25 dec 2012
IOF soldiers round up 15 West Bankers
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) rounded up 15 Palestinian citizens in various West Bank areas before dawn Tuesday.
Palestinian security sources said that big numbers of IOF soldiers stormed several cities and villages and searched many homes after forcing inhabitants out of them in the cold weather.
They said that damages were reported in those homes as a result of the IOF savage search methods.
Meanwhile, locals in occupied Jerusalem said that IOF soldiers arrested a number of children and young men in Alezariye town.
Three young men were also detained in Al-Issawiye in the latest such arrests in lines of its inhabitants. More than 30 young men were detained in the village over the past week amidst daily storming of houses and deployment of troops in and around it.
The IOF said that the arrests were made in cooperation with the border police to ward off “terrorist activity” in the village.
Palestinian security sources said that big numbers of IOF soldiers stormed several cities and villages and searched many homes after forcing inhabitants out of them in the cold weather.
They said that damages were reported in those homes as a result of the IOF savage search methods.
Meanwhile, locals in occupied Jerusalem said that IOF soldiers arrested a number of children and young men in Alezariye town.
Three young men were also detained in Al-Issawiye in the latest such arrests in lines of its inhabitants. More than 30 young men were detained in the village over the past week amidst daily storming of houses and deployment of troops in and around it.
The IOF said that the arrests were made in cooperation with the border police to ward off “terrorist activity” in the village.
IOA decides to deprive prisoners from their university education
The Israeli Supreme Court decided to deny Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails completing their university education.
The decision came after an appeal presented by al-Adala human rights center to allow a prisoner from the Palestinian city of Tira central occupied Palestine in 48, Rawi Soltani, to complete his academic education.
According to the center, the Israeli court decided to deprive prisoners of continuing their university education in prison, under the pretext that the academic education is not guaranteed by law, not particularly in the constitutional jurisdiction.
The Supreme Court emphasized in its resolution that although the IPS allows criminal convicts to continue their academic education and deny it for security prisoners, this does not constitute “unlawful discrimination."
The center's lawyer Orna Cohen, who presented the petitioners' allegations before the Court, said that "the judges retracted the Supreme Court's previous decisions to consider higher education as a legal right for the prisoner, so that it does not affect the prison's security or regime, and it does not constitute a security threat.
The lawyer expressed her concern about the seriousness of the radical decline of the court's previous decisions which considered prisoners' education as a fundamental right.
The decision came after an appeal presented by al-Adala human rights center to allow a prisoner from the Palestinian city of Tira central occupied Palestine in 48, Rawi Soltani, to complete his academic education.
According to the center, the Israeli court decided to deprive prisoners of continuing their university education in prison, under the pretext that the academic education is not guaranteed by law, not particularly in the constitutional jurisdiction.
The Supreme Court emphasized in its resolution that although the IPS allows criminal convicts to continue their academic education and deny it for security prisoners, this does not constitute “unlawful discrimination."
The center's lawyer Orna Cohen, who presented the petitioners' allegations before the Court, said that "the judges retracted the Supreme Court's previous decisions to consider higher education as a legal right for the prisoner, so that it does not affect the prison's security or regime, and it does not constitute a security threat.
The lawyer expressed her concern about the seriousness of the radical decline of the court's previous decisions which considered prisoners' education as a fundamental right.
Shin Bet alleges the arrest of Palestinian cell which planned to kidnap soldiers
PFLP leader Ahmed Saadat
The Israeli Shin Bet internal intelligence agency announced the arrest of ten Palestinians from the city of Ramallah in occupied West Bank, on charges of planning to carry out attacks against Israeli targets, including the families of soldiers.
Shin Bet stated that the detainees, who are affiliated to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, have formed a "cell" to kidnap a soldier in order to "trade" him with PFLP leader Ahmed Saadat who is still detained in Israeli jails since April 2002.
The Hebrew radio reported on its website on Tuesday that the detainees have planned to abduct an Israeli soldier, hold him in Kafr Aqab village south of Ramallah, so that they could use him as a bargaining chip in a prisoner exchange deal.
The Israeli Shin Bet internal intelligence agency announced the arrest of ten Palestinians from the city of Ramallah in occupied West Bank, on charges of planning to carry out attacks against Israeli targets, including the families of soldiers.
Shin Bet stated that the detainees, who are affiliated to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, have formed a "cell" to kidnap a soldier in order to "trade" him with PFLP leader Ahmed Saadat who is still detained in Israeli jails since April 2002.
The Hebrew radio reported on its website on Tuesday that the detainees have planned to abduct an Israeli soldier, hold him in Kafr Aqab village south of Ramallah, so that they could use him as a bargaining chip in a prisoner exchange deal.
Occupation prevents captive Rizk's wife from visiting him
The Israeli occupation authorities have refused to allow the wife of a Palestinian prisoner from the Gaza Strip to visit her husband. Waed association for the detainees and Ex-detainees stated that the Israeli forces prevented on Monday the wife of captive Rizk Shaaban, from the town of Jabalya in the northern Gaza Strip, from visiting her husband when she arrived at Beit Hanoun "Erez" checkpoint in the northern Gaza Strip, while on her way to the prison.
It said in a statement that the captive Rizk Shaaban, detained since six years, "has been prevented from family visits since the date of his arrest and until this moment."
According to Waed, the International Committee of the Red Cross had informed Rizk's wife that the Israeli authorities gave her permission to visit her husband. However, having reached Beit Hanoun, Israeli soldiers informed her that she will not be allowed to visit him for security reasons.
The association denounced the procedure of the occupation intelligence service "which deliberately tries to humiliate the families of prisoners", and demanded the International Committee of the Red Cross to expose the Israeli violations.
It said in a statement that the captive Rizk Shaaban, detained since six years, "has been prevented from family visits since the date of his arrest and until this moment."
According to Waed, the International Committee of the Red Cross had informed Rizk's wife that the Israeli authorities gave her permission to visit her husband. However, having reached Beit Hanoun, Israeli soldiers informed her that she will not be allowed to visit him for security reasons.
The association denounced the procedure of the occupation intelligence service "which deliberately tries to humiliate the families of prisoners", and demanded the International Committee of the Red Cross to expose the Israeli violations.
Canadian activist on hunger strike in support of Palestinian captives
Twenty one year old Sarah. McLaughlin from Canada went on a hunger strike for more than a week in support of Palestinian captives on hunger strike in Israeli occupation jails and to protest Israeli occupation treatment of those captives.
Sara has gone on an open hunger strike for 180 hours (7.5 days) in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli jails. She told PIC's reporter that the strength of Sharawna and Issawi has influenced her to declare her hunger strike.
My reasons for supporting Palestinian detainees on the Hungry Stomachs campaign were primarily to generate awareness of their peaceful protest here in the west, she said.
Our media chooses to cover the violent retaliations, but not the non-violent actions of the Palestinian people. This cannot be tolerated, unless the contrary is preferred and condoned, she added.
Regarding her family's reaction, she told PIC that her family were shocked and upset for her hunger strike. "I explained how long Issawi and Sharawna had been fasting, and the injustices taking place in the prisons. My family was not comfortable with me sacrificing my health, but they understood and let me continue, because they felt my passion for this cause."
Regrettably, no local media has reached out to hear my story yet. I have written an article for "Activists around the world for Palestine" [facebook group] and it is being shared. I have generated a lot of awareness worldwide online, and I will share this article that I wrote with local media, she stated.
Regarding the western media role she explained that "social media has done so much, where international media fails. We value translations so much here in the west, because much of the valuable information is of no use to us in the west, if we cannot translate it."
Sara has gone on an open hunger strike for 180 hours (7.5 days) in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli jails. She told PIC's reporter that the strength of Sharawna and Issawi has influenced her to declare her hunger strike.
My reasons for supporting Palestinian detainees on the Hungry Stomachs campaign were primarily to generate awareness of their peaceful protest here in the west, she said.
Our media chooses to cover the violent retaliations, but not the non-violent actions of the Palestinian people. This cannot be tolerated, unless the contrary is preferred and condoned, she added.
Regarding her family's reaction, she told PIC that her family were shocked and upset for her hunger strike. "I explained how long Issawi and Sharawna had been fasting, and the injustices taking place in the prisons. My family was not comfortable with me sacrificing my health, but they understood and let me continue, because they felt my passion for this cause."
Regrettably, no local media has reached out to hear my story yet. I have written an article for "Activists around the world for Palestine" [facebook group] and it is being shared. I have generated a lot of awareness worldwide online, and I will share this article that I wrote with local media, she stated.
Regarding the western media role she explained that "social media has done so much, where international media fails. We value translations so much here in the west, because much of the valuable information is of no use to us in the west, if we cannot translate it."
Issawi confirms he is continuing his hunger strike
Lawyer for the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) confirmed that the captive Samer al-Issawi, who has been on hunger strike since 151 days, suffers from severe headaches, spine pain and chest pain after being attacked by Israeli police.
Al-Issawi told the lawyer that his hunger strike has achieved three basic objectives.
He said that he succeeded to get the world’s free people to support his cause and his legitimate rights to freedom and life and added that through his strike he sent messages to the occupation, warning it not to arrest more liberated prisoners, and to the sponsors of the exchange deal, urging them to intervene and save the prisoners' lives.
The Jerusalemite prisoner told the PPS’s lawyer that he is only living on water, noting that he has not been examined by the prison's doctor after being attacked in court last week by occupation soldiers.
Al-Issawi told the lawyer that his hunger strike has achieved three basic objectives.
He said that he succeeded to get the world’s free people to support his cause and his legitimate rights to freedom and life and added that through his strike he sent messages to the occupation, warning it not to arrest more liberated prisoners, and to the sponsors of the exchange deal, urging them to intervene and save the prisoners' lives.
The Jerusalemite prisoner told the PPS’s lawyer that he is only living on water, noting that he has not been examined by the prison's doctor after being attacked in court last week by occupation soldiers.
Sharawne: Suspending my hunger strike “temporary truce”
Detainee Ayman Sharawne has said that suspending his hunger strike that lasted for 170 days was a temporary truce that would resume in the event the Israeli prison authority did not respond to his demands.
The Palestinian prisoner’s lawyer said after calling on Sharawne at the Ramle prison hospital that he suspended his hunger strike after a medical team formed to study his case said that if he continued in his hunger strike until the 180th day he would face a sudden brain stroke.
The committee said that Sharawne could also suffer paralysis or sudden death even if his body managed to live on vitamins his body in the end would feed on his nerves, which is the main danger.
The committee, according to the lawyer, said that Sharawne’s left kidney was no long functioning while the right kidney was working at 55% of its capacity and could also suffer cirrhosis.
Sharawne spoke to the lawyer while on a wheelchair due to his inability to walk on his feet. Sharawne after suspending his strike was only eating soup and drinking tea in addition to 19 tablets and three shots per day to save what can be saved of his body.
The Palestinian prisoner’s lawyer said after calling on Sharawne at the Ramle prison hospital that he suspended his hunger strike after a medical team formed to study his case said that if he continued in his hunger strike until the 180th day he would face a sudden brain stroke.
The committee said that Sharawne could also suffer paralysis or sudden death even if his body managed to live on vitamins his body in the end would feed on his nerves, which is the main danger.
The committee, according to the lawyer, said that Sharawne’s left kidney was no long functioning while the right kidney was working at 55% of its capacity and could also suffer cirrhosis.
Sharawne spoke to the lawyer while on a wheelchair due to his inability to walk on his feet. Sharawne after suspending his strike was only eating soup and drinking tea in addition to 19 tablets and three shots per day to save what can be saved of his body.
24 dec 2012
IOA refuses to transfer the prisoner Abdul-Jabbar Jarar to hospital
The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) refused to transfer the prisoner leader in Hamas movement, Sheikh Abdul-Jabbar Jarar, 46, to the hospital, despite the doctors' recommendations that he needs an emergency surgery.
The wife of the captive Jarar said that her husband suffers from chronic heart disease, stressing that the Israeli prison administration does not bother for his deteriorated health condition, and procrastinated in transferring him to Ramle prison hospital for conducting a surgery."
She noted that his health situation has worsened when the Israeli authorities have renewed his administrative detention, despite the Israeli appeal court's decision to release him.
She added that they refused to treat or release him. "There was an attempt to provide the necessary treatment for him, but they refused, despite his suffering, especially after declaring his hunger strike with the prisoners," she explained.
Prisoner Jarar's wife appealed to humanitarian and international institutions to bear their responsibility towards her husband, especially that he suffers from a serious life-threatening condition.
The wife of the captive Jarar said that her husband suffers from chronic heart disease, stressing that the Israeli prison administration does not bother for his deteriorated health condition, and procrastinated in transferring him to Ramle prison hospital for conducting a surgery."
She noted that his health situation has worsened when the Israeli authorities have renewed his administrative detention, despite the Israeli appeal court's decision to release him.
She added that they refused to treat or release him. "There was an attempt to provide the necessary treatment for him, but they refused, despite his suffering, especially after declaring his hunger strike with the prisoners," she explained.
Prisoner Jarar's wife appealed to humanitarian and international institutions to bear their responsibility towards her husband, especially that he suffers from a serious life-threatening condition.
Israel delays MP Nawfal's trial and extends Kabha's administrative detention
Wasfi Kabha
The Israeli Salem military court postponed, on Sunday, the trial of the prisoner MP Imad Mahmoud Nawfal from Qalqilya to 29 January 2013.
The Ahrar Prisoners Studies and Human Rights Center stated that the Court hearing lasted ten minutes, and then the trial judge suddenly decided to postpone it.
The wife of the captive Nawfal, 42, stated that when she arrived at the court the soldiers prevented her from speaking to him despite the court's approval.
The Court has charged the MP Nawfal with supporting the reconciliation and providing services to make it a success. He was arrested on 23 November 2012 and was initially held under administrative detention before transferring his file to a case to be considered.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Ofer Court has extended the detention of the former Minister of Prisoners' Affairs Wasfi Kabha, 50, for six additional months, and informed him that this will be the last extension of his detention.
The family of former minister Kabha told PIC's reporter that "this decision means that the release of the Kabha will be on the 10 June next year."
Kabha has been arrested on 10 June 2011. He has been held under the administrative detention which has been renewed for six months, 4 times.
He served13 years on aggregate in the Israeli occupation jails, during 9 previous arrests. He is currently held in Hadarim prison, suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes.
The Israeli Salem military court postponed, on Sunday, the trial of the prisoner MP Imad Mahmoud Nawfal from Qalqilya to 29 January 2013.
The Ahrar Prisoners Studies and Human Rights Center stated that the Court hearing lasted ten minutes, and then the trial judge suddenly decided to postpone it.
The wife of the captive Nawfal, 42, stated that when she arrived at the court the soldiers prevented her from speaking to him despite the court's approval.
The Court has charged the MP Nawfal with supporting the reconciliation and providing services to make it a success. He was arrested on 23 November 2012 and was initially held under administrative detention before transferring his file to a case to be considered.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Ofer Court has extended the detention of the former Minister of Prisoners' Affairs Wasfi Kabha, 50, for six additional months, and informed him that this will be the last extension of his detention.
The family of former minister Kabha told PIC's reporter that "this decision means that the release of the Kabha will be on the 10 June next year."
Kabha has been arrested on 10 June 2011. He has been held under the administrative detention which has been renewed for six months, 4 times.
He served13 years on aggregate in the Israeli occupation jails, during 9 previous arrests. He is currently held in Hadarim prison, suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes.
IOF kidnap two minors in Beit Ummar, clash with young men
Violent clashes broke out at dawn Monday in Beit Ummar town near Al-Khalil city after an Israeli military force raided homes and kidnapped two young men.
Coordinator of the popular committee in the town Mohamed Awad said the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) broke into the house of Ibrahim Abu Maria in Addaher area and kidnapped his 17-year old son Mohamed.
Awad added that the forces also raided the house of Khalil Sabarneh in the town and kidnapped his son Ayham, 17 as well.
He also reported that the IOF raided and ransacked many house in the town.
The raids raised the ire of Beit Ummar young men prompting them to retaliate to the invading troops who fired a barrage of tear gas grenades at them.
In a separate incident, the IOF kidnapped on the same day at dawn a Palestinian citizen named Nael Hafez, 46, after raiding his house in Rujib village north of Nablus city, and took him in chain to an unknown destination.
Earlier yesterday, a large force of Israeli troops and armored vehicles stormed Burka village north of Nablus city and caused a state of panic among the citizens.
Some villagers told the Palestinian information center (PIC) that many Israeli armored vehicles invaded their village on Sunday evening soon after it was stormed by a force of foot troops coming from the side of Homesh settlement.
The Israeli troops and their armored vehicles withdrew from the village without any reported arrests.
Coordinator of the popular committee in the town Mohamed Awad said the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) broke into the house of Ibrahim Abu Maria in Addaher area and kidnapped his 17-year old son Mohamed.
Awad added that the forces also raided the house of Khalil Sabarneh in the town and kidnapped his son Ayham, 17 as well.
He also reported that the IOF raided and ransacked many house in the town.
The raids raised the ire of Beit Ummar young men prompting them to retaliate to the invading troops who fired a barrage of tear gas grenades at them.
In a separate incident, the IOF kidnapped on the same day at dawn a Palestinian citizen named Nael Hafez, 46, after raiding his house in Rujib village north of Nablus city, and took him in chain to an unknown destination.
Earlier yesterday, a large force of Israeli troops and armored vehicles stormed Burka village north of Nablus city and caused a state of panic among the citizens.
Some villagers told the Palestinian information center (PIC) that many Israeli armored vehicles invaded their village on Sunday evening soon after it was stormed by a force of foot troops coming from the side of Homesh settlement.
The Israeli troops and their armored vehicles withdrew from the village without any reported arrests.
Sharawna Suspends His Hunger Strike
Palestinian Minister of Detainee, Issa Qaraqe’, stated that hunger striking detainee Ismail Sharawna, who started his hunger strike more than 176 days ago, and is facing serious health deterioration, decided to suspend his strike for ten days following medical advice, the Maan News Agency reported.
Maan reported that different medical teams that visited Sharawna at the Ramla clinic advised him to suspend his strike as he could face sudden death, a stroke or paralysis and other serious health conditions.
Sharawna told Fadi Obeidat, a lawyer working for the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) that he held talks with the Israeli Prison Administration, and added that he decided to grant them until the end of this month to fulfill their promises to release him along with hunger striking detainee Samer Al-Eesawy.
He added that should Israel retract its own promises, he will resume his open-ended strike.
Sharawna is facing a very serious health condition, his right kidney is not functioning while only %50 of his left kidney is functioning, and should he continue his trike he could lose both kidneys.
Physicians, who managed to see him, said that his body is feeding on its cells, his gallbladder stopped functioning and needs to be removed, and his intestines are not functioning at normal levels.
Obeidat said that Sharawna is facing very serious health complications, and that he currently looks like a skeleton, suffers from a form of amnesia, lost vision in his right eye, intense back pain, insomnia, repeatedly vomits yellow and sometimes black liquids, and is repeatedly dizzy in addition to the fact that he repeatedly loses consciousness.
In a letter handed to his lawyer, Sharawna said that he temporarily suspended his strike for ten days, and will be drinking one cup of milk, tea, and a bowl of soup each day in addition to vitamins (22 pills a day), 24 injections a day for eight days as prescribed by the doctors.
He will also be getting three injections a day for nerves, back, feet, kidneys and gallbladder.
As for detainee Samer Al-Eesawy, he informed Obeidat that he will continue his strike and will wait until this coming Thursday, December 27, which is a date of his trial, and will decide his next step depending on the court’s decision.
Obeidat said that doctors who examined Al-Eesawy stated that his health condition is critical, and that her organs are failing, in addition to intense pain in his back, muscles, continuous headache, and several other health conditions.
Samer is also unable to breathe in a normal manner, his blood pressure dropped to as low as 35, and is facing dizziness, fatigue, and other conditions; he recently started drinking water and vitamins.
He gave his lawyer a message stating that his dignity and the dignity of Sharawna is a main and crucial issue, and added “our battle of empty bowels is the battle of all detainees, all freedom fighters in the world, we prefer to die rather than living under oppression and slavery”, and called on the international community to intervene and save the Palestinian detainees from the ongoing illegal Israeli policies, violations and abuse.
Both detainees, as well as dozens of Palestinian detainees, are held under illegal Administrative Detention orders without any charges.
Bahar: resistance will soon force Israel to release prisoners
Palestinian MPs, resistance factions' leaders and directors of community organizations in Gaza and West Bank launched a one-day hunger strike on Monday, in solidarity with hunger striking prisoners in Israeli jails.
A number of prisoners have been on a hunger strike since months in protest at their administrative or arbitrary detention, such as Ayman Sharawna and Samer al-Issawi who have been on hunger strike since more than five months.
The strike was organized by a number of human rights organizations concerned with the prisoners' issues, including the Palestinian Center for the Defense of Prisoners, the Association of Prisoners and Ex-prisoners, the Ahrar Center for Studies and the Electronic Campaign for the Support of Hunger Striking Prisoners.
The institutions concerned with the prisoners' affairs said that the head of the Legislative Council, Dr. Aziz Dweik, his first deputy, Dr. Ahmad Bahar, and the MPs from the Gaza Strip, some MPs from the occupied West Bank and the leaders of the Palestinian factions are taking part in the hunger strike.
Dr. Ahmad Bahar saluted the prisoners, in a speech during the hunger strike in front of the Red Cross headquarters in Gaza.
He also appealed to the Egyptian leadership which had sponsored the exchange deal to support the prisoners and pressure the occupation to stop its crimes against the captives and the liberated prisoners, stressing that "the resistance will soon force the occupation to release the prisoners."
For his part, the leader in the Islamic Jihad movement Nafez Azzam said: "The prisoners' issue is the issue of the whole people. It is our duty to support them as well as their families."
Tawfiq Abu Naim demanded, in a speech on behalf of the Prisoners Committee for National and Islamic Forces, the leaders of the ex-detainees to support the prisoners and urged the institutions and unions to join the hunger strike and support the prisoners.
Maan reported that different medical teams that visited Sharawna at the Ramla clinic advised him to suspend his strike as he could face sudden death, a stroke or paralysis and other serious health conditions.
Sharawna told Fadi Obeidat, a lawyer working for the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) that he held talks with the Israeli Prison Administration, and added that he decided to grant them until the end of this month to fulfill their promises to release him along with hunger striking detainee Samer Al-Eesawy.
He added that should Israel retract its own promises, he will resume his open-ended strike.
Sharawna is facing a very serious health condition, his right kidney is not functioning while only %50 of his left kidney is functioning, and should he continue his trike he could lose both kidneys.
Physicians, who managed to see him, said that his body is feeding on its cells, his gallbladder stopped functioning and needs to be removed, and his intestines are not functioning at normal levels.
Obeidat said that Sharawna is facing very serious health complications, and that he currently looks like a skeleton, suffers from a form of amnesia, lost vision in his right eye, intense back pain, insomnia, repeatedly vomits yellow and sometimes black liquids, and is repeatedly dizzy in addition to the fact that he repeatedly loses consciousness.
In a letter handed to his lawyer, Sharawna said that he temporarily suspended his strike for ten days, and will be drinking one cup of milk, tea, and a bowl of soup each day in addition to vitamins (22 pills a day), 24 injections a day for eight days as prescribed by the doctors.
He will also be getting three injections a day for nerves, back, feet, kidneys and gallbladder.
As for detainee Samer Al-Eesawy, he informed Obeidat that he will continue his strike and will wait until this coming Thursday, December 27, which is a date of his trial, and will decide his next step depending on the court’s decision.
Obeidat said that doctors who examined Al-Eesawy stated that his health condition is critical, and that her organs are failing, in addition to intense pain in his back, muscles, continuous headache, and several other health conditions.
Samer is also unable to breathe in a normal manner, his blood pressure dropped to as low as 35, and is facing dizziness, fatigue, and other conditions; he recently started drinking water and vitamins.
He gave his lawyer a message stating that his dignity and the dignity of Sharawna is a main and crucial issue, and added “our battle of empty bowels is the battle of all detainees, all freedom fighters in the world, we prefer to die rather than living under oppression and slavery”, and called on the international community to intervene and save the Palestinian detainees from the ongoing illegal Israeli policies, violations and abuse.
Both detainees, as well as dozens of Palestinian detainees, are held under illegal Administrative Detention orders without any charges.
Bahar: resistance will soon force Israel to release prisoners
Palestinian MPs, resistance factions' leaders and directors of community organizations in Gaza and West Bank launched a one-day hunger strike on Monday, in solidarity with hunger striking prisoners in Israeli jails.
A number of prisoners have been on a hunger strike since months in protest at their administrative or arbitrary detention, such as Ayman Sharawna and Samer al-Issawi who have been on hunger strike since more than five months.
The strike was organized by a number of human rights organizations concerned with the prisoners' issues, including the Palestinian Center for the Defense of Prisoners, the Association of Prisoners and Ex-prisoners, the Ahrar Center for Studies and the Electronic Campaign for the Support of Hunger Striking Prisoners.
The institutions concerned with the prisoners' affairs said that the head of the Legislative Council, Dr. Aziz Dweik, his first deputy, Dr. Ahmad Bahar, and the MPs from the Gaza Strip, some MPs from the occupied West Bank and the leaders of the Palestinian factions are taking part in the hunger strike.
Dr. Ahmad Bahar saluted the prisoners, in a speech during the hunger strike in front of the Red Cross headquarters in Gaza.
He also appealed to the Egyptian leadership which had sponsored the exchange deal to support the prisoners and pressure the occupation to stop its crimes against the captives and the liberated prisoners, stressing that "the resistance will soon force the occupation to release the prisoners."
For his part, the leader in the Islamic Jihad movement Nafez Azzam said: "The prisoners' issue is the issue of the whole people. It is our duty to support them as well as their families."
Tawfiq Abu Naim demanded, in a speech on behalf of the Prisoners Committee for National and Islamic Forces, the leaders of the ex-detainees to support the prisoners and urged the institutions and unions to join the hunger strike and support the prisoners.
Al-Issawi family criticizes Abbas' condolences for Shahak's death
Shirin al-Issawi, the sister of Samer al-Issawi, on hunger strike since 146 days, criticized the PA president Mahmoud Abbas for consoling the wife of the former Israeli military chief of staff Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, while not contacting al-Issawi family to support their son who went on hunger strike since 146 days.
I read today via WAFA News agency that you phoned the former Israeli military chief Shahak's wife to console her for his death. Have you heard about the Palestinian prisoner Samer al-Issawi who went on hunger strike for 145 days?? Did you know that his life is in real danger?? Did you know that he had been assaulted severely two days ago by the occupation forces in front of the whole world?? The lawyer Shirin al-Issawi wrote on her Facebook page.
“Why we did not get a call from you! Shouldn't the Palestinian people the ones who you must be concerned about? Why you did not instruct the Palestinian Foreign Minister and the Palestinian ambassadors to protest the re-arrest of liberated prisoners in Wafa al-Ahrar deal and ask for their release and freedom immediately??”
Why did you not call on the Palestinian Ambassador in the United Nations to lodge a complaint against the brutal assault that happened to Samer Issawi??? She added.
I'll stop asking questions because no matter how much I asked I won't receive any answer from you, she concluded by saying, "With all my respect and appreciation for each one affiliated with the Fateh movement and supports the prisoners on hunger strike in terms of national, moral and religious duty."
Relatives stage solidarity sit-in with hunger striking prisoners at UN office
Dozens of relatives of prisoners staged a sit-in before the UN Nablus office on Monday in solidarity with hunger striking prisoners in Israeli occupation jails.
Participants in the rally chanted slogans demanding freedom for the prisoners especially those on hunger strike.
Speakers called for supporting the prisoners and for exposing the maltreatment they are exposed at the hands of Israeli jailors.
The mother of prisoner Mohammed Al-Taj asked the international community and all free people of the world to intervene and save the life of her son who is facing death in Israeli jails due to medical neglect.
A memo in the name of the national committee to support prisoners in Nablus was handed to the UN office asking the international organization to immediately pressure Israel into releasing all hunger striking prisoners, the sick, and the children held in its prisons.
Dozens of leaders participate in hunger strike to support prisoners
A number of leaders, politicians and academics, launched on Monday a hunger strike, in solidarity with the hunger strikers in the Israeli jails and in continuation of the international solidarity campaign with the captives.
Among the participants in the hunger strike are the head of the Legislative Council, Dr. Aziz Dweik, his deputy, Dr. Ahmad Bahar, and all the MPs in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, in addition to 679 citizens who have announced that they will join the strike.
The solidarity hunger strike was called for by the Association of Prisoners and Ex-prisoners, the Ahrar Center for Studies, the Electronic Campaign for the Support of Prisoners, Al-Quds Network, the Palestinian Center for the Defense of Prisoners and a number of lawyers and journalists.
The hunger strike was announced during a press statement on Sunday, to be the largest solidarity campaign in which the Palestinian leaders and icons and the political, intellectual and media elite will take part, to support the prisoners and activate their cause.
Attoun: elite strike aims to draw attention to the prisoners' issue
The Jerusalemite MP Ahmad Attoun stated that the elite strike is an initiative step in solidarity with the prisoners' sacrifices in Israeli jails, especially the prisoners who went on hunger strike for more than half a year.
He told Quds Press that the strike is an important initiative "in order to draw the international attention to the prisoners' issue, and to remind the people that there are still prisoners behind Israeli occupation bars.
Attoun, who was exiled from Jerusalem to Ramallah, stated that the solidarity events in support of the prisoners "do not live up to the required level" calling on all Palestinians to make the issue of prisoners at the top of their priorities until their liberation.
Attoun asked the Palestinian Authority to use what has been achieved in the United Nations, after being a nonmember observer, to internationalize the prisoners' issue.
Attoun praised the Egyptian efforts to support the prisoners' issue, especially the hunger strikers.
Jerusalemites on hunger strike to draw attention to the prisoners' issue
Ten young Jerusalemites declared hunger strike, since last Tuesday after Samer al-Isawi's trial, in solidarity with the Palestinian strikers in Israeli jails, and set up two tents to pressure on the Red Cross to bear its responsibility towards the prisoners' demands.
Ahmed Jubeh, 21, one of the 10 hunger strikers, told PIC that - as a young Jerusalemite - he has no way of supporting the striker prisoners but to declare hunger strike, stressing that Samer al-Issawi and Ayman Sharawna have entered the stage of gradual death while the world stands silent, adding that this action aims to draw the international community's attention in order to save the captives' lives.
Hossam Dandis, 29, 6 days on hunger strike, stated that the reason behind the strike is the "international, Arab and Palestinian silence towards the prisoners' issue, stressing that even international human rights organizations do not perform the required role, "so this is the only way to put pressure on the Red Cross as it is responsible for providing assistance to prisoners inside Israeli jails," he added.
"When we started the strike, we were just three young men, but now there are nine of us," he said.
In addition, Shadi al-Issawi, brother of striker Samer al-Issawi, who went on hunger strike on Saturday, stated that the Palestinian people and political leadership are not interacting with the prisoners' hunger strike, adding that the Jerusalemite youths rebelled after seeing the brutal assault by the Israeli occupation forces on Samer in the court, and they took this individual step which is not affiliated with any organizations or official bodies.
For his part, Mossa Abbasi, who went on hunger strike for the fourth day, said that the strike is a direct message to the prisoners that the first initiative to support prisoners' steadfastness and national unity was started from Jerusalem and a message to the entire world in order to support the steadfastness of the prisoners.
Yassin Sabih, who went on hunger striker for the fourth day, explained that the prisoners have sacrificed for their freedom and their dignity and the dignity of the Palestinian people, this is the least we can do for the prisoners' issue.
He said that Ayman Sharawna and Samer al-Issawi have been on hunger strike for almost half a year and they need such steps to shed light on their cause and to motivate the rest of the Palestinian people to support the issue of prisoners and support their strike.
The nurse Nihal Abdul Rahman, member of the Arab Paramedics Union Assembly, told PIC reporter that their presence beside the strikers was in order to check on their health situation, adding that until this moment their situation is stable and there is no health deterioration, particularly for blood pressure and diabetes situations.
It is noteworthy that the two young men, Hossam Dandis and Ahmed Jubeh, have declared their hunger strike since six consecutive days, while Yassin Sabih and Jihad al-Khatib went on hunger strike or the fourth day, and the rest of the young men went on hunger strike since 48 hours.
Sharawne family to continue in solidarity activities
The family of detainee Ayman Sharawne said solidarity rallies and activities would continue until his final release from Israeli captivity.
Family members told the PIC reporter in Al-Khalil on Monday that Ayman’s suspension of his hunger strike would not cripple their solidarity activities.
They said that the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) is notorious for backtracking on promises and thus the activities would persist until Ayman’s release.
They said that Ayman’s health condition was worsening due to the IOA’s delay in releasing him despite being freed in an international swap agreement. They said that the marches and the sit-in tent would continue as pressure tools on the IOA to accelerate his release.
I read today via WAFA News agency that you phoned the former Israeli military chief Shahak's wife to console her for his death. Have you heard about the Palestinian prisoner Samer al-Issawi who went on hunger strike for 145 days?? Did you know that his life is in real danger?? Did you know that he had been assaulted severely two days ago by the occupation forces in front of the whole world?? The lawyer Shirin al-Issawi wrote on her Facebook page.
“Why we did not get a call from you! Shouldn't the Palestinian people the ones who you must be concerned about? Why you did not instruct the Palestinian Foreign Minister and the Palestinian ambassadors to protest the re-arrest of liberated prisoners in Wafa al-Ahrar deal and ask for their release and freedom immediately??”
Why did you not call on the Palestinian Ambassador in the United Nations to lodge a complaint against the brutal assault that happened to Samer Issawi??? She added.
I'll stop asking questions because no matter how much I asked I won't receive any answer from you, she concluded by saying, "With all my respect and appreciation for each one affiliated with the Fateh movement and supports the prisoners on hunger strike in terms of national, moral and religious duty."
Relatives stage solidarity sit-in with hunger striking prisoners at UN office
Dozens of relatives of prisoners staged a sit-in before the UN Nablus office on Monday in solidarity with hunger striking prisoners in Israeli occupation jails.
Participants in the rally chanted slogans demanding freedom for the prisoners especially those on hunger strike.
Speakers called for supporting the prisoners and for exposing the maltreatment they are exposed at the hands of Israeli jailors.
The mother of prisoner Mohammed Al-Taj asked the international community and all free people of the world to intervene and save the life of her son who is facing death in Israeli jails due to medical neglect.
A memo in the name of the national committee to support prisoners in Nablus was handed to the UN office asking the international organization to immediately pressure Israel into releasing all hunger striking prisoners, the sick, and the children held in its prisons.
Dozens of leaders participate in hunger strike to support prisoners
A number of leaders, politicians and academics, launched on Monday a hunger strike, in solidarity with the hunger strikers in the Israeli jails and in continuation of the international solidarity campaign with the captives.
Among the participants in the hunger strike are the head of the Legislative Council, Dr. Aziz Dweik, his deputy, Dr. Ahmad Bahar, and all the MPs in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, in addition to 679 citizens who have announced that they will join the strike.
The solidarity hunger strike was called for by the Association of Prisoners and Ex-prisoners, the Ahrar Center for Studies, the Electronic Campaign for the Support of Prisoners, Al-Quds Network, the Palestinian Center for the Defense of Prisoners and a number of lawyers and journalists.
The hunger strike was announced during a press statement on Sunday, to be the largest solidarity campaign in which the Palestinian leaders and icons and the political, intellectual and media elite will take part, to support the prisoners and activate their cause.
Attoun: elite strike aims to draw attention to the prisoners' issue
The Jerusalemite MP Ahmad Attoun stated that the elite strike is an initiative step in solidarity with the prisoners' sacrifices in Israeli jails, especially the prisoners who went on hunger strike for more than half a year.
He told Quds Press that the strike is an important initiative "in order to draw the international attention to the prisoners' issue, and to remind the people that there are still prisoners behind Israeli occupation bars.
Attoun, who was exiled from Jerusalem to Ramallah, stated that the solidarity events in support of the prisoners "do not live up to the required level" calling on all Palestinians to make the issue of prisoners at the top of their priorities until their liberation.
Attoun asked the Palestinian Authority to use what has been achieved in the United Nations, after being a nonmember observer, to internationalize the prisoners' issue.
Attoun praised the Egyptian efforts to support the prisoners' issue, especially the hunger strikers.
Jerusalemites on hunger strike to draw attention to the prisoners' issue
Ten young Jerusalemites declared hunger strike, since last Tuesday after Samer al-Isawi's trial, in solidarity with the Palestinian strikers in Israeli jails, and set up two tents to pressure on the Red Cross to bear its responsibility towards the prisoners' demands.
Ahmed Jubeh, 21, one of the 10 hunger strikers, told PIC that - as a young Jerusalemite - he has no way of supporting the striker prisoners but to declare hunger strike, stressing that Samer al-Issawi and Ayman Sharawna have entered the stage of gradual death while the world stands silent, adding that this action aims to draw the international community's attention in order to save the captives' lives.
Hossam Dandis, 29, 6 days on hunger strike, stated that the reason behind the strike is the "international, Arab and Palestinian silence towards the prisoners' issue, stressing that even international human rights organizations do not perform the required role, "so this is the only way to put pressure on the Red Cross as it is responsible for providing assistance to prisoners inside Israeli jails," he added.
"When we started the strike, we were just three young men, but now there are nine of us," he said.
In addition, Shadi al-Issawi, brother of striker Samer al-Issawi, who went on hunger strike on Saturday, stated that the Palestinian people and political leadership are not interacting with the prisoners' hunger strike, adding that the Jerusalemite youths rebelled after seeing the brutal assault by the Israeli occupation forces on Samer in the court, and they took this individual step which is not affiliated with any organizations or official bodies.
For his part, Mossa Abbasi, who went on hunger strike for the fourth day, said that the strike is a direct message to the prisoners that the first initiative to support prisoners' steadfastness and national unity was started from Jerusalem and a message to the entire world in order to support the steadfastness of the prisoners.
Yassin Sabih, who went on hunger striker for the fourth day, explained that the prisoners have sacrificed for their freedom and their dignity and the dignity of the Palestinian people, this is the least we can do for the prisoners' issue.
He said that Ayman Sharawna and Samer al-Issawi have been on hunger strike for almost half a year and they need such steps to shed light on their cause and to motivate the rest of the Palestinian people to support the issue of prisoners and support their strike.
The nurse Nihal Abdul Rahman, member of the Arab Paramedics Union Assembly, told PIC reporter that their presence beside the strikers was in order to check on their health situation, adding that until this moment their situation is stable and there is no health deterioration, particularly for blood pressure and diabetes situations.
It is noteworthy that the two young men, Hossam Dandis and Ahmed Jubeh, have declared their hunger strike since six consecutive days, while Yassin Sabih and Jihad al-Khatib went on hunger strike or the fourth day, and the rest of the young men went on hunger strike since 48 hours.
Sharawne family to continue in solidarity activities
The family of detainee Ayman Sharawne said solidarity rallies and activities would continue until his final release from Israeli captivity.
Family members told the PIC reporter in Al-Khalil on Monday that Ayman’s suspension of his hunger strike would not cripple their solidarity activities.
They said that the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) is notorious for backtracking on promises and thus the activities would persist until Ayman’s release.
They said that Ayman’s health condition was worsening due to the IOA’s delay in releasing him despite being freed in an international swap agreement. They said that the marches and the sit-in tent would continue as pressure tools on the IOA to accelerate his release.
IOF kidnap wounded child from court room
An 11-year old boy, Mohamed Abul-Hims, from Issawiya district in occupied Jerusalem was detained and interrogated on Sunday for four hours in Maskubia detention center, his father said.
The child's father said he told the Israeli interrogators in the room that one of his son's eyes was bleeding, but they did not care and continued questioning him and pressuring him to make a confession about throwing stones at soldiers, according to Wadi Hilwa information center.
The uncle of the boy also told the same center that the Israeli intelligence kidnapped his nephew Mohamed while he was in the magistrates' court in Jerusalem after the extension hearing against his brother was adjourned.
The uncle added that Mohamed was interrogated for more than an hour in Maskubia detention center before allowing his father to attend the interrogation of his son.
He noted that the interrogators hurled insults and vulgar remarks at the father and his son and accused Mohamed of throwing stones at Israeli soldiers in Issawiya district.
The child's father said he told the Israeli interrogators in the room that one of his son's eyes was bleeding, but they did not care and continued questioning him and pressuring him to make a confession about throwing stones at soldiers, according to Wadi Hilwa information center.
The uncle of the boy also told the same center that the Israeli intelligence kidnapped his nephew Mohamed while he was in the magistrates' court in Jerusalem after the extension hearing against his brother was adjourned.
The uncle added that Mohamed was interrogated for more than an hour in Maskubia detention center before allowing his father to attend the interrogation of his son.
He noted that the interrogators hurled insults and vulgar remarks at the father and his son and accused Mohamed of throwing stones at Israeli soldiers in Issawiya district.
IOF soldiers round up five Jerusalemite kids
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) broke into many homes in Issawiye village, north of occupied Jerusalem, and took away five kids including an 11-year-old child.
Locals in the village said that confrontations took place after the IOF stormed the village, adding that the soldiers fired tear gas and rubber-coated bullets at youths protesting the arrests.
Meanwhile, an Israeli court extended the remand of 13 Jerusalemite teens and released two, all from the same Issawiye village.
The Wadi Hilwa information center said that the teenagers were held in custody for few days ranging between two days to a week on charges of throwing stones at Israeli policemen.
Locals in the village said that confrontations took place after the IOF stormed the village, adding that the soldiers fired tear gas and rubber-coated bullets at youths protesting the arrests.
Meanwhile, an Israeli court extended the remand of 13 Jerusalemite teens and released two, all from the same Issawiye village.
The Wadi Hilwa information center said that the teenagers were held in custody for few days ranging between two days to a week on charges of throwing stones at Israeli policemen.
IOF soldiers arrest Jerusalemite
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) arrested a Palestinian in Al-Issawiye village in occupied Jerusalem on Sunday night, local sources said. They said that IOF soldiers stormed various suburbs in the village at night and searched many homes before taking away Oday Bayumi.
The IOF soldiers have been targeting the village over the past few days and broke into many homes including that of hunger striker Samer Al-Issawi and the tent pitched in solidarity with him.
The IOF soldiers have been targeting the village over the past few days and broke into many homes including that of hunger striker Samer Al-Issawi and the tent pitched in solidarity with him.
Two minors survive Israeli gunfire east of Gaza valley
Two Palestinian kids miraculously survived after their exposure to Israeli military gunfire in the east of Gaza valley, the health ministry in Gaza said.
Spokesman for the ministry Ashraf Al-Qudra told the Palestinian information center (PIC) the two kids were in a state of extreme shock and almost fainted because of the severity of the firing they were exposed to.
Qudra said that paramedics saved the two 17-year old boys and took them to Shuda'a Al-Aqsa hospital.
In a separate incident, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) arrested on Sunday evening two Palestinian citizens south of Gaza.
An eyewitness told Quds Press that the IOF arrested the two Gazans after they crossed Kissufim military site to the east of Khan Younis.
He added that Israeli warplanes overflew the area following their arrest, noting that they were unarmed.
It is still unknown why these two men infiltrated into an Israeli military site, despite their knowledge that they could have been shot dead or arrested.
Spokesman for the ministry Ashraf Al-Qudra told the Palestinian information center (PIC) the two kids were in a state of extreme shock and almost fainted because of the severity of the firing they were exposed to.
Qudra said that paramedics saved the two 17-year old boys and took them to Shuda'a Al-Aqsa hospital.
In a separate incident, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) arrested on Sunday evening two Palestinian citizens south of Gaza.
An eyewitness told Quds Press that the IOF arrested the two Gazans after they crossed Kissufim military site to the east of Khan Younis.
He added that Israeli warplanes overflew the area following their arrest, noting that they were unarmed.
It is still unknown why these two men infiltrated into an Israeli military site, despite their knowledge that they could have been shot dead or arrested.
23 dec 2012
IPS denies visits to the strikers Kaadan and Ezzedine
Israeli Prison Service (IPS) informed Red Cross in Jenin that the hunger strikers Tarek Kaadan and Jafar Ezzedine are banned from the scheduled visit on Monday as a punishment for continuing their hunger strike that was launched since a month ago.
The father of the captive Kaadan said that his son's lawyer has visited Tareq in Megiddo prison "section 8" and told him that his son's health is stable, where he suffers wasting of the muscles, stressing that he continues his hunger strike.
He added that the Court of Appeals in Ofer will hold a hearing next Thursday to decide on Tareq and Jafar Ezzedine's issues.
For her part, the wife of the captive Jafar Ezzedine, 41, confirmed that the Red Cross told them to cancel their planned visit on Monday, because Ezzedine is punished by IPS for his continued open hunger strike.
Jafar Ezzedine and Tarek Kaadan, from Arraba village in Jenin, have been detained since 22 November 2012, where they went on an open hunger strike for 26 days respectively.
Israeli police detain visitors to hunger strike tents at Red Cross HQ
The Israeli police on Saturday evening detained a number of young visitors to the hunger strike tents at the Red Cross headquarters in occupied Jerusalem.
Eyewitnesses said that as the visitors were leaving the Red Cross building, Israeli police patrol cars were waiting for them outside.
The policemen asked for their IDs, and registered their car and phone numbers before letting them go, the eyewitnesses added.
10 Jerusalemite young men had gone on hunger strike a few days ago and erected tents inside the the Red Cross compound to express their support for the striking prisoners in Israeli jails and pressure the Red Cross to take action to save their lives.
In this regard, director of Ahrar center for prisoners' affairs Fouad Al-Khafsh warned that the lives of prisoners Ayman Sharawna, Samer Issawi, on hunger strike for more than four months, are in real danger.
Khafsh appealed to human rights organizations to pressure the Israeli regime to release them immediately after their health status reached a life-threatening stage.
Activists call for a hunger strike in solidarity with prisoners
Palestinian human rights organizations called on Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to go on a one-day hunger strike on Monday, in solidarity with the hunger striking Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli jails.
The one-day hunger strike was called for by the Association of Prisoners and Ex-prisoners, the Ahrar Center for Studies, the Electronic Campaign for the Support of Prisoners, Al-Quds Network and the Palestinian Center for the Defense of Prisoners, in a press statement on Sunday, pointing out that there are more than four thousand Palestinian captives held in the occupation jails.
The statement called for "practically and effectively" supporting the prisoners, noting that this "hunger strike will be launched with popular, governmental and international participation, and in continuation of the international solidarity campaign which has been launched via social networking sites."
The father of the captive Kaadan said that his son's lawyer has visited Tareq in Megiddo prison "section 8" and told him that his son's health is stable, where he suffers wasting of the muscles, stressing that he continues his hunger strike.
He added that the Court of Appeals in Ofer will hold a hearing next Thursday to decide on Tareq and Jafar Ezzedine's issues.
For her part, the wife of the captive Jafar Ezzedine, 41, confirmed that the Red Cross told them to cancel their planned visit on Monday, because Ezzedine is punished by IPS for his continued open hunger strike.
Jafar Ezzedine and Tarek Kaadan, from Arraba village in Jenin, have been detained since 22 November 2012, where they went on an open hunger strike for 26 days respectively.
Israeli police detain visitors to hunger strike tents at Red Cross HQ
The Israeli police on Saturday evening detained a number of young visitors to the hunger strike tents at the Red Cross headquarters in occupied Jerusalem.
Eyewitnesses said that as the visitors were leaving the Red Cross building, Israeli police patrol cars were waiting for them outside.
The policemen asked for their IDs, and registered their car and phone numbers before letting them go, the eyewitnesses added.
10 Jerusalemite young men had gone on hunger strike a few days ago and erected tents inside the the Red Cross compound to express their support for the striking prisoners in Israeli jails and pressure the Red Cross to take action to save their lives.
In this regard, director of Ahrar center for prisoners' affairs Fouad Al-Khafsh warned that the lives of prisoners Ayman Sharawna, Samer Issawi, on hunger strike for more than four months, are in real danger.
Khafsh appealed to human rights organizations to pressure the Israeli regime to release them immediately after their health status reached a life-threatening stage.
Activists call for a hunger strike in solidarity with prisoners
Palestinian human rights organizations called on Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to go on a one-day hunger strike on Monday, in solidarity with the hunger striking Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli jails.
The one-day hunger strike was called for by the Association of Prisoners and Ex-prisoners, the Ahrar Center for Studies, the Electronic Campaign for the Support of Prisoners, Al-Quds Network and the Palestinian Center for the Defense of Prisoners, in a press statement on Sunday, pointing out that there are more than four thousand Palestinian captives held in the occupation jails.
The statement called for "practically and effectively" supporting the prisoners, noting that this "hunger strike will be launched with popular, governmental and international participation, and in continuation of the international solidarity campaign which has been launched via social networking sites."
IOF soldiers detain two Palestinians in Al-Khalil including footballer
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) detained two Palestinian young men in Al-Khalil village of Beit Ummar at dawn Sunday one of them a footballer, local sources said.
Mohamed Awad, the spokesman for the popular committee in Beit Ummar, told Quds Press that IOF soldiers stormed the village at the early dawn hours and searched a number of homes.
He said that the soldiers arrested 25-year-old Ali Ahmed Ikhlail, the head of the local youth council, after searching his family home and 22-year-old Muayad Al-Teet, a soccer player with the Beit Ummar sports club.
IOF troops set up a number of road blocks at entrances to a number of other villages in Al-Khalil district also at dawn Sunday, locals reported.
Mohamed Awad, the spokesman for the popular committee in Beit Ummar, told Quds Press that IOF soldiers stormed the village at the early dawn hours and searched a number of homes.
He said that the soldiers arrested 25-year-old Ali Ahmed Ikhlail, the head of the local youth council, after searching his family home and 22-year-old Muayad Al-Teet, a soccer player with the Beit Ummar sports club.
IOF troops set up a number of road blocks at entrances to a number of other villages in Al-Khalil district also at dawn Sunday, locals reported.
Border guards seriously wound Jerusalemite after his car ran into a soldier
Israeli border guards shot and wounded a Palestinian cab driver after his car ran into one of them in occupied Jerusalem on Sunday morning.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that border guards fired at the unidentified man after he allegedly tried to run over a soldier, who was slightly injured in the accident, in Jabal Mukaber to the south east of occupied Jerusalem.
The sources said that the inured driver was detained at the border guards’ barracks as the soldiers searched his car.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that border guards fired at the unidentified man after he allegedly tried to run over a soldier, who was slightly injured in the accident, in Jabal Mukaber to the south east of occupied Jerusalem.
The sources said that the inured driver was detained at the border guards’ barracks as the soldiers searched his car.
22 dec 2012
Terror of IOF arrests increase after midnight in occupied territories
Many Palestinian families with their children are mercilessly maltreated and forced out of their houses in freezing cold during arrest raids carried out at dawn by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) in the West Bank.
This scene repeatedly takes place on a daily basis in the early morning hours.
As women and children along with other members of the family are asleep, all of a sudden a force of Israeli troops with masks or blackened faces break into their house terrorizing everyone and forcing them amid the cries of children to leave their beds and stay outdoors.
Afterwards, they start to ransack the house, turn everything inside upside down and cause sometimes material damage to the furniture during their violent search.
During such raids, the troops and their escorts from the Israeli intelligence feel like to arrest one member or maybe more from the family, mostly little kids or young men, and sometimes they hand them summonses for interrogation.
Many such incidents have also been reported lately of families being humiliated and interrogated for hours by intelligence officers inside or outside their homes in different West Bank areas.
A mother of a Palestinian detainee from Azzun town said that Israeli soldiers forced her and her children out of the house in freezing cold and arrested one of her sons.
She added that the soldiers handcuffed and blindfolded her son and ordered him to stand against the wall before searching him thoroughly and taking him without allowing him to change his light clothes.
The night of arrest is unforgettable to all detainees and families whose suffering continues until the release day, according to Fouad Al-Khafsh, a specialist in prisoners' affairs.
Several human rights groups have reported lately an increase in the daily arrest of Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territories, which has caused the Israeli jails and detention centers to be overcrowded with detainees and prisoners.
The poor incarceration conditions have also gotten worse as Israeli jails and detention centers have become filled to capacity nowadays, reports said.
This scene repeatedly takes place on a daily basis in the early morning hours.
As women and children along with other members of the family are asleep, all of a sudden a force of Israeli troops with masks or blackened faces break into their house terrorizing everyone and forcing them amid the cries of children to leave their beds and stay outdoors.
Afterwards, they start to ransack the house, turn everything inside upside down and cause sometimes material damage to the furniture during their violent search.
During such raids, the troops and their escorts from the Israeli intelligence feel like to arrest one member or maybe more from the family, mostly little kids or young men, and sometimes they hand them summonses for interrogation.
Many such incidents have also been reported lately of families being humiliated and interrogated for hours by intelligence officers inside or outside their homes in different West Bank areas.
A mother of a Palestinian detainee from Azzun town said that Israeli soldiers forced her and her children out of the house in freezing cold and arrested one of her sons.
She added that the soldiers handcuffed and blindfolded her son and ordered him to stand against the wall before searching him thoroughly and taking him without allowing him to change his light clothes.
The night of arrest is unforgettable to all detainees and families whose suffering continues until the release day, according to Fouad Al-Khafsh, a specialist in prisoners' affairs.
Several human rights groups have reported lately an increase in the daily arrest of Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territories, which has caused the Israeli jails and detention centers to be overcrowded with detainees and prisoners.
The poor incarceration conditions have also gotten worse as Israeli jails and detention centers have become filled to capacity nowadays, reports said.
IOF arrests 5 citizens from Yatta south of al-Khalil
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) arrested five Palestinians and attacked another to the east of Yatta southern al-Khalil over the past 24 hours.
The citizen Khaled Shamasti told PIC's correspondent that a number of Israeli soldiers, accompanied by sniffer dogs, attacked citizens from Yatta this afternoon and prevented them from reaching their agricultural lands.
The Israeli troops arrested at least three citizens and harshly attacked another, during confrontations and clashes, causing him serious injuries that required his transfer to a hospital in Yatta.
Shamasti added, "The Israeli occupation forces unleashed their sniffer dogs to chase the farmers and civilians."
The IOF had arrested last night two liberated captives, one of whom after raiding and searching his house, while the other had been arrested in the Tayar checkpoint at the entrance of the Fawar refugee camp, south of al-Khalil. Both of them were taken to Ashkelon interrogation center.
The citizen Khaled Shamasti told PIC's correspondent that a number of Israeli soldiers, accompanied by sniffer dogs, attacked citizens from Yatta this afternoon and prevented them from reaching their agricultural lands.
The Israeli troops arrested at least three citizens and harshly attacked another, during confrontations and clashes, causing him serious injuries that required his transfer to a hospital in Yatta.
Shamasti added, "The Israeli occupation forces unleashed their sniffer dogs to chase the farmers and civilians."
The IOF had arrested last night two liberated captives, one of whom after raiding and searching his house, while the other had been arrested in the Tayar checkpoint at the entrance of the Fawar refugee camp, south of al-Khalil. Both of them were taken to Ashkelon interrogation center.
Israeli court extends detention of female detainee
An Israeli court in Salem military camp extended the detention of Eman Bani Odeh, 22, from Tamon town in Tobas for more questioning.
The court turned down a request by her lawyer for releasing her on bail and decided that the Arab American University student should be held in custody until her interrogation was over as deemed by the prosecution.
Eman was taken from her home on 7/12/2010 at the hands of Israeli occupation forces (IOF) after storming and searching her home in Tamon. She was held in the Jalama detention center.
The IOF had arrested Eman’s brother Anas one month earlier. Eman’s trial was adjourned till 10/1/2013.
The court turned down a request by her lawyer for releasing her on bail and decided that the Arab American University student should be held in custody until her interrogation was over as deemed by the prosecution.
Eman was taken from her home on 7/12/2010 at the hands of Israeli occupation forces (IOF) after storming and searching her home in Tamon. She was held in the Jalama detention center.
The IOF had arrested Eman’s brother Anas one month earlier. Eman’s trial was adjourned till 10/1/2013.
21 dec 2012
IOF arrests two citizens west of Jinin
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) arrested at dawn on Friday two citizens from the village of Rumana in the far west of the city of Jinin, after injuring one of them in his leg.
Eyewitnesses told PIC that a large number of occupation soldiers stormed the village of Rumana at nearly two o'clock after midnight, and surrounded the house of Mahmoud Hammad in Tahta neighborhood in the village.
The sources added that the "occupation authorities claimed that the young man Shadi Ghazi Abu Sweis, 31, tried to escape from the place, so they fired live bullets on his leg and hit him moderately wounded and arrested him."
IOF has also arrested Nabil Mahmoud Hammad, 38, after storming his father's house. They forced residents of the house and all the inhabitants of neighboring houses to stay out despite the rain and cold weather, until 4 am, after ransacking the two raided houses. The troops withdrew from the village after 4 PM.
Eyewitnesses told PIC that a large number of occupation soldiers stormed the village of Rumana at nearly two o'clock after midnight, and surrounded the house of Mahmoud Hammad in Tahta neighborhood in the village.
The sources added that the "occupation authorities claimed that the young man Shadi Ghazi Abu Sweis, 31, tried to escape from the place, so they fired live bullets on his leg and hit him moderately wounded and arrested him."
IOF has also arrested Nabil Mahmoud Hammad, 38, after storming his father's house. They forced residents of the house and all the inhabitants of neighboring houses to stay out despite the rain and cold weather, until 4 am, after ransacking the two raided houses. The troops withdrew from the village after 4 PM.
PCHR expresses extreme concern over the fate of al-Sharawna and al-Issawi
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) expressed extreme concern over the fate of Ayman al-Sharawna and Samer al-Issawi, who have been on hunger strike in Israeli jails.
PCHR held the Israeli Occupation Forces responsible for their lives, and called upon the international community to exert pressure on the IOF to immediately release al-Sharawna and al-Issawi.
PCHR called on human rights organizations and international solidarity organizations to put an end to the misuse of administrative detention by the IOF in violation of the fundamental right to a fair trial.
Ayman al-Sharawna, 36, from al-Khalil, and Samer al-Issawi, 33, from Jerusalem, have now been on hunger strike for 173 days and 143 days respectively in protest against being re-arrested and placed under the administrative detention.
In spite of their serious health conditions, Israeli authorities have refused to release al-Sharawna and al-Issawi, and exerted heavy pressure on both of them to stop their hunger strikes, in exchange for deporting them abroad, but the two detainees have rejected these attempts and have insisted on continuing their hunger strike demanding their release to their homes, PCHR stated in its statement.
The center confirmed that the health conditions of the two detainees are continuously deteriorating because of the long periods of their hunger strikes, and they have recently abstained from drinking water. They suffer from various health problems, including excessive loss of weight, general weakness, anemia, protein shortages, sugar shortage, deteriorated visions, and others. Their lives are at stake.
The center has pointed out to another development, on Wednesday, 19 December 2012, where Israeli soldiers violently beat al-Issawi in Jerusalem courtroom during the hearing held for considering the appeal to release him on bail or placing him under house arrest until his trial is concluded.
The center also expressed grave concern to the deterioration of living conditions of more than 4,700 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
It is noted that the two detainees were released in the context of a prisoner-exchange deal between Palestinian armed groups and Israeli authorities in October 2011, under which 1,027 Palestinian prisoners were released in exchange for the captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit.
Rebuilding the solidarity tent with al-Issawi for the second time
Residents of Issawiya town in Jerusalem rebuilt on Thursday evening the sit-in tent, that was set up in solidarity with their son the striking prisoner Samer al-Issawi and all the striking prisoners, after being demolished by the occupation.
The residents had built the solidarity tent of wood at the same place next to al-Arabiin mosque in the town center where almost daily confrontations took place with occupation troops and police, in an attempt to prevent a campaign of solidarity with prisoner al-Issawi, who has been on hunger strike for several month.
PCHR held the Israeli Occupation Forces responsible for their lives, and called upon the international community to exert pressure on the IOF to immediately release al-Sharawna and al-Issawi.
PCHR called on human rights organizations and international solidarity organizations to put an end to the misuse of administrative detention by the IOF in violation of the fundamental right to a fair trial.
Ayman al-Sharawna, 36, from al-Khalil, and Samer al-Issawi, 33, from Jerusalem, have now been on hunger strike for 173 days and 143 days respectively in protest against being re-arrested and placed under the administrative detention.
In spite of their serious health conditions, Israeli authorities have refused to release al-Sharawna and al-Issawi, and exerted heavy pressure on both of them to stop their hunger strikes, in exchange for deporting them abroad, but the two detainees have rejected these attempts and have insisted on continuing their hunger strike demanding their release to their homes, PCHR stated in its statement.
The center confirmed that the health conditions of the two detainees are continuously deteriorating because of the long periods of their hunger strikes, and they have recently abstained from drinking water. They suffer from various health problems, including excessive loss of weight, general weakness, anemia, protein shortages, sugar shortage, deteriorated visions, and others. Their lives are at stake.
The center has pointed out to another development, on Wednesday, 19 December 2012, where Israeli soldiers violently beat al-Issawi in Jerusalem courtroom during the hearing held for considering the appeal to release him on bail or placing him under house arrest until his trial is concluded.
The center also expressed grave concern to the deterioration of living conditions of more than 4,700 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
It is noted that the two detainees were released in the context of a prisoner-exchange deal between Palestinian armed groups and Israeli authorities in October 2011, under which 1,027 Palestinian prisoners were released in exchange for the captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit.
Rebuilding the solidarity tent with al-Issawi for the second time
Residents of Issawiya town in Jerusalem rebuilt on Thursday evening the sit-in tent, that was set up in solidarity with their son the striking prisoner Samer al-Issawi and all the striking prisoners, after being demolished by the occupation.
The residents had built the solidarity tent of wood at the same place next to al-Arabiin mosque in the town center where almost daily confrontations took place with occupation troops and police, in an attempt to prevent a campaign of solidarity with prisoner al-Issawi, who has been on hunger strike for several month.
