20 apr 2015
This briefing was published on 17 April 2015 to coincide with the annual day of solidarity with Palestinian prisoners.
It collects the memories of the pain, suffering and resilience of Palestinians who have been imprisoned by Israel.
In 2013, Corporate Watch visited the West Bank and Gaza Strip and interviewed released prisoners about their experiences. The 11 accounts give a glimpse of the struggles of Palestinian prisoners.
They have been collected together here to inspire readers to take action in solidarity with them and against the companies profiting from their suffering.
The first part of this briefing compiles interviews with prisoners from the Gaza Strip. The second part focuses on the West Bank. The final part summarises the companies providing equipment and services that aid the arrest and imprisonment of Palestinians and gives detailed profiles of two of the biggest culprits: G4S and Hewlett Packard.
We dedicate this briefing to all those who remain imprisoned.
The briefing is currently published online and can be read here or downloaded here [PDF]. It will be available to buy in the coming weeks from www.corporatewatch.org
It collects the memories of the pain, suffering and resilience of Palestinians who have been imprisoned by Israel.
In 2013, Corporate Watch visited the West Bank and Gaza Strip and interviewed released prisoners about their experiences. The 11 accounts give a glimpse of the struggles of Palestinian prisoners.
They have been collected together here to inspire readers to take action in solidarity with them and against the companies profiting from their suffering.
The first part of this briefing compiles interviews with prisoners from the Gaza Strip. The second part focuses on the West Bank. The final part summarises the companies providing equipment and services that aid the arrest and imprisonment of Palestinians and gives detailed profiles of two of the biggest culprits: G4S and Hewlett Packard.
We dedicate this briefing to all those who remain imprisoned.
The briefing is currently published online and can be read here or downloaded here [PDF]. It will be available to buy in the coming weeks from www.corporatewatch.org
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested a Palestinian student at Karama border crossing that links between the West Bank and Jordan while on his way back home to Beit Ummar town in al-Khalil.
The Palestinian local activist Mohamed Awad reported that the IOF arrested the 23-year-old Muath Abu Maria after his return from Yemen.
Meanwhile, a large arrest campaign was carried out at dawn Monday in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
14 Palestinians were detained during the campaign including five minors between the ages of 14 and 15 from Hussan town in Bethlehem.
Four Jerusalemite youths were among the reported detainees after raiding and searching their homes in Silwan town.
The Palestinian local activist Mohamed Awad reported that the IOF arrested the 23-year-old Muath Abu Maria after his return from Yemen.
Meanwhile, a large arrest campaign was carried out at dawn Monday in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
14 Palestinians were detained during the campaign including five minors between the ages of 14 and 15 from Hussan town in Bethlehem.
Four Jerusalemite youths were among the reported detainees after raiding and searching their homes in Silwan town.
The Israeli occupation authorities have intensified arrest campaigns against Palestinian minors and children over the past four years and they are routinely tortured and some threatened with rape in Israeli detention and investigation centers, a Palestinian human rights report revealed.
Palestinian Prisoners’ Affairs Commission stated that over the past four years a high number of Palestinian minors was summoned, detained, investigated and subjected to psychological torture.
Israeli deliberate targeting of Palestinian children aims at destabilizing their national culture and keeping them away from the arena of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the report clarified.
The IOA treats Palestinian children over the age of 16-year-old as adults in total violation of the international law that recognizes any person below 18-year-old as a child.
The commission stressed the urgent need to stop treating “Israel as a state above the law.”
The detained children are routinely threatened with rape and blackmailed to be Israeli agents, according to the report.
For his part, Director of Statistics Department in the Commission Abd al-Nasser Ferwana called on international institutions related to children’s rights to put an end to the Israeli violations against Palestinian children.
Palestinian Prisoners’ Affairs Commission stated that over the past four years a high number of Palestinian minors was summoned, detained, investigated and subjected to psychological torture.
Israeli deliberate targeting of Palestinian children aims at destabilizing their national culture and keeping them away from the arena of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the report clarified.
The IOA treats Palestinian children over the age of 16-year-old as adults in total violation of the international law that recognizes any person below 18-year-old as a child.
The commission stressed the urgent need to stop treating “Israel as a state above the law.”
The detained children are routinely threatened with rape and blackmailed to be Israeli agents, according to the report.
For his part, Director of Statistics Department in the Commission Abd al-Nasser Ferwana called on international institutions related to children’s rights to put an end to the Israeli violations against Palestinian children.
Three Palestinian prisoners’ health condition has sharply deteriorated as they suffer from serious injuries they sustained during their arrest, the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) said.
The prisoner Shadi Halawa, 35, was infected with the Hepatitis virus seven years ago and since then he did not receive any medical treatment. He also suffers teeth problems and nervous system disorder after being attacked and injured during his detention in 2005.
Halawa, from Gaza Strip, was sentenced to four life terms plus 40 years.
The 21-year-old Mustafa Balout, from Jenin, is currently held in Ramle Prison Clinic as he suffers from severe pains in his shoulder after being shot with three bullets during his arrest last March.
The administrative detainee Raed Omla, 29, suffers from Hepatitis virus and difficult sight problems since 2007 where he was attacked and injured during an Israeli night raid into prisoners’ rooms in Negev prison.
Meanwhile, Israeli District Court has sentenced Sunday the detainee Ahmed Risheq to ten years imprisonment and the prisoner Ismael Abu Mfalfel to eight years in prison for allegedly planning to explode a commercial center in occupied Jerusalem two years ago.
The prisoner Hamdi Romana was earlier sentenced to eight years imprisonment for the same charge; however, the Israeli public prosecutor appealed against the court’s verdict.
The prisoner Shadi Halawa, 35, was infected with the Hepatitis virus seven years ago and since then he did not receive any medical treatment. He also suffers teeth problems and nervous system disorder after being attacked and injured during his detention in 2005.
Halawa, from Gaza Strip, was sentenced to four life terms plus 40 years.
The 21-year-old Mustafa Balout, from Jenin, is currently held in Ramle Prison Clinic as he suffers from severe pains in his shoulder after being shot with three bullets during his arrest last March.
The administrative detainee Raed Omla, 29, suffers from Hepatitis virus and difficult sight problems since 2007 where he was attacked and injured during an Israeli night raid into prisoners’ rooms in Negev prison.
Meanwhile, Israeli District Court has sentenced Sunday the detainee Ahmed Risheq to ten years imprisonment and the prisoner Ismael Abu Mfalfel to eight years in prison for allegedly planning to explode a commercial center in occupied Jerusalem two years ago.
The prisoner Hamdi Romana was earlier sentenced to eight years imprisonment for the same charge; however, the Israeli public prosecutor appealed against the court’s verdict.
The Palestinian National Economy Ministry stressed on Sunday the urgent need to stop Israeli targeting of Gazan merchants, calling for the release of the Palestinian merchants who were detained at Beit Hanoun crossing for flimsy pretexts.
Undersecretary for the Ministry in Gaza Hatem Oweida said that Gazan merchants are subjected to deliberate humiliation and blackmail at Beit Hanoun border crossing, pointing to the Israeli tight masseurs and restrictions imposed on goods’ access to the Strip.
The ministry documented the arrest of 19 merchants from Gaza Strip, he added.
He also pointed to the heavy losses suffered by the merchants due to the Israeli confiscation of and ban on their goods at the border crossing.
Oweida urged the international human rights institutions to stand seriously against Israeli violations against Gazan merchants and to work on lifting Gaza siege.
He also called on the Palestinian unity government to bear its historic responsibilities regarding the issues of Gaza’s public servants and border crossings.
Gaza people have made great sacrifices in order to live with dignity, but their patience could come to an end at any time, he warned.
For his part, Public Relations Officer in the General Federation of Palestinian Industries Mohamed Mansi told the PIC reporter that Israeli arrests of Gazan merchants are aimed at tightening the siege of the Strip.
Most of the detained merchants are arrested after obtaining Israeli permits to pass through Beit Hanoun. They are then held in Israeli jails and detention centers without charges, he continued.
Earlier Sunday, the Palestinian Economy Ministry has organized in coordination with the government media office and the private and non-government institutions in Gaza a sit-in protesting Israeli arrests and deliberate targeting of Gazan merchants.
Undersecretary for the Ministry in Gaza Hatem Oweida said that Gazan merchants are subjected to deliberate humiliation and blackmail at Beit Hanoun border crossing, pointing to the Israeli tight masseurs and restrictions imposed on goods’ access to the Strip.
The ministry documented the arrest of 19 merchants from Gaza Strip, he added.
He also pointed to the heavy losses suffered by the merchants due to the Israeli confiscation of and ban on their goods at the border crossing.
Oweida urged the international human rights institutions to stand seriously against Israeli violations against Gazan merchants and to work on lifting Gaza siege.
He also called on the Palestinian unity government to bear its historic responsibilities regarding the issues of Gaza’s public servants and border crossings.
Gaza people have made great sacrifices in order to live with dignity, but their patience could come to an end at any time, he warned.
For his part, Public Relations Officer in the General Federation of Palestinian Industries Mohamed Mansi told the PIC reporter that Israeli arrests of Gazan merchants are aimed at tightening the siege of the Strip.
Most of the detained merchants are arrested after obtaining Israeli permits to pass through Beit Hanoun. They are then held in Israeli jails and detention centers without charges, he continued.
Earlier Sunday, the Palestinian Economy Ministry has organized in coordination with the government media office and the private and non-government institutions in Gaza a sit-in protesting Israeli arrests and deliberate targeting of Gazan merchants.
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) nabbed over the past week 103 Palestinian citizens throughout the West Bank and Jerusalem, Hamas Movement said in a report issued Sunday.
The report said that Israeli arrest campaigns have notably intensified against Palestinians in different parts of the West Bank in comparison with the week before it that witnessed 43 arrests.
103 Palestinians were arrested during the past week including 20 Jerusalemites, the report documented.
One third of the reported arrests were carried out in Nablus, according to the report.
A number of ex-detainees, minors, and three women were among the detainees.
The report said that Israeli arrest campaigns have notably intensified against Palestinians in different parts of the West Bank in comparison with the week before it that witnessed 43 arrests.
103 Palestinians were arrested during the past week including 20 Jerusalemites, the report documented.
One third of the reported arrests were carried out in Nablus, according to the report.
A number of ex-detainees, minors, and three women were among the detainees.
Israel’s Jerusalem District Court decided at the end of a hearing held at noontime Sunday to deliberate the so-called Karama Crossing lawsuit filed against Sheikh Raed Salah, head of the Islamic Movement in the 1948 occupied Palestine, to dispatch the court ruling via mail.
The defense crew, represented by lawyer Avigdor Feldman, and lawyers Mustafa Suheil Mahamid and Omar al-Khamayssi from Al-Mizan Center for Human Rights, said Sheikh Salah should have been acquitted from all such charges.
The jury decided to postpone the ruling after the defense crew turned down a proposal by the jury to have the two parties rescind their appeals.
The defense team told the court that the lawsuit is part of the ongoing political prosecution carried out against Sheikh Salah and no other person so far has been tried for such charges, lawyer Mahamid said.
Sheikh Salah is accused of interfering with police work after he protested attempts to perform a strip search on his wife.
The lawyer spoke out against ongoing calls to sentence Sheikh Salah to a long-term imprisonment for such charges.
For his part, Sheikh Salah said as he commented on the court decision: “We’ve got used to such farces by the Israeli prosecution, whose speech has become so despicable, barefaced, unethical, biased, and racist.”
“But let them know that we’re not scared an inch. We will remain a thorn in Israel’s flesh. . . . We will remain free both before and after we go to jail, because this is how we were born.”
The case dates back to February 16, 2012, when Salah refused that his wife be strip-searched by Israeli occupation police at the al-Nabi checkpoint while on his way back to the West Bank after performing Umra (the minor pilgrimage) in Makkah.
The defense crew, represented by lawyer Avigdor Feldman, and lawyers Mustafa Suheil Mahamid and Omar al-Khamayssi from Al-Mizan Center for Human Rights, said Sheikh Salah should have been acquitted from all such charges.
The jury decided to postpone the ruling after the defense crew turned down a proposal by the jury to have the two parties rescind their appeals.
The defense team told the court that the lawsuit is part of the ongoing political prosecution carried out against Sheikh Salah and no other person so far has been tried for such charges, lawyer Mahamid said.
Sheikh Salah is accused of interfering with police work after he protested attempts to perform a strip search on his wife.
The lawyer spoke out against ongoing calls to sentence Sheikh Salah to a long-term imprisonment for such charges.
For his part, Sheikh Salah said as he commented on the court decision: “We’ve got used to such farces by the Israeli prosecution, whose speech has become so despicable, barefaced, unethical, biased, and racist.”
“But let them know that we’re not scared an inch. We will remain a thorn in Israel’s flesh. . . . We will remain free both before and after we go to jail, because this is how we were born.”
The case dates back to February 16, 2012, when Salah refused that his wife be strip-searched by Israeli occupation police at the al-Nabi checkpoint while on his way back to the West Bank after performing Umra (the minor pilgrimage) in Makkah.
Soldiers, Settlers, Invade Olive Orchard Near Bethlehem
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Monday at dawn, several Palestinian communities in the West Bank different parts of the West Bank, and kidnapped twelve Palestinians, including four children. Soldiers stormed a telecommunications company in Hebron, while Israeli extremists prevented a Bethlehem farmer from entering his olive orchard.
Media sources in Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank, said the soldiers invaded several neighborhoods, including the in Old City, and kidnapped three Palestinians after interrogating their families and ransacking their property.
The sources said the army kidnapped Yazan Yosri Abu Sneina, 22, and two brothers identified as Ashraf, 22, and Sharaf Shukri al-Fakhouri. The soldiers beat the two brothers before kidnapping them.
Also, soldiers invaded the al-Jinan Telecommunications Company in the Al-Manara Junction area, in the center of Hebron city, and violently searched it while interrogating the employees.
In addition, army invaded Beit Fajjar town, south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, and kidnapped four Palestinians, after searching and ransacking their homes.
The kidnapped have been identified as Ibrahim Mustafa Taqatqa, 25, ‘Eid Ahmad Taqatqa, 27, Husam Kamel Taqatqa, 26, and Shawqi Nasser Taqatqa, 40.
Soldiers also invaded Husan nearby town, searched homes and kidnapped four Palestinian children identified as Mos’ab Daoud ash-Sha’er, 13, Amir Mohammad Zaghoul, 15, Abdullah Tareq Shousha, 15, and Abdul-Aziz Hamamra, 15.
Furthermore, soldiers and settlers invaded a Palestinian orchard in the al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem, and prevented a farmer from plowing his land.
Ahmad Salah, coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in al-Khader, said the soldiers, and armed guards of Efrat illegal settlement, invaded the 10-Dunam olive orchard, and ordered the owner, Emad Ahmad Da’doa’, to stop plowing his land.
Salah said the Da’doa’ owns the orchard, and have all legal deeds, yet, the soldiers are claiming it is a “state land” - the family filed an appeal against an Israeli decision to illegally annex its land, but the Israeli court is yet to respond.
Israel recently started bulldozing sections of the orchard to build new illegal settlement units to expand the Efrat, an issue that would surround al-Khader with a chain of settlements and outposts, and prevent any natural growth of the town.
In related news, soldiers invaded Faqqou’a village, east of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, stormed three homes and violently searched them before interrogating the families.
Soldiers also invaded Jalboun and Sielet al-Harethiyya nearby villages, and conducted live fire drills near homes in the al-Jalama village, east of Jenin.
Furthermore, soldiers invaded Qaffin town, north of the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem, and kidnapped a former political prisoner identified as Khaled Yacoub Kittana.
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Monday at dawn, several Palestinian communities in the West Bank different parts of the West Bank, and kidnapped twelve Palestinians, including four children. Soldiers stormed a telecommunications company in Hebron, while Israeli extremists prevented a Bethlehem farmer from entering his olive orchard.
Media sources in Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank, said the soldiers invaded several neighborhoods, including the in Old City, and kidnapped three Palestinians after interrogating their families and ransacking their property.
The sources said the army kidnapped Yazan Yosri Abu Sneina, 22, and two brothers identified as Ashraf, 22, and Sharaf Shukri al-Fakhouri. The soldiers beat the two brothers before kidnapping them.
Also, soldiers invaded the al-Jinan Telecommunications Company in the Al-Manara Junction area, in the center of Hebron city, and violently searched it while interrogating the employees.
In addition, army invaded Beit Fajjar town, south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, and kidnapped four Palestinians, after searching and ransacking their homes.
The kidnapped have been identified as Ibrahim Mustafa Taqatqa, 25, ‘Eid Ahmad Taqatqa, 27, Husam Kamel Taqatqa, 26, and Shawqi Nasser Taqatqa, 40.
Soldiers also invaded Husan nearby town, searched homes and kidnapped four Palestinian children identified as Mos’ab Daoud ash-Sha’er, 13, Amir Mohammad Zaghoul, 15, Abdullah Tareq Shousha, 15, and Abdul-Aziz Hamamra, 15.
Furthermore, soldiers and settlers invaded a Palestinian orchard in the al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem, and prevented a farmer from plowing his land.
Ahmad Salah, coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in al-Khader, said the soldiers, and armed guards of Efrat illegal settlement, invaded the 10-Dunam olive orchard, and ordered the owner, Emad Ahmad Da’doa’, to stop plowing his land.
Salah said the Da’doa’ owns the orchard, and have all legal deeds, yet, the soldiers are claiming it is a “state land” - the family filed an appeal against an Israeli decision to illegally annex its land, but the Israeli court is yet to respond.
Israel recently started bulldozing sections of the orchard to build new illegal settlement units to expand the Efrat, an issue that would surround al-Khader with a chain of settlements and outposts, and prevent any natural growth of the town.
In related news, soldiers invaded Faqqou’a village, east of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, stormed three homes and violently searched them before interrogating the families.
Soldiers also invaded Jalboun and Sielet al-Harethiyya nearby villages, and conducted live fire drills near homes in the al-Jalama village, east of Jenin.
Furthermore, soldiers invaded Qaffin town, north of the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem, and kidnapped a former political prisoner identified as Khaled Yacoub Kittana.
Representative of Palestinian minor prisoners held in Israeli Ofer prison, Abd al-Fattah Dawla, reported Sunday that the Israeli military courts have imposed a total of NIS 120 thousand (just over $30,000) in fines on minor prisoners since the beginning of 2015.
According to WAFA Palestinian News & Info Agency, Dawla informed a lawyer of the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS) that the highest percentage in terms of minors’ arrests took place in January; where 34 minors were arrested and imprisoned in Ofer jail, whereas 29 minors were arrested in February, and 23 others in March and mid April.
He said that the number of sick minors currently detained in Ofer jail has reached 24, citing the cases of two Palestinian prisoners; Mohammad Blasi, who suffers from severe infections, and Yazan Jawabreh, who suffers from asthma.
To be noted, there are 105 minors currently detained in Israeli jails, including Ofer, Megiddo, and Hasharoon.
On January 19, a lawyer of the Detainees and Ex-detainees Affairs Committee reported that Palestinian minor prisoners incarcerated in Israeli jails are subjected to physical torture during their arrest and interrogation as well as in detention.
“By the end of January 2014, it was reported that a total of 183 Palestinian children were prosecuted and detained in the Israeli court system, a rise of 18.8% over the month. The figure includes twenty children between the ages of 14 and 15,” reported the Middle East Monitor in news story.
“Around 500 - 700 Palestinian children, some as young as 12, are arrested, detained and prosecuted in the Israeli military detention system each year. The majority of Palestinian child detainees are charged with throwing stones. No Israeli children come into contact with the military court system,” said Defense for Children International (DCI).
“Despite international condemnation and awareness of Israel’s widespread and systematic ill-treatment of Palestinian child prisoners, there have been no practical steps taken to curb violations,” said Ayed Abu Eqtaish, Accountability Program director at DCI-Palestine. “The international community must demand justice and accountability.”
Israel is the only state to systematically prosecute children in military courts that lack basic standards of due process. Addameer human rights group says most of the detained children report being subjected to ill-treatment and having confessions extracted from them during interrogations.
Forms of ill-treatment used by Israeli soldiers include slapping, beating, kicking, violent pushing, threats and even sexual assault.
A study conducted by Defense for Children International (DCI) in the occupied Palestine territories showed that Palestinian children in Israeli prisons are being subjected to torture, sleep deprivation and are repeatedly blindfolded.
DCI reported that, “In 21.4% of cases, Israeli military, police and security agents held children in solitary confinement for an average of 10 days for interrogation purposes.”
In 96% of cases documented by DCI-Palestine in 2013, children were questioned alone and rarely informed of their rights, particularly their right against self-incrimination.
DCI stated, “The interrogation techniques are generally mentally and physically coercive, frequently incorporating a mix of intimidation, threats and physical violence with a clear purpose of obtaining a confession. More than one in five of the 2013 cases, children signed statements in Hebrew, a language they do not understand.”
DCI reported that, “Military detention is a reality for hundreds of Palestinian children each year, exposing them to physical and psychological violence, interrupting education, contributing to mental health issues, and placing large numbers of families under stress. This continued to be the case in 2014.”
According to WAFA Palestinian News & Info Agency, Dawla informed a lawyer of the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS) that the highest percentage in terms of minors’ arrests took place in January; where 34 minors were arrested and imprisoned in Ofer jail, whereas 29 minors were arrested in February, and 23 others in March and mid April.
He said that the number of sick minors currently detained in Ofer jail has reached 24, citing the cases of two Palestinian prisoners; Mohammad Blasi, who suffers from severe infections, and Yazan Jawabreh, who suffers from asthma.
To be noted, there are 105 minors currently detained in Israeli jails, including Ofer, Megiddo, and Hasharoon.
On January 19, a lawyer of the Detainees and Ex-detainees Affairs Committee reported that Palestinian minor prisoners incarcerated in Israeli jails are subjected to physical torture during their arrest and interrogation as well as in detention.
“By the end of January 2014, it was reported that a total of 183 Palestinian children were prosecuted and detained in the Israeli court system, a rise of 18.8% over the month. The figure includes twenty children between the ages of 14 and 15,” reported the Middle East Monitor in news story.
“Around 500 - 700 Palestinian children, some as young as 12, are arrested, detained and prosecuted in the Israeli military detention system each year. The majority of Palestinian child detainees are charged with throwing stones. No Israeli children come into contact with the military court system,” said Defense for Children International (DCI).
“Despite international condemnation and awareness of Israel’s widespread and systematic ill-treatment of Palestinian child prisoners, there have been no practical steps taken to curb violations,” said Ayed Abu Eqtaish, Accountability Program director at DCI-Palestine. “The international community must demand justice and accountability.”
Israel is the only state to systematically prosecute children in military courts that lack basic standards of due process. Addameer human rights group says most of the detained children report being subjected to ill-treatment and having confessions extracted from them during interrogations.
Forms of ill-treatment used by Israeli soldiers include slapping, beating, kicking, violent pushing, threats and even sexual assault.
A study conducted by Defense for Children International (DCI) in the occupied Palestine territories showed that Palestinian children in Israeli prisons are being subjected to torture, sleep deprivation and are repeatedly blindfolded.
DCI reported that, “In 21.4% of cases, Israeli military, police and security agents held children in solitary confinement for an average of 10 days for interrogation purposes.”
In 96% of cases documented by DCI-Palestine in 2013, children were questioned alone and rarely informed of their rights, particularly their right against self-incrimination.
DCI stated, “The interrogation techniques are generally mentally and physically coercive, frequently incorporating a mix of intimidation, threats and physical violence with a clear purpose of obtaining a confession. More than one in five of the 2013 cases, children signed statements in Hebrew, a language they do not understand.”
DCI reported that, “Military detention is a reality for hundreds of Palestinian children each year, exposing them to physical and psychological violence, interrupting education, contributing to mental health issues, and placing large numbers of families under stress. This continued to be the case in 2014.”
The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS), Sunday, said that the Israeli military court of Ofer has issued administrative detention orders against another five Palestinian prisoners.
PPS said that prisoners Abd al-Rahman Hammad, from Qalandia refugee camp to the north of Jerusalem, and Osama Ida’ais, from Hebron, received detention orders without charge or trial for a period of six months.
Meanwhile, WAFA further reports that prisoners Joma’a al-Jojo and Ahmad al-Hrimi, both residents of Bethlehem, received administrative detention orders for four months, whereas prisoner Ahmad Rae’e, from Qalqilia, received a two month imprisonment sentence without charge or trial.
Administrative detention is the imprisonment of Palestinians without charge or trial, while relying on secret evidence for up to six month periods, indefinitely renewable by Israeli military courts. The Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network stated that, “Israel’s use of administrative detention violates international law; such detention is allowed only in individual circumstances that are exceptionally compelling for “imperative reasons of security.”
Israel uses administrative detention routinely as a form of collective punishment and mass detention of Palestinians, and frequently uses administrative detention when it fails to obtain confessions in interrogations of Palestinian detainees.
There are around 500 detainees curretly serving administrative detention in several Israeli jails. Jarrar is not the only lawmaker to be imprisoned; 18 of the Palestinian Legislative Council members are currently held in Israeli detention without charge or trial.
Palestinian detainees have continuously resorted to open-ended hunger strikes as a way to protest their illegal administrative detention and to demand an end to this policy which violates international law.
In a press release published on Saturday, the European United Left/ Nordic Green Left group in the European Parliament (GUE/NGL) MEPs condemned Israel's use of imprisonment without trial as a weapon against Palestine.
The group expressed its utmost condemnation of ‘Israel's use of administrative detention as a way of silencing any kind of resistance to the occupation.’
PPS said that prisoners Abd al-Rahman Hammad, from Qalandia refugee camp to the north of Jerusalem, and Osama Ida’ais, from Hebron, received detention orders without charge or trial for a period of six months.
Meanwhile, WAFA further reports that prisoners Joma’a al-Jojo and Ahmad al-Hrimi, both residents of Bethlehem, received administrative detention orders for four months, whereas prisoner Ahmad Rae’e, from Qalqilia, received a two month imprisonment sentence without charge or trial.
Administrative detention is the imprisonment of Palestinians without charge or trial, while relying on secret evidence for up to six month periods, indefinitely renewable by Israeli military courts. The Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network stated that, “Israel’s use of administrative detention violates international law; such detention is allowed only in individual circumstances that are exceptionally compelling for “imperative reasons of security.”
Israel uses administrative detention routinely as a form of collective punishment and mass detention of Palestinians, and frequently uses administrative detention when it fails to obtain confessions in interrogations of Palestinian detainees.
There are around 500 detainees curretly serving administrative detention in several Israeli jails. Jarrar is not the only lawmaker to be imprisoned; 18 of the Palestinian Legislative Council members are currently held in Israeli detention without charge or trial.
Palestinian detainees have continuously resorted to open-ended hunger strikes as a way to protest their illegal administrative detention and to demand an end to this policy which violates international law.
In a press release published on Saturday, the European United Left/ Nordic Green Left group in the European Parliament (GUE/NGL) MEPs condemned Israel's use of imprisonment without trial as a weapon against Palestine.
The group expressed its utmost condemnation of ‘Israel's use of administrative detention as a way of silencing any kind of resistance to the occupation.’
19 apr 2015
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) detained on Sunday a team of Palestinian pressmen in Kafr al-Dik town to the west of Salfit while covering an event.
The Palestinian journalist and researcher Khaled Maali told the PIC reporter that the IOF detained him along with a cameraman and Kafr al-Dik’s municipal secretary for accessing into the Leshem settlement which is illegally established on the Palestinian lands.
Maali, however, said the media team was present at the nearby area for making a report on Israeli leveling of Palestinian’s lands and ceaseless settlement construction. He said that they did not approach Leshem outpost as claimed by the IOF.
The Israeli Occupation built Leshem settlement in 2015, and since then continuous expansion works are being conducted in the area at the expense of the lands of four Palestinian towns and a historical hamlet.
The Palestinian journalist and researcher Khaled Maali told the PIC reporter that the IOF detained him along with a cameraman and Kafr al-Dik’s municipal secretary for accessing into the Leshem settlement which is illegally established on the Palestinian lands.
Maali, however, said the media team was present at the nearby area for making a report on Israeli leveling of Palestinian’s lands and ceaseless settlement construction. He said that they did not approach Leshem outpost as claimed by the IOF.
The Israeli Occupation built Leshem settlement in 2015, and since then continuous expansion works are being conducted in the area at the expense of the lands of four Palestinian towns and a historical hamlet.
Hazza’ as-Sa’dy
Palestinian security sources in the northern West Bank city of Nablus have reported, Sunday, that unknown assailants burned sections of the home of a former political prisoner, a Palestinian National Security officer.
The sources said a number of masked persons broke into, and torched, the home Hazza’ as-Sa’dy, in the Sa’diyya neighborhood, in the northern West Bank city of Jenin; the home was empty when the attack took place.
Palestinian firefighters and rescue teams rushed to the scene and contained the fire; the police and security services opened an official investigation into the attack.
It is worth mentioning that as-Sa’dy spent 28 years in different Israeli prisons, detention and interrogation centers; his family is from the Jenin refugee camp.
The former detainee was one of the detainees who were released by Israel two years ago as part of the US-mediated efforts “to resume direct political talks” between Tel Aviv and Ramallah.
On December 31 2013, Israel released 26 veteran Palestinian detainees, as part of the third phase of freeing all detainees who have been held since before the first Oslo peace agreement of 1993.
During the first and second phases, Israel released, in mid-August 2013, 26 veteran detainees (14 from Gaza and 12 from the West bank) and, in late October of the same year, it released 26 veteran detainees (21 from Gaza and 5 from the West Bank).
Tel Aviv then refused to release the fourth and final phase that would have ensured the release of all veteran detainees.
The Detainees In Numbers:
- 6,500 Palestinians still imprisoned by Israel, among them are;
1. 480 detainees sentenced to at least one life term.
2. 200 children.
3. 24 women, including four children.
4. 14 legislators and one government minister.
5. 30 detainees held before the Oslo Accord of 1993.
6. 16 detainees who have been imprisoned for more than 25 years, including Karim Younis and Maher Younis, who were kidnapped 33 years ago.
7. 85 former detainees, who were released under the Shalit Prisoner Swap Agreement, and were kidnapped again, afterwards; most of them served at least 20 years before the Shalit deal.
More on the issue: Prisoners Day Report on Palestinian Detainees, Their Sufferings and Their Plight.
Palestinian security sources in the northern West Bank city of Nablus have reported, Sunday, that unknown assailants burned sections of the home of a former political prisoner, a Palestinian National Security officer.
The sources said a number of masked persons broke into, and torched, the home Hazza’ as-Sa’dy, in the Sa’diyya neighborhood, in the northern West Bank city of Jenin; the home was empty when the attack took place.
Palestinian firefighters and rescue teams rushed to the scene and contained the fire; the police and security services opened an official investigation into the attack.
It is worth mentioning that as-Sa’dy spent 28 years in different Israeli prisons, detention and interrogation centers; his family is from the Jenin refugee camp.
The former detainee was one of the detainees who were released by Israel two years ago as part of the US-mediated efforts “to resume direct political talks” between Tel Aviv and Ramallah.
On December 31 2013, Israel released 26 veteran Palestinian detainees, as part of the third phase of freeing all detainees who have been held since before the first Oslo peace agreement of 1993.
During the first and second phases, Israel released, in mid-August 2013, 26 veteran detainees (14 from Gaza and 12 from the West bank) and, in late October of the same year, it released 26 veteran detainees (21 from Gaza and 5 from the West Bank).
Tel Aviv then refused to release the fourth and final phase that would have ensured the release of all veteran detainees.
The Detainees In Numbers:
- 6,500 Palestinians still imprisoned by Israel, among them are;
1. 480 detainees sentenced to at least one life term.
2. 200 children.
3. 24 women, including four children.
4. 14 legislators and one government minister.
5. 30 detainees held before the Oslo Accord of 1993.
6. 16 detainees who have been imprisoned for more than 25 years, including Karim Younis and Maher Younis, who were kidnapped 33 years ago.
7. 85 former detainees, who were released under the Shalit Prisoner Swap Agreement, and were kidnapped again, afterwards; most of them served at least 20 years before the Shalit deal.
More on the issue: Prisoners Day Report on Palestinian Detainees, Their Sufferings and Their Plight.
Israeli soldiers invaded, late on Saturday at night, a number of Palestinian towns and communities in occupied East Jerusalem, searched homes and kidnapped one Palestinian. The soldiers also occupied rooftops.
The Palestine TV said dozens of soldiers invaded the al-Eesawiyya town, broke into many homes, including the Shreiteh family home, looking for their son, but he was not home during the attack.
Soldiers also invaded Kafr 'Aqab and Samir Amis neighborhoods, and kidnapped a young Palestinian man after repeatedly beating and kicking him, and took him to an interrogation facility in Jerusalem.
The invasion led to clashes between the soldiers and local youths who hurled stones and empty bottles on them, while the army fired rounds of live ammunition in addition to rubber-coated metal bullets, and gas bombs.
Eyewitnesses said Israeli soldiers occupied rooftops of several buildings in Kafr ‘Aqab, especially in Um ash-Sharayet, the Airport Road, and the al-Ajlouni neighborhood.
In related news, soldiers and police officers invaded Wad al-Jouz neighborhood, in Jerusalem, and ordered two Palestinian families to leave their homes, and remove their belongings, in preparation to demolish them under the pretext of being built without construction permits.
The Palestine TV said dozens of soldiers invaded the al-Eesawiyya town, broke into many homes, including the Shreiteh family home, looking for their son, but he was not home during the attack.
Soldiers also invaded Kafr 'Aqab and Samir Amis neighborhoods, and kidnapped a young Palestinian man after repeatedly beating and kicking him, and took him to an interrogation facility in Jerusalem.
The invasion led to clashes between the soldiers and local youths who hurled stones and empty bottles on them, while the army fired rounds of live ammunition in addition to rubber-coated metal bullets, and gas bombs.
Eyewitnesses said Israeli soldiers occupied rooftops of several buildings in Kafr ‘Aqab, especially in Um ash-Sharayet, the Airport Road, and the al-Ajlouni neighborhood.
In related news, soldiers and police officers invaded Wad al-Jouz neighborhood, in Jerusalem, and ordered two Palestinian families to leave their homes, and remove their belongings, in preparation to demolish them under the pretext of being built without construction permits.
Israeli soldiers kidnapped, on Sunday at dawn, seven Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including five in Bethlehem, and one child in Hebron. The soldiers also handed several Palestinians military orders for interrogation.
Media sources in Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank, said the soldiers invaded Beit ‘Awwa town, south of the city, kidnapped one child and handed three former political prisoners, military warrants for interrogation.
The kidnapped child, identified as Mohammad ‘Amarin, 15, years of age, was taken prisoner after the soldiers stormed and ransacked his family home.
Mohammad Awad, coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlement in Beit Ummar nearby town, said the soldiers handed three Palestinians military orders for interrogation, also after storming and searching their homes.
The three have been identified as Ahmad Nasri Sabarna, 24, Raed Rasem Ekhlayyel, 27, and Nadim Rasem Ekhlayyel, 24 years of age.
The soldiers also invaded and searched several neighborhoods in Hebron, and in Halhoul town, north of the city.
Furthermore, soldiers stationed on the Container Roadblock, to the east of occupied Jerusalem, kidnapped three Palestinians from the Hebron district; two of them have been identified as Samer Mojahed and Ata Jouda al-Mahdhi.
In Bethlehem, soldiers invaded the town of Husan, stormed and searched a number of homes, and kidnapped two Palestinians identified as Haitham Mahmoud Hamamra, 20, and Ahmad Yousef Za’oul, 18 years of age.
Another Palestinian was kidnapped in Kafr 'Aqab town, south of the central West Bank city of Ramallah.
Media sources in Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank, said the soldiers invaded Beit ‘Awwa town, south of the city, kidnapped one child and handed three former political prisoners, military warrants for interrogation.
The kidnapped child, identified as Mohammad ‘Amarin, 15, years of age, was taken prisoner after the soldiers stormed and ransacked his family home.
Mohammad Awad, coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlement in Beit Ummar nearby town, said the soldiers handed three Palestinians military orders for interrogation, also after storming and searching their homes.
The three have been identified as Ahmad Nasri Sabarna, 24, Raed Rasem Ekhlayyel, 27, and Nadim Rasem Ekhlayyel, 24 years of age.
The soldiers also invaded and searched several neighborhoods in Hebron, and in Halhoul town, north of the city.
Furthermore, soldiers stationed on the Container Roadblock, to the east of occupied Jerusalem, kidnapped three Palestinians from the Hebron district; two of them have been identified as Samer Mojahed and Ata Jouda al-Mahdhi.
In Bethlehem, soldiers invaded the town of Husan, stormed and searched a number of homes, and kidnapped two Palestinians identified as Haitham Mahmoud Hamamra, 20, and Ahmad Yousef Za’oul, 18 years of age.
Another Palestinian was kidnapped in Kafr 'Aqab town, south of the central West Bank city of Ramallah.
The Palestinian Detainees and ex-Detainees Affairs Committee Sunday submitted an urgent appeal to save the life of the Palestinian prisoner Iyas Abd Hamdan al-Rifai, held in the Israeli Eshel prison, saying he is facing death at any moment after he was diagnosed with intestinal cancer last week.
In a report, the committee stressed that 31-year-old al-Refai was transferred by the Israeli prison administration to al-Ramla hospital for several times before as his health condition has remarkably gone down. However, he was not provided with the necessary medical check-ups and treatment.
Following a visit to Soroka medical center last week, al-Refai was diagnosed with intestinal cancer, but the doctors at the center refused to operate on him, alleging that his health condition is too critical. Al-Refai was sent back to jail without receiving the much needed surgery to remove the tumors and save his life.
As a result of medical negligence, al-Refai has lost 25 kilograms and his health status is sharply worsening.
Detainee al-Refai has already served eight years and a half out of an 11-year imprisonment sentence.
Cancer Ridden Detainee In Critical Condition
The Palestinian Detainees Committee stated that a political prisoner, held by Israel, is facing a serious health condition due to severe complications resulting from his colon cancer and the lack of specialized medical treatment.
The Committee said the detainee, Eyas Abdul-Rahman ar-Refa’ey, 31, is facing a life-threatening condition with serious concerns that he could die at any given moment.
It added that ar-Refa’ey, from kafr ‘Ein near the central West Bank city of Ramallah, is held in the Eshil Israeli prison, and has been frequently moved to the Ramla prison clinic.
The detainee was moved to the Soroka Israeli Medical Center, last week, where he was officially diagnosed with advanced colon cancer, in addition to a number of health complications.
The doctors said he requires immediate surgery, and extensive treatment, especially since he contracted several acute infections in his intestines.
The Committee said ar-Refa’ey lost 25 kilograms of his weight, and requires professional medical treatment, instead of the painkilling pills he is receiving.
It added that one of its lawyers filed an urgent appeal to an Israeli court to order ar-Refa’ey’s immediate release due to the seriousness of his condition, so that specialized physicians can provide the proper and urgently needed treatment.
The detainee is serving an 11-year term, and is supposed to be release in nearly two and a half years.
More than 1,500 detainees suffer from various diseases and health issues, largely resulting from the lack of medical attention, contaminated cells and rooms, torture and abuse, while 16 of them are contently living in the Ramla Prison Clinic, suffering from paralysis and other disease, while many require surgeries, with outside doctors not allowed to even examine them, much less treat their afflictions.
More than 80 detainees have very serious and chronic conditions; 24 of them have different types of cancer, and dozens suffer from physical and mental disabilities.
Many detainees develop psychological conditions due to ill treatment, extremely difficult living conditions, malnutrition, humid and dirty cells, in addition to being placed in overcrowded rooms.
Several detainees were kidnapped after being shot by Israeli soldiers, and were tortured, including by way of beatings on preexisting wounds during interrogation, in an attempt to extract information and confessions.
Many ailing detainees have skin diseases, pneumonia, ulcers, tumors, renal failure, rheumatism, slipped discs, blood clots, spinal cord conditions, diabetes, dental issue, eye issues and many other severe conditions.
Related:
PPS Appeals Urgent Treatment For Three Ailing Detainees
In a report, the committee stressed that 31-year-old al-Refai was transferred by the Israeli prison administration to al-Ramla hospital for several times before as his health condition has remarkably gone down. However, he was not provided with the necessary medical check-ups and treatment.
Following a visit to Soroka medical center last week, al-Refai was diagnosed with intestinal cancer, but the doctors at the center refused to operate on him, alleging that his health condition is too critical. Al-Refai was sent back to jail without receiving the much needed surgery to remove the tumors and save his life.
As a result of medical negligence, al-Refai has lost 25 kilograms and his health status is sharply worsening.
Detainee al-Refai has already served eight years and a half out of an 11-year imprisonment sentence.
Cancer Ridden Detainee In Critical Condition
The Palestinian Detainees Committee stated that a political prisoner, held by Israel, is facing a serious health condition due to severe complications resulting from his colon cancer and the lack of specialized medical treatment.
The Committee said the detainee, Eyas Abdul-Rahman ar-Refa’ey, 31, is facing a life-threatening condition with serious concerns that he could die at any given moment.
It added that ar-Refa’ey, from kafr ‘Ein near the central West Bank city of Ramallah, is held in the Eshil Israeli prison, and has been frequently moved to the Ramla prison clinic.
The detainee was moved to the Soroka Israeli Medical Center, last week, where he was officially diagnosed with advanced colon cancer, in addition to a number of health complications.
The doctors said he requires immediate surgery, and extensive treatment, especially since he contracted several acute infections in his intestines.
The Committee said ar-Refa’ey lost 25 kilograms of his weight, and requires professional medical treatment, instead of the painkilling pills he is receiving.
It added that one of its lawyers filed an urgent appeal to an Israeli court to order ar-Refa’ey’s immediate release due to the seriousness of his condition, so that specialized physicians can provide the proper and urgently needed treatment.
The detainee is serving an 11-year term, and is supposed to be release in nearly two and a half years.
More than 1,500 detainees suffer from various diseases and health issues, largely resulting from the lack of medical attention, contaminated cells and rooms, torture and abuse, while 16 of them are contently living in the Ramla Prison Clinic, suffering from paralysis and other disease, while many require surgeries, with outside doctors not allowed to even examine them, much less treat their afflictions.
More than 80 detainees have very serious and chronic conditions; 24 of them have different types of cancer, and dozens suffer from physical and mental disabilities.
Many detainees develop psychological conditions due to ill treatment, extremely difficult living conditions, malnutrition, humid and dirty cells, in addition to being placed in overcrowded rooms.
Several detainees were kidnapped after being shot by Israeli soldiers, and were tortured, including by way of beatings on preexisting wounds during interrogation, in an attempt to extract information and confessions.
Many ailing detainees have skin diseases, pneumonia, ulcers, tumors, renal failure, rheumatism, slipped discs, blood clots, spinal cord conditions, diabetes, dental issue, eye issues and many other severe conditions.
Related:
PPS Appeals Urgent Treatment For Three Ailing Detainees
