, accelerating surgeries for those in need of them, allowing doctors from outside prison to check on the prisoners and holding periodical check-ups on prisoners.
Khafsh urged human rights groups and international organizations concerned with rights of prisoners to back the Palestinian prisoners in their just demands.
The London-based Arab organization for human rights (AOHR) demanded the UN to provide protection for the Palestinian prisoners, who suffer from daily violations by Israeli jailers. In a brief report on Israel's violations against the Palestinian prisoners during 2013, the Arab organization stressed the need for urging the UN to take action in favor of the Palestinian detainees and pressure Israel to recognize them as prisoners of war.
"The UN has to form a fact-finding committee in order to visit the Israeli jails and see how the prisoners live there and the daily violations they are exposed to, and it has to work on improving their incarceration conditions and ending all violations committed against them," the organization underlined.
"The UN has to form a fact-finding committee in order to visit the Israeli jails and see how the prisoners live there and the daily violations they are exposed to, and it has to work on improving their incarceration conditions and ending all violations committed against them," the organization underlined.
Israeli soldiers on Sunday brutally attacked a Palestinian workman from Beit Ummar town as he was on his way to his workplace, while others kidnapped a young man at the entrance to Beit Ummar town, north of Al-Khalil city. Mohamed Awad, a spokesman for the popular committee against the wall and settlement activities, said that Israeli soldiers brutally beat Mahmoud Alami, 22, as he was walking along with other fellow workmen to his workplace in Harjiya area near Wad Foqin town and occupied Jerusalem.
Awad added that the soldiers took Alami on their military jeep and then dumped him in the Tunnel area to the north of Bethehem before Palestinians on a Red Cross vehicle spotted him and took him to Al-Hussein hospital in Beit Jala.
He noted that the workman suffered serious bruises and fractures in different areas of his body.
In a separate incident, eyewitnesses reported that the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) kidnapped yesterday a young man identified as Khalil Abu Mariya, 27, at the entrance to Beit Ummar town and took him to the nearby military post of Etzion.
The IOF also broke into and ransacked on Sunday evening the house of ex-detainee Ayman Sharawna, who was exiled to Gaza after his release.
The raid on his house took place immediately after the Israeli intelligence summoned his brother Jihad for interrogation and detained him in Gush Etzion detention center.
Awad added that the soldiers took Alami on their military jeep and then dumped him in the Tunnel area to the north of Bethehem before Palestinians on a Red Cross vehicle spotted him and took him to Al-Hussein hospital in Beit Jala.
He noted that the workman suffered serious bruises and fractures in different areas of his body.
In a separate incident, eyewitnesses reported that the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) kidnapped yesterday a young man identified as Khalil Abu Mariya, 27, at the entrance to Beit Ummar town and took him to the nearby military post of Etzion.
The IOF also broke into and ransacked on Sunday evening the house of ex-detainee Ayman Sharawna, who was exiled to Gaza after his release.
The raid on his house took place immediately after the Israeli intelligence summoned his brother Jihad for interrogation and detained him in Gush Etzion detention center.
Israeli forces assaulted a man from Bethlehem on Monday while detaining a family member, locals said.
Israeli soldiers detained 22-year-old university student Hasan Atif al-Kamil in the Wadi Maali neighborhood of Bethlehem at dawn on Monday, relatives told Ma'an.
The soldiers confiscated al-Kamil's computer during the raid.
Israeli forces assaulted al-Kamil's uncle Ahid during the arrest, leaving him with a fractured hand. He was taken to the Arab hospital in Beit Jala for treatment.
Days earlier, Israeli forces arrested another family member, Hamza al-Kamil.
Israeli soldiers detained 22-year-old university student Hasan Atif al-Kamil in the Wadi Maali neighborhood of Bethlehem at dawn on Monday, relatives told Ma'an.
The soldiers confiscated al-Kamil's computer during the raid.
Israeli forces assaulted al-Kamil's uncle Ahid during the arrest, leaving him with a fractured hand. He was taken to the Arab hospital in Beit Jala for treatment.
Days earlier, Israeli forces arrested another family member, Hamza al-Kamil.
Israeli forces detained nine Palestinians in the Hebron district overnight Sunday, locals and Israel's army said.
Israeli forces raided two homes in Hebron and detained Nidal and Rajih al-Juneidi, witnesses told Ma'an. Raed Ali Zuhur was arrested in Beit Kahil, Khalil Sabarnah in Beit Ummar and Jihad Sharawnah in Deir Samit.
Zuhur and Nidal and Rajih al-Juneidi are affiliated to the Islamic Jihad movement, locals said.
Sharawnah was detained after Israeli military and intelligence officers raided and searched his home before taking him to an unknown location.
An Israeli army spokeswoman said nine Palestinians were detained overnight, three in Hebron, two in Jenin, one in Nablus, one in Ramallah, one in Tulkarem and one in Beit Ummar.
Israeli military forces routinely arrest Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, usually on the pretext of security questioning.
Israeli forces raided two homes in Hebron and detained Nidal and Rajih al-Juneidi, witnesses told Ma'an. Raed Ali Zuhur was arrested in Beit Kahil, Khalil Sabarnah in Beit Ummar and Jihad Sharawnah in Deir Samit.
Zuhur and Nidal and Rajih al-Juneidi are affiliated to the Islamic Jihad movement, locals said.
Sharawnah was detained after Israeli military and intelligence officers raided and searched his home before taking him to an unknown location.
An Israeli army spokeswoman said nine Palestinians were detained overnight, three in Hebron, two in Jenin, one in Nablus, one in Ramallah, one in Tulkarem and one in Beit Ummar.
Israeli military forces routinely arrest Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, usually on the pretext of security questioning.
Israel will be releasing on Monday [December 30 2013] 26 veteran Palestinian detainees who have been held since before the first Oslo agreement of 1993.
The detainees will be released by midnight; Israel is currently finalizing paperwork and some medical tests before the release.
This would mark the implementation of the third phase of releasing all veteran detainees as part of direct political talks between Tel Aviv and Ramallah.
A week ago, the special Israeli committee, in charge of the release, determined the names of the 26 detainees, and published them to grant the Israelis the chance to file appeals.
The fourth and final stage of releasing veteran detainees will be conducted on March 28, 2014. In total 104 veteran detainees will be freed.
During the first and second phases, Israel released, back in mid-August 26 veteran detainees (14 from Gaza and 12 from the West bank), and in late October it released 26 veteran detainees (21 from Gaza and 5 from the West Bank).
The release is part of an American-mediated directs peace talks were resumed, back in July this year.
Israeli fundamentalist legislators and officials tried to block the release, and called for voiding it.
In a recent report, the Census Department of the Palestinian Ministry of Detainees published its annual report stating that Israeli soldiers kidnapped, this year, 3874 Palestinians, including 931 children.
The Census Department said that 1975 of the kidnapped are between the ages of 18 and 30 (%51 of the total number of kidnapped Palestinians), the number includes 931 children (% 24) below the age of 18.
The detainees will be released by midnight; Israel is currently finalizing paperwork and some medical tests before the release.
This would mark the implementation of the third phase of releasing all veteran detainees as part of direct political talks between Tel Aviv and Ramallah.
A week ago, the special Israeli committee, in charge of the release, determined the names of the 26 detainees, and published them to grant the Israelis the chance to file appeals.
The fourth and final stage of releasing veteran detainees will be conducted on March 28, 2014. In total 104 veteran detainees will be freed.
During the first and second phases, Israel released, back in mid-August 26 veteran detainees (14 from Gaza and 12 from the West bank), and in late October it released 26 veteran detainees (21 from Gaza and 5 from the West Bank).
The release is part of an American-mediated directs peace talks were resumed, back in July this year.
Israeli fundamentalist legislators and officials tried to block the release, and called for voiding it.
In a recent report, the Census Department of the Palestinian Ministry of Detainees published its annual report stating that Israeli soldiers kidnapped, this year, 3874 Palestinians, including 931 children.
The Census Department said that 1975 of the kidnapped are between the ages of 18 and 30 (%51 of the total number of kidnapped Palestinians), the number includes 931 children (% 24) below the age of 18.
29 dec 2013
Jamal Shukair, 54
Magistrate Court judge issued a ruling to release a Jerusalem citizen on bail, provided that he relocates from his town Silwan, and is put under house arrest, local media reported.
Jamal Shukair, 54, said Israeli police arrested him on Wednesday while asking for a permit to visit his two sons held in Be'er el-Saba and Eshel prison allegedly for trying to get a phone memory card into prison.
He explained that "when searched before being allowed to visit his two sons, Israeli soldiers found a memory card in my coat," adding that the prison wardens didn't believe that the card doesn't work and that I forgot having a memory card in my coat pocket.
"The wardens shouted and drew insults at me, and turned away my wife and sons, then they called the police to arrest me," he said.
"The police put me in custody for 24 hours, and presented me on Thursday before the judge, who ordered my detention for one more day, and that my memory card being checked," he added.
"On Saturday, the judge ordered my release on conditions: to pay a bail of 1,500 NIS, be put under house arrest, be deported from outside my town Silwan to Ras al-Amud neighborhood until Monday, and be banned from visiting my sons for 180 days,"
The court also decided that a third party guarantee my commitment to these conditions, he confirmed.
Magistrate Court judge issued a ruling to release a Jerusalem citizen on bail, provided that he relocates from his town Silwan, and is put under house arrest, local media reported.
Jamal Shukair, 54, said Israeli police arrested him on Wednesday while asking for a permit to visit his two sons held in Be'er el-Saba and Eshel prison allegedly for trying to get a phone memory card into prison.
He explained that "when searched before being allowed to visit his two sons, Israeli soldiers found a memory card in my coat," adding that the prison wardens didn't believe that the card doesn't work and that I forgot having a memory card in my coat pocket.
"The wardens shouted and drew insults at me, and turned away my wife and sons, then they called the police to arrest me," he said.
"The police put me in custody for 24 hours, and presented me on Thursday before the judge, who ordered my detention for one more day, and that my memory card being checked," he added.
"On Saturday, the judge ordered my release on conditions: to pay a bail of 1,500 NIS, be put under house arrest, be deported from outside my town Silwan to Ras al-Amud neighborhood until Monday, and be banned from visiting my sons for 180 days,"
The court also decided that a third party guarantee my commitment to these conditions, he confirmed.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) kidnapped at dawn Sunday four Palestinian citizens during raids on homes in different West Bank areas, and another one during violent clashes yesterday in occupied Jerusalem. Eyewitnesses reported that the Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces at an early hour today evacuated the roads for the IOF during their campaign in Bireh city, near Ramallah.
They added that the IOF kidnapped two Palestinian citizens from their homes in the city.
In Al-Khalil, the IOF kidnapped, in coordination with the PA security forces, two Palestinians from their homes during violent raids in different neighborhoods, according to local sources.
They explained that the invading troops raided the neighborhoods of Tal'ah Abu Hadid and Abu Sunaina, different areas of the Old City and the southern districts of Al-Khalil and ransacked several homes before they kidnapped a citizen identified as Mutaz Wezwez.
Another citizen named Khalil Abu Mariya was also taken prisoner during violent IOF raids on homes in Beit Ummar town to the north of Al-Khalil city.
In an earlier incident, the IOF detained a young man during clashes yesterday evening in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem.
Eyewitnesses said that Israeli policemen and soldiers used batons to disperse a number of angry young men, who responded by throwing stones and empty bottles.
They added that the troops also attacked passersby during the events in the Old City.
They added that the IOF kidnapped two Palestinian citizens from their homes in the city.
In Al-Khalil, the IOF kidnapped, in coordination with the PA security forces, two Palestinians from their homes during violent raids in different neighborhoods, according to local sources.
They explained that the invading troops raided the neighborhoods of Tal'ah Abu Hadid and Abu Sunaina, different areas of the Old City and the southern districts of Al-Khalil and ransacked several homes before they kidnapped a citizen identified as Mutaz Wezwez.
Another citizen named Khalil Abu Mariya was also taken prisoner during violent IOF raids on homes in Beit Ummar town to the north of Al-Khalil city.
In an earlier incident, the IOF detained a young man during clashes yesterday evening in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem.
Eyewitnesses said that Israeli policemen and soldiers used batons to disperse a number of angry young men, who responded by throwing stones and empty bottles.
They added that the troops also attacked passersby during the events in the Old City.
The Israeli prison service published Saturday night on its website a list of 26 veteran Palestinian prisoners slated to be released Monday as a third group of prisoners who have been detained before the Oslo Accords of 1994.
1. Adnan Yusuf Muhammad al-Afandi
2. Ahmad Shehadah Farid Shehadah
3. Ramadan Udah Muhammad Yaqub
4. Muhammad Ahmad Mustafa Afanah
5. Faysal Mahmoud Mustafa Abu al-Rub
6. Ahmad Ali Awad Kamil
7. Bilal Mustafa Ibrahim Damrah
8. Jamal Ibrahim Khalid Abu Muhsin
9. Said Muhammad Rushdi Tamimi
10. Osama Kamil Khalid Silawi
11. Mukhlis Abdul-Raziq Sidqi Sawaftah
12. Nasser Mustafa Fawzi Barham
13. Nuaman Ahmad Yusuf al-Shalabi
14. Ayman Anees Muhammad Jaradat
15. Naim Muhammad Yunus Shawamrah
16. Salman Muhammad Mahmoud
17. Jamal Ibrahim Ahmad Abu Jamal
18. Ibrahim Mahmoud Fayiz Abu Aliu
19. Rami Zaki Jawdat Barbakh
20. Ahmad Mustafa Jumaa Khalaf
21. Bilal Yusuf Ahmad Abu Hussein
22. Yasin Muhammad Abu Khdeir
23. Mahmoud Muhammad Nofal Daajnah
24. Ibrahim Ahmad Khalil Salah
25. Mahmoud Ata Muaammar
26. Ibrahim Hilmi Lutfi Taqtuq
Ofir Gendelman, a spokesman of for the Israeli prime minister’s office, said the prisoners would be released at least 48 hours after the list had been made public.
He reiterated that an Israeli ministerial committee which ratified the list stressed that if released prisoners resume “aggressive attacks” they will be sent back to jail and serve their original sentences.
Ahead of the announcement, Israeli military radio said that Israel planned to announce the construction of 1,400 new settlement homes in the occupied West Bank to coincide with the release.
Israel agreed to release 104 veteran Palestinian prisoners who have been in custody since before the 1993 Oslo Accords as part of a plan to resume peace negotiations after talks were halted for more than two years.
The release of two dozen Palestinian prisoners on Dec. 29 is the third part of that four-stage deal, and Israel has already released 52 prisoners in two previous rounds.
The last batch are expected to be released in March 2014.
1. Adnan Yusuf Muhammad al-Afandi
2. Ahmad Shehadah Farid Shehadah
3. Ramadan Udah Muhammad Yaqub
4. Muhammad Ahmad Mustafa Afanah
5. Faysal Mahmoud Mustafa Abu al-Rub
6. Ahmad Ali Awad Kamil
7. Bilal Mustafa Ibrahim Damrah
8. Jamal Ibrahim Khalid Abu Muhsin
9. Said Muhammad Rushdi Tamimi
10. Osama Kamil Khalid Silawi
11. Mukhlis Abdul-Raziq Sidqi Sawaftah
12. Nasser Mustafa Fawzi Barham
13. Nuaman Ahmad Yusuf al-Shalabi
14. Ayman Anees Muhammad Jaradat
15. Naim Muhammad Yunus Shawamrah
16. Salman Muhammad Mahmoud
17. Jamal Ibrahim Ahmad Abu Jamal
18. Ibrahim Mahmoud Fayiz Abu Aliu
19. Rami Zaki Jawdat Barbakh
20. Ahmad Mustafa Jumaa Khalaf
21. Bilal Yusuf Ahmad Abu Hussein
22. Yasin Muhammad Abu Khdeir
23. Mahmoud Muhammad Nofal Daajnah
24. Ibrahim Ahmad Khalil Salah
25. Mahmoud Ata Muaammar
26. Ibrahim Hilmi Lutfi Taqtuq
Ofir Gendelman, a spokesman of for the Israeli prime minister’s office, said the prisoners would be released at least 48 hours after the list had been made public.
He reiterated that an Israeli ministerial committee which ratified the list stressed that if released prisoners resume “aggressive attacks” they will be sent back to jail and serve their original sentences.
Ahead of the announcement, Israeli military radio said that Israel planned to announce the construction of 1,400 new settlement homes in the occupied West Bank to coincide with the release.
Israel agreed to release 104 veteran Palestinian prisoners who have been in custody since before the 1993 Oslo Accords as part of a plan to resume peace negotiations after talks were halted for more than two years.
The release of two dozen Palestinian prisoners on Dec. 29 is the third part of that four-stage deal, and Israel has already released 52 prisoners in two previous rounds.
The last batch are expected to be released in March 2014.
28 dec 2013
The Israeli police released on Saturday night three minors from the old city of Jerusalem with a bail, house arrest and isolation from Al-Aqsa conditions.
Wadi Hilweh Information Center was informed that the police arrested on Friday afternoon the children Hussam Ghneim, Saeed Nurein and Mohammad Abu Sbeih while being near Lions Gate –one of Al-Aqsa gates- and accused them of throwing stones.
The Magistrate court judge decided to release them on Saturday night with a bail of 500 NIS and signing a third party bail in addition to house arrest for 3 days and isolation from Al-Aqsa for 12 days.
Wadi Hilweh Information Center was informed that the police arrested on Friday afternoon the children Hussam Ghneim, Saeed Nurein and Mohammad Abu Sbeih while being near Lions Gate –one of Al-Aqsa gates- and accused them of throwing stones.
The Magistrate court judge decided to release them on Saturday night with a bail of 500 NIS and signing a third party bail in addition to house arrest for 3 days and isolation from Al-Aqsa for 12 days.
Israel has extended the house arrest of a mentally challenged Palestinian who has been under home confinement for four months, relatives said.
Ahmad Dawuod Obeid, 19, was beaten and arrested in August by undercover Israeli forces in al-Issawiya near Jerusalem.
Obeid was in court several times and was charged with throwing rocks at Israeli forces until he was released on bail on the condition of remaining under house arrest.
Obeid’s father said his son’s mental and psychological condition is worsening each day.
“We prevent him from leaving the house in order not to be re-arrested. He has become neurotic, he does not eat, he is difficult, and despite his condition the occupation insisted to arrest and try him.”
The father added: “He does not know what a police officer, a court, or house arrest are. These terms are above his mental capacity.”
The teenager's father added that he showed the courts paperwork proving his mental condition, but a court-appointed psychiatrist said he had no disabilities.
Addameer prisoners’ group lawyer Mohammad Mahmoud said that the detention of his client was extended until March 6, 2014 in order to assess him again.
“Ahmad Obeid suffers from mental disabilities, he is a mute, and he was recently presented to a court psychiatrist who said in his report that Ahmad Obeid is sane, and has no mental or psychological condition to prevent his trial,” Mahmoud added.
Ahmad Dawuod Obeid, 19, was beaten and arrested in August by undercover Israeli forces in al-Issawiya near Jerusalem.
Obeid was in court several times and was charged with throwing rocks at Israeli forces until he was released on bail on the condition of remaining under house arrest.
Obeid’s father said his son’s mental and psychological condition is worsening each day.
“We prevent him from leaving the house in order not to be re-arrested. He has become neurotic, he does not eat, he is difficult, and despite his condition the occupation insisted to arrest and try him.”
The father added: “He does not know what a police officer, a court, or house arrest are. These terms are above his mental capacity.”
The teenager's father added that he showed the courts paperwork proving his mental condition, but a court-appointed psychiatrist said he had no disabilities.
Addameer prisoners’ group lawyer Mohammad Mahmoud said that the detention of his client was extended until March 6, 2014 in order to assess him again.
“Ahmad Obeid suffers from mental disabilities, he is a mute, and he was recently presented to a court psychiatrist who said in his report that Ahmad Obeid is sane, and has no mental or psychological condition to prevent his trial,” Mahmoud added.
Dozens of Israeli soldiers deployed on Saturday afternoon at the entrances to the Issawiya town in occupied Jerusalem hours before a public rally in celebration of the release of Samer al-Issawi takes place. Local media reported that the event will be held in occupied east Jerusalem near Samer al-Issawi's home under the slogan "Unity and Victory Celebration".
More than 50 Israeli military vehicles have been stationed at the entrance to the town near the Ma'aleh Adumim colonial settlement, locals said, adding that all vehicles heading to town are stopped and checked by the Israeli soldiers.
Sister of ex-detainee Issawi called on her facebook page for participating in the "Unity and Victory" rally in celebration of "the triumph of Samer Issawi and his freedom from the Israeli occupation jails on Saturday at 2:00 pm.
It is expected that the rally attract a large turnout of Palestinians coming from pre-1948 Palestine territories.
Issawi earned his freedom on December 23, having fought an 'empty stomach battle' with his 270 days of hunger strike.
With his strike, he protested Israel's detaining of him without a charge, and rejected an Israeli proposal to exile him in return for his release, among other offers.
More than 50 Israeli military vehicles have been stationed at the entrance to the town near the Ma'aleh Adumim colonial settlement, locals said, adding that all vehicles heading to town are stopped and checked by the Israeli soldiers.
Sister of ex-detainee Issawi called on her facebook page for participating in the "Unity and Victory" rally in celebration of "the triumph of Samer Issawi and his freedom from the Israeli occupation jails on Saturday at 2:00 pm.
It is expected that the rally attract a large turnout of Palestinians coming from pre-1948 Palestine territories.
Issawi earned his freedom on December 23, having fought an 'empty stomach battle' with his 270 days of hunger strike.
With his strike, he protested Israel's detaining of him without a charge, and rejected an Israeli proposal to exile him in return for his release, among other offers.
The family of captive Mohammed Furaihat from the town of Yamoun, west of Jenin, said the Negev prison administration has been procrastinating in providing proper treatment to Muhammad who broke his leg twenty days ago. The family said that the prison administration has refused to transfer Muhammad, 33, by ambulance to Ramla hospital and refused to splint his broken leg inside the jail.
The captive refused to go to hospital by a vehicle used to transfer prisoners from one jail to another, as this would aggravate his pains.
Furaihat family added that Muhammad stayed in bed 20 days, which eased his pains. He accepted to be transferred to Ramle hospital even without ambulance. Four days ago he underwent an x-ray examination, and returned to the Negev prison waiting to receive treatment amid the procrastination of the prison administration.
The captive refused to go to hospital by a vehicle used to transfer prisoners from one jail to another, as this would aggravate his pains.
Furaihat family added that Muhammad stayed in bed 20 days, which eased his pains. He accepted to be transferred to Ramle hospital even without ambulance. Four days ago he underwent an x-ray examination, and returned to the Negev prison waiting to receive treatment amid the procrastination of the prison administration.
On the 5th anniversary of the Israeli war on Gaza, UFree Network issued on Friday 27th December 2013, a new report about Palestinian political prisoners and detainees from the Gaza Strip, as follows:
Introduction:
Since 1967 the Israeli occupation arrested more than 700,000 Palestinians, 250,000 of whom were residents of the Gaza Strip making up 35% of all arrests, a high percentage considering the small size of the Strip, and the small population compared to the number of Palestinians in the West Bank and 1948 occupied Palestine.
Numbers today:
By the end of October 2013 around 4,996 Palestinian political prisoners and detainees and prisoners in Israeli jails, 386 from the Gaza Strip. Amongst them who have been in detention for over 25 years. Prisoners from Gaza are often in ill health, isolation and have life sentences, as well as other prisoners who although their sentences have ended but still in detention which comes under the 'Unlawful Combatant' Law.
What is noteworthy is that the Israeli occupation adds to the total systematic violations against Palestinian political prisoners and detainees, three additional violations specific and dedicated against prisoners from the Gaza Stip.
Gazan detainees have been prevented from receiving visits from family members from July 2007 until May 2012 after Gilad Shalit swap deal.They also face insistence that they be treated according to 'Unlawful Combatant' laws. In addition, tens of Gazans are abducted due to Israeli invasions and detained without charge under the pretext of crossing the boarders of the land and sea blockade imposed upon the Strip seven years ago.
Collective Punishment Policy:
Since the capture of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2006 by Palestinian faction groups, Israel imposed a collective punishment policy against Palestinian political prisoners and detainees. Gazan prisoners were also victims of this policy as the occupation approved in July 2007 a legislation that would ban prisoners from the Gaza Strip from receiving any visits from their relatives and loved ones.
More than two thousand Gazan prisoners were affected since the enforcement of this law in 2007, while number of them still suffer this ban.
This move has seen a lot of condemnation and denunciation from Palestinian and International organisations and bodies which all called for real pressure to be exerted upon Israel to end such blatant violations of prisoner rights. Such violations contradict entirely with the Fourth Geneva Convention where it is clearly stated in Article number (116) that prisoners have the right to be periodically and routinely visited at least once every two months. Human rights activists also regarded the Israeli occupation's insistence to impose collective punishment policies as ones that would further establish Israel's image as a racist entity which still employs
The 'Unlawful Combatant' Law an Illegitimate Law:
In 2002, the Israeli occupation authorities enacted the 'Unlawful Combatant' law in an attempt to give false legitimacy to its repressive practices against prisoners, and to evade any legal accountability for stripping them of their legal and humanitarian rights.
The law defines unlawful combatants as 'persons acting against the security of Israel', a loose definition which the occupation authorities made to be used as a pretext against Palestinian prisoners whenever it wanted.
The law gives the Israeli army broad powers to arrest and indict Palestinian citizens for indefinite periods without filing an indictment or presenting evidence of conviction before the courts, and of course without the detainee or his lawyers knowing the reason for the arrest.
The Israeli occupation had stepped up the use of this law against the people of the Gaza Strip since 2007 when it declared Gaza as 'hostile entity', and started treating detainees on the basis of this law and not as 'prisoners of war'. This is a fact that human rights activists consider an evasion of international humanitarian laws where the occupation escapes from legal accountabilities with respect to the rights of these detainees. This presents clear evidence of Israeli violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The Fourth Geneva Convention confirms under articles 66, 71, 72, 73 and 74 the right of a detainee to receive a fair trial before an independent body, as well as his/her rights to be informed of the charges against him/her and to defend or assign a lawyer to defend him/her. Israel absolutely violates this through its enforcement of the 'Unlawful Combatant' law.
Through monitoring of these violations under the pretext of the new law, it was found that 15 prisoners were arrested and dealt with according to this law during the war on Gaza in late 2008. It should be noted that this figure is that of documented cases only and that the occupation often conceals the true figures for such cases.
By mid of 2011, 6 prisoners from the Gaza Strip had completed their sentences but remained imprisoned under the excuse that they were unlawful combatants, another violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention which states in articles 132 and 134 that prisoners have the right to be freed immediately after his/her sentence finishes.
Frequent kidnapping of fishermen:
The Oslo Peace agreement that was signed between the Palestinian Authority and Israel states that Palestinian fishermen are permitted the sail to a depth of 20 miles from the shores of Gaza. The Israeli occupation did not commit to this agreement, and ever since the agreement was signed began reducing the sailing distance stipulated by the agreement.
Today, Israeli forces do not permit Gazan fishermen from sailing a distance of more than 3 miles, although the minimum distance to make fishing possible is no less than 10 miles into the sea. Gaza's fishermen now constantly face shooting, shelling, raids on their boats and arrests from the Israeli naval forces. Seven fishermen were kidnapped by the occupation during January 2012 alone.
Introduction:
Since 1967 the Israeli occupation arrested more than 700,000 Palestinians, 250,000 of whom were residents of the Gaza Strip making up 35% of all arrests, a high percentage considering the small size of the Strip, and the small population compared to the number of Palestinians in the West Bank and 1948 occupied Palestine.
Numbers today:
By the end of October 2013 around 4,996 Palestinian political prisoners and detainees and prisoners in Israeli jails, 386 from the Gaza Strip. Amongst them who have been in detention for over 25 years. Prisoners from Gaza are often in ill health, isolation and have life sentences, as well as other prisoners who although their sentences have ended but still in detention which comes under the 'Unlawful Combatant' Law.
What is noteworthy is that the Israeli occupation adds to the total systematic violations against Palestinian political prisoners and detainees, three additional violations specific and dedicated against prisoners from the Gaza Stip.
Gazan detainees have been prevented from receiving visits from family members from July 2007 until May 2012 after Gilad Shalit swap deal.They also face insistence that they be treated according to 'Unlawful Combatant' laws. In addition, tens of Gazans are abducted due to Israeli invasions and detained without charge under the pretext of crossing the boarders of the land and sea blockade imposed upon the Strip seven years ago.
Collective Punishment Policy:
Since the capture of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2006 by Palestinian faction groups, Israel imposed a collective punishment policy against Palestinian political prisoners and detainees. Gazan prisoners were also victims of this policy as the occupation approved in July 2007 a legislation that would ban prisoners from the Gaza Strip from receiving any visits from their relatives and loved ones.
More than two thousand Gazan prisoners were affected since the enforcement of this law in 2007, while number of them still suffer this ban.
This move has seen a lot of condemnation and denunciation from Palestinian and International organisations and bodies which all called for real pressure to be exerted upon Israel to end such blatant violations of prisoner rights. Such violations contradict entirely with the Fourth Geneva Convention where it is clearly stated in Article number (116) that prisoners have the right to be periodically and routinely visited at least once every two months. Human rights activists also regarded the Israeli occupation's insistence to impose collective punishment policies as ones that would further establish Israel's image as a racist entity which still employs
The 'Unlawful Combatant' Law an Illegitimate Law:
In 2002, the Israeli occupation authorities enacted the 'Unlawful Combatant' law in an attempt to give false legitimacy to its repressive practices against prisoners, and to evade any legal accountability for stripping them of their legal and humanitarian rights.
The law defines unlawful combatants as 'persons acting against the security of Israel', a loose definition which the occupation authorities made to be used as a pretext against Palestinian prisoners whenever it wanted.
The law gives the Israeli army broad powers to arrest and indict Palestinian citizens for indefinite periods without filing an indictment or presenting evidence of conviction before the courts, and of course without the detainee or his lawyers knowing the reason for the arrest.
The Israeli occupation had stepped up the use of this law against the people of the Gaza Strip since 2007 when it declared Gaza as 'hostile entity', and started treating detainees on the basis of this law and not as 'prisoners of war'. This is a fact that human rights activists consider an evasion of international humanitarian laws where the occupation escapes from legal accountabilities with respect to the rights of these detainees. This presents clear evidence of Israeli violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The Fourth Geneva Convention confirms under articles 66, 71, 72, 73 and 74 the right of a detainee to receive a fair trial before an independent body, as well as his/her rights to be informed of the charges against him/her and to defend or assign a lawyer to defend him/her. Israel absolutely violates this through its enforcement of the 'Unlawful Combatant' law.
Through monitoring of these violations under the pretext of the new law, it was found that 15 prisoners were arrested and dealt with according to this law during the war on Gaza in late 2008. It should be noted that this figure is that of documented cases only and that the occupation often conceals the true figures for such cases.
By mid of 2011, 6 prisoners from the Gaza Strip had completed their sentences but remained imprisoned under the excuse that they were unlawful combatants, another violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention which states in articles 132 and 134 that prisoners have the right to be freed immediately after his/her sentence finishes.
Frequent kidnapping of fishermen:
The Oslo Peace agreement that was signed between the Palestinian Authority and Israel states that Palestinian fishermen are permitted the sail to a depth of 20 miles from the shores of Gaza. The Israeli occupation did not commit to this agreement, and ever since the agreement was signed began reducing the sailing distance stipulated by the agreement.
Today, Israeli forces do not permit Gazan fishermen from sailing a distance of more than 3 miles, although the minimum distance to make fishing possible is no less than 10 miles into the sea. Gaza's fishermen now constantly face shooting, shelling, raids on their boats and arrests from the Israeli naval forces. Seven fishermen were kidnapped by the occupation during January 2012 alone.
Official data showed that the arrests carried out by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) in 2013 mainly targeted Palestinian children and youths. Department of Statistics in Ramallah, in a report on Friday, showed that 75% of the detainees in 2013 were children under the age of 18 and young people between 18 and 30 years old.
The report said that the IOF arrested 3,874 Palestinians since the start of this year, including 1,975 young people (51% of the number of detainees) and 931 children from different areas in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem.
According to the report, the IOF detains Palestinian children under extremely difficult conditions, after breaking into their homes, terrorizing and attacking them.
The child prisoners held in the Israeli jails suffer from the most heinous forms of physical and psychological torture; they are deprived of eating and sleeping and are exposed to electric shocks and threats.
The report said that the IOF arrested 3,874 Palestinians since the start of this year, including 1,975 young people (51% of the number of detainees) and 931 children from different areas in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem.
According to the report, the IOF detains Palestinian children under extremely difficult conditions, after breaking into their homes, terrorizing and attacking them.
The child prisoners held in the Israeli jails suffer from the most heinous forms of physical and psychological torture; they are deprived of eating and sleeping and are exposed to electric shocks and threats.
Sick Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails have threatened to start a hunger strike protesting their dire health conditions in custody, the Palestinian Authority's prisoners' society said.
In a letter smuggled out of Israel's Eshel prison, prisoners wrote on behalf of all sick Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody, appealing to the Palestinian people and leaders for support.
If both Palestinian officials and average citizens are unable to improve the situation for such prisoners, the letter said, the prisoners will start a hunger strike in attempt to take the situation into their own hands.
The letter held Palestinian citizens and officials, in addition to the Israeli prison service, responsible for the conditions in Israeli jails.
"If this letter doesn't touch your hearts and minds and provoke actions, we will have to ... obtain our freedom by force. At that point, lots of us will fall martyrs and we will hold both the prison service and you responsible."
Over 5,200 Palestinians are being held in Israeli jails according to the Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Prisoners' Affairs.
Since 1967, more than 650,000 Palestinians have been detained by Israel, representing 20 percent of the total population and 40 percent of all males in the occupied territories.
Under international law, it is illegal to transfer prisoners outside of the occupied territory in which they are detained, and the families of Palestinian prisoners' face many obstacles in obtaining permits to see their imprisoned relatives.
The internationally recognized Palestinian territories of which the West Bank and East Jerusalem form a part have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
In a letter smuggled out of Israel's Eshel prison, prisoners wrote on behalf of all sick Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody, appealing to the Palestinian people and leaders for support.
If both Palestinian officials and average citizens are unable to improve the situation for such prisoners, the letter said, the prisoners will start a hunger strike in attempt to take the situation into their own hands.
The letter held Palestinian citizens and officials, in addition to the Israeli prison service, responsible for the conditions in Israeli jails.
"If this letter doesn't touch your hearts and minds and provoke actions, we will have to ... obtain our freedom by force. At that point, lots of us will fall martyrs and we will hold both the prison service and you responsible."
Over 5,200 Palestinians are being held in Israeli jails according to the Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Prisoners' Affairs.
Since 1967, more than 650,000 Palestinians have been detained by Israel, representing 20 percent of the total population and 40 percent of all males in the occupied territories.
Under international law, it is illegal to transfer prisoners outside of the occupied territory in which they are detained, and the families of Palestinian prisoners' face many obstacles in obtaining permits to see their imprisoned relatives.
The internationally recognized Palestinian territories of which the West Bank and East Jerusalem form a part have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
Dozens of Israeli soldiers invaded Saff Street, in the center of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, breaking into and searching several homes, and kidnapping four Palestinians.
Radio Bethlehem 2000 has reported that more than 15 Israeli military vehicles invaded the area, firing rounds of live ammunition, concussion grenades and gas bombs, and broke into the home of resident Nidal Souman, a political leader of the Islamic Jihad.
It added that soldiers kidnapped Omar Sami Al-Hreimy, 45, his son Sami, 20, Abdul-Salam Sumaan, 45, and his son Nidal.
Clashes took place between the invading soldiers and local youth, who threw stones and empty bottles at them, while the army fired gas bombs and concussion grenades before withdrawing from the city.
Medical sources said that several Palestinians suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation and received treatment by local medics.
On Thursday, soldiers also invaded Bethlehem and kidnapped six Palestinians, after violently breaking into their homes and searching them.
In related news, the Census Department of the Palestinian Ministry of Detainees published a report revealing that Israeli soldiers kidnapped 3,874 Palestinians in 2013, including hundreds of children.
The ministry said that among the kidnapped were 1975 men, ages 18-30, and 931 children.
Radio Bethlehem 2000 has reported that more than 15 Israeli military vehicles invaded the area, firing rounds of live ammunition, concussion grenades and gas bombs, and broke into the home of resident Nidal Souman, a political leader of the Islamic Jihad.
It added that soldiers kidnapped Omar Sami Al-Hreimy, 45, his son Sami, 20, Abdul-Salam Sumaan, 45, and his son Nidal.
Clashes took place between the invading soldiers and local youth, who threw stones and empty bottles at them, while the army fired gas bombs and concussion grenades before withdrawing from the city.
Medical sources said that several Palestinians suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation and received treatment by local medics.
On Thursday, soldiers also invaded Bethlehem and kidnapped six Palestinians, after violently breaking into their homes and searching them.
In related news, the Census Department of the Palestinian Ministry of Detainees published a report revealing that Israeli soldiers kidnapped 3,874 Palestinians in 2013, including hundreds of children.
The ministry said that among the kidnapped were 1975 men, ages 18-30, and 931 children.
Palestinian medical sources have reported that several residents have been wounded during clashes with Israeli soldiers invading the towns of Al-Ezariyya, Abu Dis, Anata and Ar-Ram, in occupied Jerusalem. Soldiers also kidnapped three children in Jerusalem’s Old City.
The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) has reported that dozens of soldiers invaded the Qabsa area, in Al-Ezariyya town, and clashed with local youths who threw stones at them.
Several residents suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation and received treatment by local medics.
Qabsa junction witnesses weekly protests against the annexation wall which separated the residents from their mother city, occupied Jerusalem, and their lands.
Furthermore, clashes took place at the northern entrance of Anata town, after the soldiers tried to invade it.
The army fired rubber-coated metal bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades, leading to several injuries.
Several residents were also wounded, mainly due to effects of tear gas inhalation, at the main entrance of Al-Ram town; all were moved to local clinics.
Also on Friday evening, soldiers kidnapped three Palestinian children in the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem.
Resident Safa’ Noureen told WAFA that the soldiers kidnapped her brother, Sa’id, in addition to Mohammad Abu Sbeih and Husam Ghneim.
She added that the army took the kidnapped Palestinians to Al-Qashla Police Station, near the Hebron Gate.
The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) has reported that dozens of soldiers invaded the Qabsa area, in Al-Ezariyya town, and clashed with local youths who threw stones at them.
Several residents suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation and received treatment by local medics.
Qabsa junction witnesses weekly protests against the annexation wall which separated the residents from their mother city, occupied Jerusalem, and their lands.
Furthermore, clashes took place at the northern entrance of Anata town, after the soldiers tried to invade it.
The army fired rubber-coated metal bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades, leading to several injuries.
Several residents were also wounded, mainly due to effects of tear gas inhalation, at the main entrance of Al-Ram town; all were moved to local clinics.
Also on Friday evening, soldiers kidnapped three Palestinian children in the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem.
Resident Safa’ Noureen told WAFA that the soldiers kidnapped her brother, Sa’id, in addition to Mohammad Abu Sbeih and Husam Ghneim.
She added that the army took the kidnapped Palestinians to Al-Qashla Police Station, near the Hebron Gate.
The Census Department of the Palestinian Ministry of Detainee published its annual report stating that Israeli soldiers kidnapped, this year,3874 Palestinians, including 931 children. Four detainees died in 2013.
The Census Department said that 1975 of the kidnapped are between the ages of 18 and 30 (%51 of the total number of kidnapped Palestinians), and that 931 children (%24) below the age of 18 have also been kidnapped by the soldiers, this year.
Head of the Census Department, Abdul-Nasser Farawna, said that Israel deliberately targets young Palestinians, including children, because they are the core of the society, and its moving factor.
The former political prisoner added that Israel fears the Palestinian youths for their steadfastness and their persistence to achieve liberation and independence.
“This is why it escalates the arrests against them”, he said, “They are imprisoned, tortured, abused and intimated”.
He added that the 931 kidnapped children were taken prisoner from different parts of the occupied West Bank and occupied Jerusalem, and that the number indicates a %5.7 increase in the number of children kidnapped by the soldiers in 2012, and a %37.5 increase compared to 2011.
“The most serious violation is the fact that kidnapped children are beaten and tortured during interrogation”, Farawna stated, “They were humiliated, subjected to physical and emotional torture”.
He said that the suffering of all kidnapped Palestinians, especially the children, starts at the moment of their arrest, as dozens of heavily armed soldiers violently invade their homes, beat and kick them in front of their families. The violations also include assaulting family members.
“They are then cuffed, blindfolded and placed into military jeeps where they are often beaten again, before they are dragged to interrogation facilities in military camps or settlements”, Farawna added. “Under interrogation, they face the most cruel methods of torture and abuse, physical and emotional, while being verbally threatened, amidst threats to harm their families unless they provide information”.
There are currently 1,400 Palestinian detainees suffering with various health conditions, including 150 suffering with cancer, diabetes and other serious health conditions, and are not provided with urgently needed specialized medical attention and treatment.
This year alone, four Palestinian detainees died in Israeli prisons, with one dying shortly after his release, due to serious illness he suffered while in prison, and never being granted urgently needed medical attention.
The number of detainees who died in prison, either due to torture or to being shot by soldiers during and after their arrest, since 1967, currently stands at 204.
The latest casualties among the detainees are Maisara Abu Hamdiyya, 63, who died on April 2nd, 2013, and Arafat Jaradat, 20, who died on February 22, 2013.
Abu Hamdiyya had been suffering from a brain tumor, in addition to a fourth stage carcinoma in his lung, as well as lymphatic, liver, spine and throat cancer, which extended to his vocal cords.
Despite the seriousness of his condition, the Israeli Prison Administration did not grant Mr. Hamdiyya the urgently needed and specialized medical treatment until it was too late.
Detainee Arafat Jaradat died at the Mejeddo Israeli prison, seven days after his arrest; he was a healthy young man from Sa’ir town, in Hebron, and was tortured to death by Israeli interrogators.
Israel is currently holding captive 5,200 Palestinians in 17 prisons, detention camps and interrogation facilities across the region.
The number includes 250 children and 13 women, in addition to 13 democratically elected legislators.
The Census Department said that 1975 of the kidnapped are between the ages of 18 and 30 (%51 of the total number of kidnapped Palestinians), and that 931 children (%24) below the age of 18 have also been kidnapped by the soldiers, this year.
Head of the Census Department, Abdul-Nasser Farawna, said that Israel deliberately targets young Palestinians, including children, because they are the core of the society, and its moving factor.
The former political prisoner added that Israel fears the Palestinian youths for their steadfastness and their persistence to achieve liberation and independence.
“This is why it escalates the arrests against them”, he said, “They are imprisoned, tortured, abused and intimated”.
He added that the 931 kidnapped children were taken prisoner from different parts of the occupied West Bank and occupied Jerusalem, and that the number indicates a %5.7 increase in the number of children kidnapped by the soldiers in 2012, and a %37.5 increase compared to 2011.
“The most serious violation is the fact that kidnapped children are beaten and tortured during interrogation”, Farawna stated, “They were humiliated, subjected to physical and emotional torture”.
He said that the suffering of all kidnapped Palestinians, especially the children, starts at the moment of their arrest, as dozens of heavily armed soldiers violently invade their homes, beat and kick them in front of their families. The violations also include assaulting family members.
“They are then cuffed, blindfolded and placed into military jeeps where they are often beaten again, before they are dragged to interrogation facilities in military camps or settlements”, Farawna added. “Under interrogation, they face the most cruel methods of torture and abuse, physical and emotional, while being verbally threatened, amidst threats to harm their families unless they provide information”.
There are currently 1,400 Palestinian detainees suffering with various health conditions, including 150 suffering with cancer, diabetes and other serious health conditions, and are not provided with urgently needed specialized medical attention and treatment.
This year alone, four Palestinian detainees died in Israeli prisons, with one dying shortly after his release, due to serious illness he suffered while in prison, and never being granted urgently needed medical attention.
The number of detainees who died in prison, either due to torture or to being shot by soldiers during and after their arrest, since 1967, currently stands at 204.
The latest casualties among the detainees are Maisara Abu Hamdiyya, 63, who died on April 2nd, 2013, and Arafat Jaradat, 20, who died on February 22, 2013.
Abu Hamdiyya had been suffering from a brain tumor, in addition to a fourth stage carcinoma in his lung, as well as lymphatic, liver, spine and throat cancer, which extended to his vocal cords.
Despite the seriousness of his condition, the Israeli Prison Administration did not grant Mr. Hamdiyya the urgently needed and specialized medical treatment until it was too late.
Detainee Arafat Jaradat died at the Mejeddo Israeli prison, seven days after his arrest; he was a healthy young man from Sa’ir town, in Hebron, and was tortured to death by Israeli interrogators.
Israel is currently holding captive 5,200 Palestinians in 17 prisons, detention camps and interrogation facilities across the region.
The number includes 250 children and 13 women, in addition to 13 democratically elected legislators.
