21 apr 2013
Israeli forces detain 3 in Hebron
Israeli forces detained three people in Hebron on Sunday, locals said.
Witnesses told Ma'an that Israeli forces raided several houses in Hebron and detained Hassan Bader, Bilal al-Salaymeh, and Ibrahim al-Zghayer.
An Israeli army spokeswoman said four people were detained in Nablus, four in Hebron, two in Tulkarem, and one each in the villages of Awarta, Aqraba, and Jayyus.
The release of the female prisoner Zawahra after 7 months in custody
Witnesses told Ma'an that Israeli forces raided several houses in Hebron and detained Hassan Bader, Bilal al-Salaymeh, and Ibrahim al-Zghayer.
An Israeli army spokeswoman said four people were detained in Nablus, four in Hebron, two in Tulkarem, and one each in the villages of Awarta, Aqraba, and Jayyus.
The release of the female prisoner Zawahra after 7 months in custody
IOF storms Ashkelon prison and impose tough sanctions on prisoners
Mahmoud Zahran
Israeli prisons administration imposed on Sunday extremely strict procedures on all prisoners in Ashkelon Prison; after captive Mahmoud Zahran, aged 32 from the village of Deir Abu Meshal near Ramallah, assaulted an Israeli jailer in the prison.
Ashkelon prison prisoner-representative said that three jailers who were present at the place brutally beat captive Zahran and took him to the cell. They have also closed the section and cut off electricity on detainees.
The representative added that several hours later, a large number of heavily armed troops of the Masada and Dror units, accompanied by dogs, stormed the rooms of prisoners, abused and strip searched the captives, without taking into account the patients and the elderly.
The inspections lasted until 8 pm, in the presence of all the IPS officers, accompanied by 900 police officers. They confiscated all the belongings of prisoners in the section and imposed a series of sanctions against them.
The Palestinian Prisoner Society said that the Masada forces stormed Ashkelon Prison, attacked the prisoners using gas grenades and rubber bullets, and confiscated all their belongings.
Israeli prisons administration imposed on Sunday extremely strict procedures on all prisoners in Ashkelon Prison; after captive Mahmoud Zahran, aged 32 from the village of Deir Abu Meshal near Ramallah, assaulted an Israeli jailer in the prison.
Ashkelon prison prisoner-representative said that three jailers who were present at the place brutally beat captive Zahran and took him to the cell. They have also closed the section and cut off electricity on detainees.
The representative added that several hours later, a large number of heavily armed troops of the Masada and Dror units, accompanied by dogs, stormed the rooms of prisoners, abused and strip searched the captives, without taking into account the patients and the elderly.
The inspections lasted until 8 pm, in the presence of all the IPS officers, accompanied by 900 police officers. They confiscated all the belongings of prisoners in the section and imposed a series of sanctions against them.
The Palestinian Prisoner Society said that the Masada forces stormed Ashkelon Prison, attacked the prisoners using gas grenades and rubber bullets, and confiscated all their belongings.
Lawyer: Sick prisoner stops taking medication
A sick prisoner on Sunday stopped taking medication in protest against Israeli medical negligence, according to a lawyer from the Palestinian ministry of prisoners' affairs.
Ahmad Saed al-Damouni, 43, from the Gaza Strip, has been held in Ashkelon jail since 1994. He is sentenced to a life term.
On Sunday, a lawyer said al-Damouni stopped taking medication in protest against Israeli medical negligence.
Karim Ajwa, a lawyer for the prisoners ministry, said al-Damouni suffers from heart problems and underwent two cardiac operations. Doctors say he needs catheter surgery each year.
Ajwa says Israeli authorities recommended surgery to remove a growth on the prisoner's right hand four years ago, but the surgery has thus far not been scheduled.
He accused doctors at Ashkelon prison of dragging their feet and said he would stop taking medication in protest.
On Thursday, Israel freed a sick prisoner named Mohammad al-Taj after he carried out two long-term hunger strikes, on health grounds.
He was transferred to intensive care at the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah.
Ahmad Saed al-Damouni, 43, from the Gaza Strip, has been held in Ashkelon jail since 1994. He is sentenced to a life term.
On Sunday, a lawyer said al-Damouni stopped taking medication in protest against Israeli medical negligence.
Karim Ajwa, a lawyer for the prisoners ministry, said al-Damouni suffers from heart problems and underwent two cardiac operations. Doctors say he needs catheter surgery each year.
Ajwa says Israeli authorities recommended surgery to remove a growth on the prisoner's right hand four years ago, but the surgery has thus far not been scheduled.
He accused doctors at Ashkelon prison of dragging their feet and said he would stop taking medication in protest.
On Thursday, Israel freed a sick prisoner named Mohammad al-Taj after he carried out two long-term hunger strikes, on health grounds.
He was transferred to intensive care at the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah.
Israel Proposes Six Months Imprisonment for Issawi to End his Hunger Strike
Prisoners' Minister Issa Qaraqe Sunday said that the Israeli prison administration proposed hunger striking prisoner Samer Issawi six months in jail starting from April 7, 2013 until October 15, 2013 in return of ending his strike, Palestinian official news agency WAFA reported.
Qaraqe said that Issawi demanded a written offer ratified by the Israeli legal advisor and in the presence of his Palestinian lawyers.
Issawi said he will not be manipulated and threatened to stop taking medical supplements if Israel evades from its obligations and procrastinates his release.
He asserted his boycott of Israeli courts and refusal of being expelled.
Minister: Issawi close to finalizing deal with Israel
Long term hunger striker Samer Issawi is close to agreeing a deal with Israel to end his hunger strike, a Palestinian Authority minister said Sunday.
Minister for prisoners Issa Qaraqe told Ma'an that "Issawi accepted an offer presented by Israel, on the condition that a written agreement is signed in the presence of lawyers and red cross representatives."
The deal would entail serving six months in prison in exchange for ending his hunger strike, Qaraqe said, without providing further details.
The offer was one of dozens made to Issawi by Israeli officials, the minister said.
Earlier, Israel's Ofer military court said it would hold an "urgent" hearing for Samer Issawi on Monday after he decided to stop taking vitamin supplements to protest dissatisfaction with ongoing negotiations with Israel about his release.
Israeli negotiators have been visiting Issawi at Kaplan Medical Center and pressuring him to accept proposals to end his hunger strike, Palestinian Prisoner Society lawyer Jawad Boulos said last week.
Issawi has been on hunger strike for over 265 days and has so far refused all offers by Israel to be exiled, insisting on being released to his home in Jerusalem.
Issawi, 33, was first arrested in 2002 and sentenced to 26 years for military activities on behalf of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
Israel military court to hold 'urgent' hearing for Issawi
Israel's Ofer military court will hold an "urgent" hearing for Samer Issawi on Monday after he decided to stop taking vitamin supplements, his lawyer said Sunday.
Palestinian Prisoner Society lawyer Jawad Boulos told Ma'an that Issawi stopped taking supplements on Thursday to protest dissatisfaction with ongoing negotiations with Israel about his release.
There has been no positive progress in talks with Israel so far, Boulos added.
PA minister of prisoners Issa Qaraqe on Sunday condemned Israel for its "immoral attempts to blackmail and pressure Issawi," saying negotiations carried out by Israel were a waste of time.
Issawi's heartbeat has slowed down and he now weighs only 45 kg, Boulos added.
Israeli negotiators have been visiting Issawi at Kaplan Medical Center and pressuring him to accept proposals to end his hunger strike, Boulos said last week.
Issawi has been on hunger strike for over 265 days and has so far refused all offers by Israel to be exiled, insisting on being released to his home in Jerusalem.
Issawi, 33, was first arrested in 2002 and sentenced to 26 years for military activities on behalf of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
He was released by Israel under a prisoner swap deal in October 2011, but rearrested last July for violating the terms of the agreement by traveling to the West Bank from east Jerusalem.
Palestinians in the Netherlands commemorate the Palestinian Prisoners Day
Palestinians in the Netherlands commemorated on Saturday the thirty-ninth anniversary of the Palestinian Prisoners Day, and hosted during the events the liberated prisoner Mahmoud Sarsak. During the event, the organizers wrote the names of the Palestinian prisoners on balloons carrying the colors of the Palestinian flag, expressing their demand to release the captives, especially the hunger strikers, from the occupation jails.
A documentary video was also displayed, illustrating the bad conditions of the Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli jails, and the suffering of their families.
For his part; Saad Dabbour, Head of Foreign Relations in the Palestinian Municipality of Jabalya in the northern Gaza Strip, pointed to the hardships facing the families of prisoners while visiting their sons held in the occupation jails, and the suffering of the captives' families from Gaza, who have been barred from visiting their detained sons by the occupation authorities for seven years.
The Palestinian liberated prisoner Mahmoud Sarsak talked during the events about the conditions of his detention, which lasted three years, the forms of torture he was subjected to, and his hunger strike, which lasted nearly 100 days.
Sarsak also called for expanding the campaigns of solidarity with prisoners in the Israeli occupation jails.
Qaraqe said that Issawi demanded a written offer ratified by the Israeli legal advisor and in the presence of his Palestinian lawyers.
Issawi said he will not be manipulated and threatened to stop taking medical supplements if Israel evades from its obligations and procrastinates his release.
He asserted his boycott of Israeli courts and refusal of being expelled.
Minister: Issawi close to finalizing deal with Israel
Long term hunger striker Samer Issawi is close to agreeing a deal with Israel to end his hunger strike, a Palestinian Authority minister said Sunday.
Minister for prisoners Issa Qaraqe told Ma'an that "Issawi accepted an offer presented by Israel, on the condition that a written agreement is signed in the presence of lawyers and red cross representatives."
The deal would entail serving six months in prison in exchange for ending his hunger strike, Qaraqe said, without providing further details.
The offer was one of dozens made to Issawi by Israeli officials, the minister said.
Earlier, Israel's Ofer military court said it would hold an "urgent" hearing for Samer Issawi on Monday after he decided to stop taking vitamin supplements to protest dissatisfaction with ongoing negotiations with Israel about his release.
Israeli negotiators have been visiting Issawi at Kaplan Medical Center and pressuring him to accept proposals to end his hunger strike, Palestinian Prisoner Society lawyer Jawad Boulos said last week.
Issawi has been on hunger strike for over 265 days and has so far refused all offers by Israel to be exiled, insisting on being released to his home in Jerusalem.
Issawi, 33, was first arrested in 2002 and sentenced to 26 years for military activities on behalf of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
Israel military court to hold 'urgent' hearing for Issawi
Israel's Ofer military court will hold an "urgent" hearing for Samer Issawi on Monday after he decided to stop taking vitamin supplements, his lawyer said Sunday.
Palestinian Prisoner Society lawyer Jawad Boulos told Ma'an that Issawi stopped taking supplements on Thursday to protest dissatisfaction with ongoing negotiations with Israel about his release.
There has been no positive progress in talks with Israel so far, Boulos added.
PA minister of prisoners Issa Qaraqe on Sunday condemned Israel for its "immoral attempts to blackmail and pressure Issawi," saying negotiations carried out by Israel were a waste of time.
Issawi's heartbeat has slowed down and he now weighs only 45 kg, Boulos added.
Israeli negotiators have been visiting Issawi at Kaplan Medical Center and pressuring him to accept proposals to end his hunger strike, Boulos said last week.
Issawi has been on hunger strike for over 265 days and has so far refused all offers by Israel to be exiled, insisting on being released to his home in Jerusalem.
Issawi, 33, was first arrested in 2002 and sentenced to 26 years for military activities on behalf of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
He was released by Israel under a prisoner swap deal in October 2011, but rearrested last July for violating the terms of the agreement by traveling to the West Bank from east Jerusalem.
Palestinians in the Netherlands commemorate the Palestinian Prisoners Day
Palestinians in the Netherlands commemorated on Saturday the thirty-ninth anniversary of the Palestinian Prisoners Day, and hosted during the events the liberated prisoner Mahmoud Sarsak. During the event, the organizers wrote the names of the Palestinian prisoners on balloons carrying the colors of the Palestinian flag, expressing their demand to release the captives, especially the hunger strikers, from the occupation jails.
A documentary video was also displayed, illustrating the bad conditions of the Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli jails, and the suffering of their families.
For his part; Saad Dabbour, Head of Foreign Relations in the Palestinian Municipality of Jabalya in the northern Gaza Strip, pointed to the hardships facing the families of prisoners while visiting their sons held in the occupation jails, and the suffering of the captives' families from Gaza, who have been barred from visiting their detained sons by the occupation authorities for seven years.
The Palestinian liberated prisoner Mahmoud Sarsak talked during the events about the conditions of his detention, which lasted three years, the forms of torture he was subjected to, and his hunger strike, which lasted nearly 100 days.
Sarsak also called for expanding the campaigns of solidarity with prisoners in the Israeli occupation jails.
Jordanians jailed in Israel to launch hunger strike in May
Jordanian prisoners being held in Israeli jails will go on hunger strike on May 1 to pressure Israeli authorities to release them, Fatah officials in Gaza said Sunday.
Fatah's commission for prisoners said it received a letter from the Jordanian detainees confirming that 20 prisoners will launch strike action in May to demand that they serve the remainder of their sentences in Jordan.
They are also demanding to be included in any future prisoner swap deal with Israel, and are asking for improvements in jail conditions.
The prisoners urged the Jordanian government to intervene to help them.
Fatah's commission for prisoners said it received a letter from the Jordanian detainees confirming that 20 prisoners will launch strike action in May to demand that they serve the remainder of their sentences in Jordan.
They are also demanding to be included in any future prisoner swap deal with Israel, and are asking for improvements in jail conditions.
The prisoners urged the Jordanian government to intervene to help them.
Barhoum: Arrest of Islamic bloc leaders blatant intervention in elections
Hamas movement denounced the Israeli occupation’s campaign of arrests in lines of Islamic bloc leaders at the Najah university in Nablus.
Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman, said in a press release on Sunday that the campaign of arrests only two days before the students’ elections is a clear intervention in the election process and students’ representation.
He said that it also reflected the Israeli occupation’s concern over the success of the Islamic bloc, affiliated with Hamas, and its resistance program that has won escalating support as evident in the elections in other West Bank universities over the past few weeks.
Barhoum said that all such terrorizing campaigns and persecution by both the Israeli occupation and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank would not deter the students and would not weaken their support for their representatives
The spokesman expressed his movement’s concern that such a campaign was in line with the security coordination between the Israeli occupation and the PA security agencies in a bid to destroy democracy and to retain the West Bank isolated from the rest of the homeland in a way maintaining the current de facto situation that protects the occupation’s interests.
Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman, said in a press release on Sunday that the campaign of arrests only two days before the students’ elections is a clear intervention in the election process and students’ representation.
He said that it also reflected the Israeli occupation’s concern over the success of the Islamic bloc, affiliated with Hamas, and its resistance program that has won escalating support as evident in the elections in other West Bank universities over the past few weeks.
Barhoum said that all such terrorizing campaigns and persecution by both the Israeli occupation and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank would not deter the students and would not weaken their support for their representatives
The spokesman expressed his movement’s concern that such a campaign was in line with the security coordination between the Israeli occupation and the PA security agencies in a bid to destroy democracy and to retain the West Bank isolated from the rest of the homeland in a way maintaining the current de facto situation that protects the occupation’s interests.
Israeli TV Report to improve the occupation's image
The Israeli military censor has allowed the Israeli Channel 2 television crew to document Palestinian children's arrest process in al-Khalil for allegedly throwing stones in an attempt to demonstrate the “Israeli positive image” during arrest processes.
The Israeli TV report tried to improve the Israeli soldier's image during storming Palestinian houses in "kindly" way, giving the detainee's family the opportunity to say goodbye to their children and to check on their condition after arrest.
However, the Israeli arrest process is carried out violently by the occupation soldiers, where they daily storm the Palestinian houses at night, searching and damaging their properties and attacking the detainee's family members.
The TV report, aired on the Israeli second channel, filmed the Israeli soldiers breakings into Aroub refugee camp in al-Khalil to arrest Palestinian children under the pretext of throwing stones at settlers' vehicles.
The Israeli TV report tried to improve the Israeli soldier's image during storming Palestinian houses in "kindly" way, giving the detainee's family the opportunity to say goodbye to their children and to check on their condition after arrest.
However, the Israeli arrest process is carried out violently by the occupation soldiers, where they daily storm the Palestinian houses at night, searching and damaging their properties and attacking the detainee's family members.
The TV report, aired on the Israeli second channel, filmed the Israeli soldiers breakings into Aroub refugee camp in al-Khalil to arrest Palestinian children under the pretext of throwing stones at settlers' vehicles.
IOF raids several Palestinian towns in WB
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) raided several towns in Bethlehem and al-Khalil southern occupied West Bank, while summoning a Palestinian citizen for investigation.
The sources confirmed that Israeli forces raided the towns of Nuba, Dahria and several suburbs in the city of al-Khalil, while dozens of settlers stormed Qalks town under the protection of Israeli soldiers for several hours.
The Israeli army stormed the towns of Dar Salah, Kheder, Dheisheh, Aida refugee camp, and several suburbs of the city of Bethlehem, while the occupation summoned the citizen Ramzi Mesaieed, from Aida refugee camp, to Etzion detention center near Bethlehem for interrogation.
The sources confirmed that Israeli forces raided the towns of Nuba, Dahria and several suburbs in the city of al-Khalil, while dozens of settlers stormed Qalks town under the protection of Israeli soldiers for several hours.
The Israeli army stormed the towns of Dar Salah, Kheder, Dheisheh, Aida refugee camp, and several suburbs of the city of Bethlehem, while the occupation summoned the citizen Ramzi Mesaieed, from Aida refugee camp, to Etzion detention center near Bethlehem for interrogation.
Israeli sanctions against prisoners following stabbing an Israeli official
The Israeli Prisons Services (IPS) in Israeli jails have taken arbitrary procedures against the Palestinian prisoners in all Israeli prisons following the stabbing of an Israeli official in Ashkelon prison, the Palestinian Prisoners' Studies Center revealed.
The IPS denied the prisoners their daily stroll time, closed all the prisons and sections, and prevented any communication between the prisoners, the spokesman for the center added.
The IPS informed the prisoners in the Israeli prisons that severe sanctions are imposed against them due to the recent incident, sources in Captive Movement told the center.
Mahmoud Zahran, sentenced to 18 years, has stabbed an Israeli official due to the continued detention of his elderly mother.
In Raymond prison, Israeli brutal measures were taken against the prisoners following the incident in Ashkelon prison.
The center confirmed that the prisoners in Nafha, Raymond, Sabaa, and Ashkelon prisons were denied their daily stroll, where collective retaliatory sanctions are expected to be imposed against the prisoners.
The IPS denied the prisoners their daily stroll time, closed all the prisons and sections, and prevented any communication between the prisoners, the spokesman for the center added.
The IPS informed the prisoners in the Israeli prisons that severe sanctions are imposed against them due to the recent incident, sources in Captive Movement told the center.
Mahmoud Zahran, sentenced to 18 years, has stabbed an Israeli official due to the continued detention of his elderly mother.
In Raymond prison, Israeli brutal measures were taken against the prisoners following the incident in Ashkelon prison.
The center confirmed that the prisoners in Nafha, Raymond, Sabaa, and Ashkelon prisons were denied their daily stroll, where collective retaliatory sanctions are expected to be imposed against the prisoners.
Jordan: Calls for official intervention for the release of Atta Ayyash
The Islamic Action Front Party called on the Jordanian government to intervene officially and urgently for the release of one its leaders from the Israeli jails.
The Israeli occupation has arrested on Saturday the citizen Atta Ayyash on Karama crossing on his return to Jordan after two days visit to his family in Rafat village in the northern West Bank, Hamza Mansour, the Secretary General of the party, has explained in his letter to the Jordanian Foreign Minister.
Sheikh Atta’s arrest has been extended for 12 days pending investigation, he added.
The occupation authorities have charged Atta Ayyash of being affiliated to Hamas movement and transferring money to the martyr Yahya Ayyash's family.
The Jordanian detainee denied his affiliation to Hamas and said that he is used to supporting the martyr’s family because they are his family too.
Sheikh Atta Ayyash is the uncle of the martyr Yahya Ayyash, the military leader in Hamas movement who was assassinated by the Israeli occupation in 1996.
The Israeli occupation has arrested on Saturday the citizen Atta Ayyash on Karama crossing on his return to Jordan after two days visit to his family in Rafat village in the northern West Bank, Hamza Mansour, the Secretary General of the party, has explained in his letter to the Jordanian Foreign Minister.
Sheikh Atta’s arrest has been extended for 12 days pending investigation, he added.
The occupation authorities have charged Atta Ayyash of being affiliated to Hamas movement and transferring money to the martyr Yahya Ayyash's family.
The Jordanian detainee denied his affiliation to Hamas and said that he is used to supporting the martyr’s family because they are his family too.
Sheikh Atta Ayyash is the uncle of the martyr Yahya Ayyash, the military leader in Hamas movement who was assassinated by the Israeli occupation in 1996.
IOF detain Islamic bloc students ahead of elections at Al-Najah university
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) launched an arrest campaign at dawn Sunday against some leaders of the Islamic student bloc at Al-Najah university in Nablus city.
The arrest campaign took place as part of the security coordination between the Israeli occupation and the Fatah-controlled Palestinian authority and was aimed at influencing the student elections to be held at the university.
Among the detainees were Hosam Al-Bustami, Alaa Al-Aaraj, Mohamed Abu Sa'dda and Samir Abu Shu'eib.
The IOF, however, failed to arrest Mohamed Namer who was not at home during the raid.
All the detainees have been exposed previously to arrests and interrogation by the PA and Israeli security forces.
For its part, the Islamic bloc, the student wing of Hamas, declared its intention to fight the elections for the student council slated to be held next Tuesday.
In a statement, the Islamic bloc said it decided to resume its student activities for the first time since it quit six years ago the elections at the university because of its exposure to a wide repression campaign by the PA and Israeli security forces.
A senior official from the Islamic bloc said that the decision to participate in the elections would contribute to eliminating the stagnation and weakness that had befallen the student movement at the university over the past years.
The arrest campaign took place as part of the security coordination between the Israeli occupation and the Fatah-controlled Palestinian authority and was aimed at influencing the student elections to be held at the university.
Among the detainees were Hosam Al-Bustami, Alaa Al-Aaraj, Mohamed Abu Sa'dda and Samir Abu Shu'eib.
The IOF, however, failed to arrest Mohamed Namer who was not at home during the raid.
All the detainees have been exposed previously to arrests and interrogation by the PA and Israeli security forces.
For its part, the Islamic bloc, the student wing of Hamas, declared its intention to fight the elections for the student council slated to be held next Tuesday.
In a statement, the Islamic bloc said it decided to resume its student activities for the first time since it quit six years ago the elections at the university because of its exposure to a wide repression campaign by the PA and Israeli security forces.
A senior official from the Islamic bloc said that the decision to participate in the elections would contribute to eliminating the stagnation and weakness that had befallen the student movement at the university over the past years.
IOF soldiers storm Jenin villages, arrest youth
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) stormed two villages to the east of Jenin on Sunday morning and arrested a young man from a third village.
Eyewitnesses said that IOF soldiers burst into the villages of Deir Ghazala and Arbuna and roamed its streets and alleys and set up ambushes but no arrests were made.
They said that IOF soldiers in their armored vehicles stormed the nearby Wadi Abu Da’eef and searched hothouses and set up ambushes.
Locals in Jaba village, south of Jenin, said that IOF soldiers broke into their village at dawn Sunday and nabbed a 24-year-old youth after searching his family home.
Eyewitnesses said that IOF soldiers burst into the villages of Deir Ghazala and Arbuna and roamed its streets and alleys and set up ambushes but no arrests were made.
They said that IOF soldiers in their armored vehicles stormed the nearby Wadi Abu Da’eef and searched hothouses and set up ambushes.
Locals in Jaba village, south of Jenin, said that IOF soldiers broke into their village at dawn Sunday and nabbed a 24-year-old youth after searching his family home.
Hamas: Israeli jailers inject prisoners with lethal substances
The Hamas Movement appealed to the Palestinian authority and the international groups in the occupied Palestinian lands to investigate news reports saying that Palestinian prisoners are given lethal injections in jails.
"The frequent news and reports about prisoners in Israeli jails being injected with long-term lethal substances or subjecting them to laboratory tests to try some new drugs or medicines represents a moral scandal and a crime against humanity," Hamas stated in a press release on Saturday.
"We, in the Hamas Movement, express our deep concern over the lives of the prisoners and their health conditions in Israeli jails, where about a thousand of them suffer from different diseases due to the deliberate medical neglect and the systematic violations by the occupation and its Zionist prison administration, which we hold fully responsible for such crimes and violations," the Movement underlined.
In a separate incident, the Palestinian prisoner center for studies said that the Israeli prison authority had taken punitive measures against Palestinian prisoners in different jails after one of them allegedly attacked the chief of the guards in Ashkelon prison.
The center stated that the Israeli administrations of Nafha, Raymond, Beersheba, and Ashkelon prisons decided on Saturday following the incident to prevent the prisoners from spending their leisure time in the courtyards and kept inside their cells.
"The frequent news and reports about prisoners in Israeli jails being injected with long-term lethal substances or subjecting them to laboratory tests to try some new drugs or medicines represents a moral scandal and a crime against humanity," Hamas stated in a press release on Saturday.
"We, in the Hamas Movement, express our deep concern over the lives of the prisoners and their health conditions in Israeli jails, where about a thousand of them suffer from different diseases due to the deliberate medical neglect and the systematic violations by the occupation and its Zionist prison administration, which we hold fully responsible for such crimes and violations," the Movement underlined.
In a separate incident, the Palestinian prisoner center for studies said that the Israeli prison authority had taken punitive measures against Palestinian prisoners in different jails after one of them allegedly attacked the chief of the guards in Ashkelon prison.
The center stated that the Israeli administrations of Nafha, Raymond, Beersheba, and Ashkelon prisons decided on Saturday following the incident to prevent the prisoners from spending their leisure time in the courtyards and kept inside their cells.
20 apr 2013
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Video shows Israeli forces using Palestinian teen as human shield
Muhammad R, 17, was used as a human shield by Israeli border police during clashes with protesters in the West Bank town of Abu Dis.
Defence for Children International Palestine is disturbed by Israeli border police using a Palestinian teenager as a human shield during confrontations with protesters in the West Bank town of Abu Dis on Friday. British journalist Kate Arno caught Israeli border police on video as they grabbed Muhammad R, 17, out of their armored vehicle onto the street and forced him to stand with them while they fired at protesters. His hands remained tied with a single plastic cord and held above his head throughout the incident. |
One of the policemen can be seen flashing the V-for-victory sign. The clashes between Palestinian youth and Israeli forces erupted during a demonstration in support of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike, according to news report.
“We’re outraged that Israeli soldiers continue to use Palestinian children as human shields with impunity,” said Ayed Abu Eqtaish, Accountability Program director at DCI-Palestine. “The teen in this case was deliberately exposed to danger after he had been taken into custody. Israeli authorities must conduct a prompt, transparent and impartial investigation and hold the perpetrators accountable.”
Israeli border police spokesman Shai Hachimi told Agence France-Presse that the police officer in charge only wanted to show the youth was unharmed during his arrest. He denied that the teenager was used as a human shield.
While transferring Muhammad to the Jewish settlement of Maale Adumim in the West Bank for interrogation, the border policemen allegedly roughed him up. His father told DCI-Palestine that he caught up with his son at the police station and saw him at a distance. Muhammad was struggling to stand on his right leg and his face was bruised, the father said. After questioning, Muhammad was taken to Ofer prison in the West Bank, according to his lawyer, Shadi Zaatreh.
Muhammad has enlarged tonsils and adenoids that restrict his breathing, according to his father. He requires medication to sleep at night and uses an inhaler throughout the day.
In February, DCI-Palestine documented a case where Israeli soldiers forced a 9-year-old Palestinian boy at gunpoint to walk among them while they confronted Palestinian demonstrators near Ofer prison outside Ramallah.
Since 2004, DCI-Palestine has documented 21 cases of Palestinian children used as human shields by Israeli forces, 20 of which occurred after the 2005 decision by the Israeli High Court of Justice prohibiting the practice under Israeli domestic law.
The use of human shields is prohibited by international humanitarian law, and involves the forced presence of civilians to shield an area or soldiers from harm or forcing civilians to directly assist in military operations.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The original text of this alert was modified to correct that it was British journalist Kate Arno who filmed the incident. Additionally, Israeli border policemen were misidentified as soldiers. Comment by border police spokesman Shai Hachimi was added in paragraph four.
“We’re outraged that Israeli soldiers continue to use Palestinian children as human shields with impunity,” said Ayed Abu Eqtaish, Accountability Program director at DCI-Palestine. “The teen in this case was deliberately exposed to danger after he had been taken into custody. Israeli authorities must conduct a prompt, transparent and impartial investigation and hold the perpetrators accountable.”
Israeli border police spokesman Shai Hachimi told Agence France-Presse that the police officer in charge only wanted to show the youth was unharmed during his arrest. He denied that the teenager was used as a human shield.
While transferring Muhammad to the Jewish settlement of Maale Adumim in the West Bank for interrogation, the border policemen allegedly roughed him up. His father told DCI-Palestine that he caught up with his son at the police station and saw him at a distance. Muhammad was struggling to stand on his right leg and his face was bruised, the father said. After questioning, Muhammad was taken to Ofer prison in the West Bank, according to his lawyer, Shadi Zaatreh.
Muhammad has enlarged tonsils and adenoids that restrict his breathing, according to his father. He requires medication to sleep at night and uses an inhaler throughout the day.
In February, DCI-Palestine documented a case where Israeli soldiers forced a 9-year-old Palestinian boy at gunpoint to walk among them while they confronted Palestinian demonstrators near Ofer prison outside Ramallah.
Since 2004, DCI-Palestine has documented 21 cases of Palestinian children used as human shields by Israeli forces, 20 of which occurred after the 2005 decision by the Israeli High Court of Justice prohibiting the practice under Israeli domestic law.
The use of human shields is prohibited by international humanitarian law, and involves the forced presence of civilians to shield an area or soldiers from harm or forcing civilians to directly assist in military operations.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The original text of this alert was modified to correct that it was British journalist Kate Arno who filmed the incident. Additionally, Israeli border policemen were misidentified as soldiers. Comment by border police spokesman Shai Hachimi was added in paragraph four.
IOF soldiers serve summons in Bethlehem village, close main road in Al-Khalil
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) served a summons to a young man in Husan village, Bethlehem province, on Saturday after storming and searching his family home.
Local sources said that IOF soldiers broke into the home of 19-year-old Daoud Al-Shaer’s family home and ordered him to appear at Gush Etzion settlement, south of Bethlehem, for intelligence questioning.
Meanwhile, IOF soldiers closed a main road leading to villages western Al-Khalil on Saturday morning at the pretext of protecting settlers.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC that IOF soldiers closed the iron gate separating Doura village from a number of villages to the west of Al-Khalil, adding that the practice is pursued every Saturday and on Jewish holidays.
In another incident in Al-Khalil, Jewish settlers attacked citizens in Beit Ummar village, north of Al-Khalil, and threw stones at them.
Local sources said that groups of settlers from Bat Ayin settlement assaulted citizens and prevented them from approaching their cultivated land lots.
Jewish settlers launched a series of attacks over the past few weeks on Beit Ummar and nearby villages chopping down olive trees and damaging almond and grape trees and forcing farmers out of their lands under the protection of IOF soldiers.
Local sources said that IOF soldiers broke into the home of 19-year-old Daoud Al-Shaer’s family home and ordered him to appear at Gush Etzion settlement, south of Bethlehem, for intelligence questioning.
Meanwhile, IOF soldiers closed a main road leading to villages western Al-Khalil on Saturday morning at the pretext of protecting settlers.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC that IOF soldiers closed the iron gate separating Doura village from a number of villages to the west of Al-Khalil, adding that the practice is pursued every Saturday and on Jewish holidays.
In another incident in Al-Khalil, Jewish settlers attacked citizens in Beit Ummar village, north of Al-Khalil, and threw stones at them.
Local sources said that groups of settlers from Bat Ayin settlement assaulted citizens and prevented them from approaching their cultivated land lots.
Jewish settlers launched a series of attacks over the past few weeks on Beit Ummar and nearby villages chopping down olive trees and damaging almond and grape trees and forcing farmers out of their lands under the protection of IOF soldiers.
Palestinian prisoner suffers speaking difficulty after wrong injection
Naim Younus Shawamra
A Palestinian captive in the Israeli occupation jails, sentenced to life imprisonment, is suffering from a serious health status after his jailers gave him wrong injections.
The Ministry of Prisoners and Ex-prisoners' Affairs said that the captive Naim Younus Shawamra, aged 43 from al-Khalil and who has been sentenced to life imprisonment since 1995, began to suffer from difficulty to speak, weakness in the feet and hands, difficulty of eating and severe pain in the head, after he was given wrong injections.
Shawamra told the lawyer for the Ministry of Prisoners that the medications prescribed by the prison doctors did not improve his health condition, which has deteriorated, as he started to suffer from headaches and severe pain around the eyes and in the throat as well as difficulty to speak.
The captive ssaid that due to his continued pains and his protests at the prison administration’s neglect of his status, he was transferred to the Israeli Barzillai hospital, where a specialized doctor acknowledged that the cause of these symptoms is the wrong injections he was given.
The Russian Pravda newspaper revealed on Friday that the Israeli occupation authorities have been giving Palestinian prisoners, before their release, injections containing dangerous viruses that lead to death in the late stages.
A Palestinian captive in the Israeli occupation jails, sentenced to life imprisonment, is suffering from a serious health status after his jailers gave him wrong injections.
The Ministry of Prisoners and Ex-prisoners' Affairs said that the captive Naim Younus Shawamra, aged 43 from al-Khalil and who has been sentenced to life imprisonment since 1995, began to suffer from difficulty to speak, weakness in the feet and hands, difficulty of eating and severe pain in the head, after he was given wrong injections.
Shawamra told the lawyer for the Ministry of Prisoners that the medications prescribed by the prison doctors did not improve his health condition, which has deteriorated, as he started to suffer from headaches and severe pain around the eyes and in the throat as well as difficulty to speak.
The captive ssaid that due to his continued pains and his protests at the prison administration’s neglect of his status, he was transferred to the Israeli Barzillai hospital, where a specialized doctor acknowledged that the cause of these symptoms is the wrong injections he was given.
The Russian Pravda newspaper revealed on Friday that the Israeli occupation authorities have been giving Palestinian prisoners, before their release, injections containing dangerous viruses that lead to death in the late stages.
Palestinian prisoner stabs Israeli warden with screw
Mahmoud Abdel Salam Zahran Deir Abu Meshal
A Palestinian political prisoner attacked an Israeli warden in Shikma prison with a screw, Israeli radio reported Saturday.
The prisoner serving an 18-year sentence managed to wound the warden with a screw he managed to obtain and sharpen purposefully, according to the report.
Other prison guards managed to subdue the Palestinian prisoner before the ward was sealed for interrogation. The report did name the Palestinian prisoner.
A Palestinian political prisoner attacked an Israeli warden in Shikma prison with a screw, Israeli radio reported Saturday.
The prisoner serving an 18-year sentence managed to wound the warden with a screw he managed to obtain and sharpen purposefully, according to the report.
Other prison guards managed to subdue the Palestinian prisoner before the ward was sealed for interrogation. The report did name the Palestinian prisoner.
IOF soldiers break into villages in Jenin
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) stormed at dawn Saturday the town of Rummaneh western Jenin and closed its entrance for hours. Local sources said that dozens of Israeli soldiers from the nearby camp of Salem stormed the village adjacent to the apartheid wall and conducted raids. No arrests have been reported.
Meanwhile, the IOF set up, in the early morning hours, a checkpoint at the eastern entrance to Ya'bad, south of Jenin, stopped the vehicles and blocked their movement.
Local sources said that the occupation troops searched the vehicles and checked the identities of citizens.
They also detained and questioned a number of youths, and prevented some employees from arriving to their workplaces.
Five military patrols raided Jaba village, south of Jenin at dawn Friday, and broke into and searched a Palestinian citizen's house.
Local sources added that the Israeli forces stormed the neighboring towns of Fandaqumiya and Seelat al-Dahr, where they combed open areas.
The IOF also set up a checkpoint on the Jenin - Nablus Street, near Jaba crossroads and started searching passing Palestinian vehicles.
Meanwhile, the IOF set up, in the early morning hours, a checkpoint at the eastern entrance to Ya'bad, south of Jenin, stopped the vehicles and blocked their movement.
Local sources said that the occupation troops searched the vehicles and checked the identities of citizens.
They also detained and questioned a number of youths, and prevented some employees from arriving to their workplaces.
Five military patrols raided Jaba village, south of Jenin at dawn Friday, and broke into and searched a Palestinian citizen's house.
Local sources added that the Israeli forces stormed the neighboring towns of Fandaqumiya and Seelat al-Dahr, where they combed open areas.
The IOF also set up a checkpoint on the Jenin - Nablus Street, near Jaba crossroads and started searching passing Palestinian vehicles.
Four citizens including old lady wounded in confrontations with IOF soldiers
Four Palestinians, including an old lady in her seventies, were wounded in confrontations with Israeli occupation forces (IOF) near Ramallah afternoon Friday. Eyewitnesses told the PIC in a telephone contact that IOF soldiers arrested ten demonstrators, who sought refuge in a building after it was stormed by the soldiers, in Silwad village to the east of Ramallah.
They said that the soldiers beat up the citizens after handcuffing and throwing them on the ground.
The sources said that a 70-year-old Palestinian woman was wounded with a rubber bullet in her chest after the soldiers took control of her home and forced her out of it.
Meanwhile to the east of Silwad, inhabitants of Deir Jarir village offered the Friday prayers on a land threatened with confiscation.
Jewish settlers from Ofra settlement, who want to annex the land to their settlement, tried to attack the worshipers but were confronted by villagers who threw stones on them and chased them away.
However, IOF soldiers intervened and fired live and rubber bullets in addition to teargas canisters to disperse the villagers.
In a separate incident, two Palestinian young men were injured in confrontations with IOF soldiers in front of the Jalazoun refugee camp north of Ramallah city.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that the two young men were hit with teargas canisters and were taken to Ramallah government hospital.
They said that the soldiers arrested two other young men in the confrontations, adding that the soldiers closed Beit El road, near the Jalazoun camp, that links Ramallah to Nablus.
They said that the soldiers beat up the citizens after handcuffing and throwing them on the ground.
The sources said that a 70-year-old Palestinian woman was wounded with a rubber bullet in her chest after the soldiers took control of her home and forced her out of it.
Meanwhile to the east of Silwad, inhabitants of Deir Jarir village offered the Friday prayers on a land threatened with confiscation.
Jewish settlers from Ofra settlement, who want to annex the land to their settlement, tried to attack the worshipers but were confronted by villagers who threw stones on them and chased them away.
However, IOF soldiers intervened and fired live and rubber bullets in addition to teargas canisters to disperse the villagers.
In a separate incident, two Palestinian young men were injured in confrontations with IOF soldiers in front of the Jalazoun refugee camp north of Ramallah city.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that the two young men were hit with teargas canisters and were taken to Ramallah government hospital.
They said that the soldiers arrested two other young men in the confrontations, adding that the soldiers closed Beit El road, near the Jalazoun camp, that links Ramallah to Nablus.
19 apr 2013
Russian newspaper: Israel injects Palestinian prisoners with dangerous viruses
Russian press sources revealed that the Israeli authorities inject Palestinian prisoners in its detention centers with "dangerous viruses" that lead to death in the long term.
The Russian Pravda newspaper said in its Friday edition that "the Tel Aviv regime injects prisoners with dangerous viruses before releasing them."
It noted that the injections contain viruses that cause chronic diseases such as prostate cancer and liver cancer, which often lead to the death of prisoner after a period of his release.
The newspaper also pointed to the policy of deliberate medical neglect and torture adopted by the Israeli prison administration against the Palestinian patient prisoners inside jails.
"A suspiciously large number of Palestinian prisoners are suffering from incurable diseases or permanent disabilities as a result of the critical situation in prisons that they suffer at the hands of Israeli regime," the paper revealed.
The Russian Pravda newspaper said in its Friday edition that "the Tel Aviv regime injects prisoners with dangerous viruses before releasing them."
It noted that the injections contain viruses that cause chronic diseases such as prostate cancer and liver cancer, which often lead to the death of prisoner after a period of his release.
The newspaper also pointed to the policy of deliberate medical neglect and torture adopted by the Israeli prison administration against the Palestinian patient prisoners inside jails.
"A suspiciously large number of Palestinian prisoners are suffering from incurable diseases or permanent disabilities as a result of the critical situation in prisons that they suffer at the hands of Israeli regime," the paper revealed.
Mother of captive and leader Jamal Tawil dies
The mother of administrative detainee and leader Sheikh Jamal Tawil, former mayor of al-Bireh, died on Friday morning in the town of al-Bireh, in the central occupied West Bank, after a struggle with illness.
Member of Hamas Political Bureau Ezzat Resheq mourned her in a press statement and offered condolences to the Hamas leader, prisoner Sheikh Jamal Tawil for the death of his mother.
Resheq condemned the Israeli procedures preventing Sheikh Jamal from seeing and visiting his ailing mother, and refusing to allow him to participate in her funeral.
Sheikh Jamal Tawil is one of the leaders of national and Islamic action in Palestine. He had earlier served 11 years on aggregate in Israeli jails and he is one of the deportees to Marj Al-Zohour. He was re-arrested on January 15, 2013 and is held in Ofer prison.
Member of Hamas Political Bureau Ezzat Resheq mourned her in a press statement and offered condolences to the Hamas leader, prisoner Sheikh Jamal Tawil for the death of his mother.
Resheq condemned the Israeli procedures preventing Sheikh Jamal from seeing and visiting his ailing mother, and refusing to allow him to participate in her funeral.
Sheikh Jamal Tawil is one of the leaders of national and Islamic action in Palestine. He had earlier served 11 years on aggregate in Israeli jails and he is one of the deportees to Marj Al-Zohour. He was re-arrested on January 15, 2013 and is held in Ofer prison.
PA liaison office secures release of Nablus man
The Palestinian Authority liaison office in Nablus on Friday secured the release of a Palestinian from Israeli custody.
PA liaison officials negotiated with their Israeli counterparts to free Muhammad al-Deik, a resident of al-Sawiya village, after he was arrested by Israeli forces near the Eli settlement, the office said in a statement.
Palestinians should call the office as soon as a relative is detained, the statement added.
On Thursday, the PA liaison office in Ramallah secured the release of Khaled al-Uri from Beit Ur near Ramallah. Israel had detained the 16-year-old on Monday.
PA liaison officials negotiated with their Israeli counterparts to free Muhammad al-Deik, a resident of al-Sawiya village, after he was arrested by Israeli forces near the Eli settlement, the office said in a statement.
Palestinians should call the office as soon as a relative is detained, the statement added.
On Thursday, the PA liaison office in Ramallah secured the release of Khaled al-Uri from Beit Ur near Ramallah. Israel had detained the 16-year-old on Monday.
2 prisoners join solidarity hunger strike for Issawi
Two Palestinians in Israel's Negev prison on Friday announced an open hunger strike in solidarity with Samer Issawi.
Issawi, 33, is in a critical condition in Israel's Kaplan Medical Center after nearly nine months on hunger strike. He has lost half his body weight and is surviving on glucose, salts and vitamins taken intravenously.
Shadi Mali and Salih al-Jaedi, from Bethlehem's Duheishe refugee camp, said they would go hunger strike to support Issawi and called on all Palestinians to show solidarity with him.
On Wednesday, nine prisoners affiliated to the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine also announced a hunger strike they said they would continue until Issawi's release to East Jerusalem.
Issawi, 33, was first arrested in 2002 for military activities on behalf of the DFLP.
He was granted amnesty in the Oct. 2011 prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas. but was rearrested on July 7 and accused of violating his release terms by leaving East Jerusalem and entering the West Bank.
Issawi, 33, is in a critical condition in Israel's Kaplan Medical Center after nearly nine months on hunger strike. He has lost half his body weight and is surviving on glucose, salts and vitamins taken intravenously.
Shadi Mali and Salih al-Jaedi, from Bethlehem's Duheishe refugee camp, said they would go hunger strike to support Issawi and called on all Palestinians to show solidarity with him.
On Wednesday, nine prisoners affiliated to the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine also announced a hunger strike they said they would continue until Issawi's release to East Jerusalem.
Issawi, 33, was first arrested in 2002 for military activities on behalf of the DFLP.
He was granted amnesty in the Oct. 2011 prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas. but was rearrested on July 7 and accused of violating his release terms by leaving East Jerusalem and entering the West Bank.
Israeli forces detain 3 Palestinians in Jenin, Tubas
Israeli forces on Thursday detained three Palestinians in Jenin and Tubas, locals said.
Israeli forces stopped cars at a checkpoint near the Yabad village southwest of Jenin, scrutinizing vehicles hearing to Tulkarem and Barta, locals said.
They also raided the home of Yassir Tahayneh, 22, at the eastern side of the city and detained him before raiding surrounding houses accompanied by an intelligence officer.
In Tubas, soldiers detained Jamal Salah, 20, and Ahmad al-Shwaiky, 22. They also handed over a notification to Hamzeh Alian to meet Israeli intelligence at Huwara south of Nablus.
An army spokeswoman confirmed five arrests in the West Bank overnight.
Two were west of Ramallah, one was in el-Bireh in the Ramallah district, and two more were detained east of Nablus, according to the official.
Israeli forces stopped cars at a checkpoint near the Yabad village southwest of Jenin, scrutinizing vehicles hearing to Tulkarem and Barta, locals said.
They also raided the home of Yassir Tahayneh, 22, at the eastern side of the city and detained him before raiding surrounding houses accompanied by an intelligence officer.
In Tubas, soldiers detained Jamal Salah, 20, and Ahmad al-Shwaiky, 22. They also handed over a notification to Hamzeh Alian to meet Israeli intelligence at Huwara south of Nablus.
An army spokeswoman confirmed five arrests in the West Bank overnight.
Two were west of Ramallah, one was in el-Bireh in the Ramallah district, and two more were detained east of Nablus, according to the official.
Israeli Forces Raid House in Jenin, Interrogate its Residents
Israeli occupation forces raided at dawn, the house of Ammar Ibrahim Shlash in Jaba' village in Jenin.
Security sources said that Israeli forces raided the house of Shlash, searched it and interrogated its residents.
No arrests were reported.
Security sources said that Israeli forces raided the house of Shlash, searched it and interrogated its residents.
No arrests were reported.
Israeli forces arrest man from Battir
Israeli forces detained a 47-year-old man from Battir, west of Bethlehem, at dawn Friday, locals said.
Forces detained Haidar Muamar during a raid on his home, locals told Ma'an.
A spokesman for Israel's border police did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
IOF Forces Arrest Palestinian from Bethlehem
Israeli occupation forces arrested at dawn, a Palestinian from Battir village, west of Bethlehem. Security sources said that Israeli forces arrested Haidar Hassan Mu'amar, 47, after raiding and searching his house.
Forces detained Haidar Muamar during a raid on his home, locals told Ma'an.
A spokesman for Israel's border police did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
IOF Forces Arrest Palestinian from Bethlehem
Israeli occupation forces arrested at dawn, a Palestinian from Battir village, west of Bethlehem. Security sources said that Israeli forces arrested Haidar Hassan Mu'amar, 47, after raiding and searching his house.
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Ministry: Al-Taj stable but may need surgery
Mohammad al-Taj, who Israel freed on Thursday, is in a stable condition but may require dangerous surgery, a Palestinian Authority Health Ministry official said.
Israel released al-Taj, who had carried out two long-term hunger strikes, on health grounds. He was transferred to intensive care at the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah. "He suffers from pulmonary fibrosis and heart hypertrophy. Pulmonary fibrosis can be treated by a lung transplant, but that is a difficult and uncertain surgery," said Health Ministry undersecretary Anan al-Masri. |
Doctors will prepare a comprehensive medical report and the ministry will provide any treatment al-Taj needs, al-Masri told Ma'an, adding that he would be sent abroad for surgery if necessary.
Israeli President Shimon Peres pardoned al-Taj on Thursday due to concerns over his health, his office said.
"Peres accepted the recommendation of the Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, in coordination with the security services, and signed the release of Mohammed Kamal al-Taj," a statement said.
"The decision to release him was taken on humanitarian grounds as the prisoner was ill with a serious medical condition," it added.
'A giant of defiance'
Al-Taj was detained in 2003 and sentenced to 15 years.
A member of the Palestine Liberation Front, al-Taj had held two separate hunger strikes alongside other inmates in 2012, one lasting 67 days and the other 45 days.
Ramallah Governor Layla Ghannam visited al-Taj in hospital and called on the international community to intervene to end the suffering of all sick Palestinian prisoners.
"All free people of the world should intervene to end the suffering of Palestinian prisoners held in Ramle cemeteries," Ghannam said, referring to the clinic at Israel's Ramle prison.
"I am in front of a giant of defiance whose spirits were not shaken by the wardens' arrogance. Our prisoner is like his name, a crown on the head of each Palestinian," she added.
Al-Taj means "crown" in Arabic.
"Our prisoners go to jail on foot, and when they leave, they are either carried in coffins or very exhausted as a result of physical and psychological torture in jail," the governor said.
The death from cancer of Maysara Abu Hamdiyeh, a Palestinian prisoner held by Israel, provoked widespread demonstrations and violence across the West Bank this month, including the killing of two Palestinian teenagers by Israeli troops.
Israeli President Shimon Peres pardoned al-Taj on Thursday due to concerns over his health, his office said.
"Peres accepted the recommendation of the Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, in coordination with the security services, and signed the release of Mohammed Kamal al-Taj," a statement said.
"The decision to release him was taken on humanitarian grounds as the prisoner was ill with a serious medical condition," it added.
'A giant of defiance'
Al-Taj was detained in 2003 and sentenced to 15 years.
A member of the Palestine Liberation Front, al-Taj had held two separate hunger strikes alongside other inmates in 2012, one lasting 67 days and the other 45 days.
Ramallah Governor Layla Ghannam visited al-Taj in hospital and called on the international community to intervene to end the suffering of all sick Palestinian prisoners.
"All free people of the world should intervene to end the suffering of Palestinian prisoners held in Ramle cemeteries," Ghannam said, referring to the clinic at Israel's Ramle prison.
"I am in front of a giant of defiance whose spirits were not shaken by the wardens' arrogance. Our prisoner is like his name, a crown on the head of each Palestinian," she added.
Al-Taj means "crown" in Arabic.
"Our prisoners go to jail on foot, and when they leave, they are either carried in coffins or very exhausted as a result of physical and psychological torture in jail," the governor said.
The death from cancer of Maysara Abu Hamdiyeh, a Palestinian prisoner held by Israel, provoked widespread demonstrations and violence across the West Bank this month, including the killing of two Palestinian teenagers by Israeli troops.
IOA imposes house arrest on prisoner's mother
Magistrate's Court decided to impose house arrest and bail on prisoner's elderly mother Intisar Haj from Beit Sira, west of Ramallah.
The occupation authorities has released her on bail of 30 thousand shekels and imposed on her house arrest in the village of Rahat Beersheba within 1948-occupied territories until the court session.
The Israeli occupation forces arrested Intisar Haj in 9 April 2013 while returning from visiting her son in Ashkelon Prison, where IOF detained the bus, which was carrying the prisoners' families, for more than four hours.
The occupation authorities has released her on bail of 30 thousand shekels and imposed on her house arrest in the village of Rahat Beersheba within 1948-occupied territories until the court session.
The Israeli occupation forces arrested Intisar Haj in 9 April 2013 while returning from visiting her son in Ashkelon Prison, where IOF detained the bus, which was carrying the prisoners' families, for more than four hours.
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Hajja Fethiye Khanfar
Intisar Haj is the second prisoner's mother who was subjected to house arrest, where Hajja Fethiye Khanfar, prisoner Rami Khanfar's elderly and ill mother, was subjected to house arrest in Rahat city in 1948-occupied territories under the pretext of smuggling mobile phones to her son who is serving a 15-year sentence in Israeli jails |
