5 aug 2016
Four Palestinian prisoners Friday suspended their open hunger strikes in Israel’s HaDarim prison, launched on July 18 in protest of a decision by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to reduce family visits for Palestinian male prisoners from two to only one day a month, according to the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS).
PPS said in a statement that prisoners Ziyad al-Bazzar, Ahmad al-Barghouthi, Mahmoud Sarahneh, and Amin Kamil suspended their hunger strikes after receiving promises by Israeli Prison Service (IPS) officials that efforts would be made to reinstate regular family visits for the prisoners.
The prisoners told a PPS lawyer that IPS officials deliberately transferred them between several Israeli prisons during their hunger strikes, a common tactic used by IPS officials in an attempt to force prisoners into ending their strikes.
The prisoners added that each of them had lost some 13 kilograms since the start of their hunger strikes.
Last month, the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS) denounced ICRC’s decision, calling it a continuation of suppressive procedures imposed on prisoners by Israeli authorities, and saying that the NGO did not consult with Palestinian officials or prisoners’ families before implementing the change.
The group said the reduction in family visits constituted a move against a right obtained by prisoners after a 35-year long struggle, adding that it increased the suffering of families of prisoners.
In June, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) also slammed ICRC’s decision, saying that the international NGO was “increasing the burden upon (prisoners) with policies and procedures...which represent a clear decline of its role in accordance and even collusion with the systematic policy of the occupation.”
The prisoner solidarity network Samidoun explained that families of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel must obtain special permits to visit their imprisoned family members. However, since these permits are often rejected or delayed, families of prisoners rely heavily on ICRC-arranged visits that, before July, were organized twice a month for 45 minute sessions with the prisoners.
More than 300 Palestinian prisoners have joined a mass hunger strike in Israeli prisons, including those protesting against ICRC’s decision, which was first launched in solidarity with hunger striker Bilal Kayid -- now entering his 51st day without food, while scores of others have continued to join in protest of Israel’s arbitrary use of administrative detention on Palestinians -- a policy of internment without charge or trial.
PPS said in a statement that prisoners Ziyad al-Bazzar, Ahmad al-Barghouthi, Mahmoud Sarahneh, and Amin Kamil suspended their hunger strikes after receiving promises by Israeli Prison Service (IPS) officials that efforts would be made to reinstate regular family visits for the prisoners.
The prisoners told a PPS lawyer that IPS officials deliberately transferred them between several Israeli prisons during their hunger strikes, a common tactic used by IPS officials in an attempt to force prisoners into ending their strikes.
The prisoners added that each of them had lost some 13 kilograms since the start of their hunger strikes.
Last month, the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS) denounced ICRC’s decision, calling it a continuation of suppressive procedures imposed on prisoners by Israeli authorities, and saying that the NGO did not consult with Palestinian officials or prisoners’ families before implementing the change.
The group said the reduction in family visits constituted a move against a right obtained by prisoners after a 35-year long struggle, adding that it increased the suffering of families of prisoners.
In June, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) also slammed ICRC’s decision, saying that the international NGO was “increasing the burden upon (prisoners) with policies and procedures...which represent a clear decline of its role in accordance and even collusion with the systematic policy of the occupation.”
The prisoner solidarity network Samidoun explained that families of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel must obtain special permits to visit their imprisoned family members. However, since these permits are often rejected or delayed, families of prisoners rely heavily on ICRC-arranged visits that, before July, were organized twice a month for 45 minute sessions with the prisoners.
More than 300 Palestinian prisoners have joined a mass hunger strike in Israeli prisons, including those protesting against ICRC’s decision, which was first launched in solidarity with hunger striker Bilal Kayid -- now entering his 51st day without food, while scores of others have continued to join in protest of Israel’s arbitrary use of administrative detention on Palestinians -- a policy of internment without charge or trial.
Over 365 Palestinian prisoners, mostly from Hamas, started an open-ended hunger on Thursday and Friday in Israeli jails in protest at different repressive and punitive measures taken against them.
"Al-Karama (dignity) Battle 2" is the name of this new mass hunger strike, according to the higher leading committee of Hamas prisoners in Israeli jails.
According to the Palestinian Prisoner Society (PPS), 285 Palestinian prisoner went on hunger strike in Nafha and Eshel jails on Thursday and 80 more will join the battle on Friday in protest at their exposure to repression at the hands of their jailers.
Other prisoners also intend to participate in this hunger strike battle next Sunday. About 40 prisoners affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine have already gone on hunger strike in different jails in solidarity with hunger-striking fellow detainee Bilal Kayed, who is protesting his detention administratively after he completed his prison term in jail.
Kayed started his hunger strike about 51 days ago. Other four internees have also engaged in hunger strike in protest at their administrative detention, with no guilt.
They are Mahmoud and Mohamed al-Balboul (brothers), Malek al-Qaddi and Ayyad al-Huraimi, and all of them started their hunger strike last month.
In addition, journalist Omar Nazzal, from Jenin, said he would go on hunger strike on Friday in protest at his administrative detention.
Prisoner Walid Masalmeh, from al-Khalil, has been on hunger strike since July 18 in protest at his detention in an isolation cell. In a new development, four prisoners in Hadarim jail decided to suspend their hunger strike which they staged in protest at the Red Cross' decision to decrease its prison visit program for Palestinian families from twice to once a month.
The hunger strikers took this decision after they received serious pledges to allow their families to visit them twice a month, according to the PPS on Friday. The prisoners who froze their hunger strike are Ziyad al-Bazzar, Ahmed al-Barghouthi, Mahmoud Sarahneh and Amin Kamil.
The PPS has not stated if the Red Cross will resume its previous prison visit program for all prisoners or only those pledges are meant for the aforementioned prisoners.
"Al-Karama (dignity) Battle 2" is the name of this new mass hunger strike, according to the higher leading committee of Hamas prisoners in Israeli jails.
According to the Palestinian Prisoner Society (PPS), 285 Palestinian prisoner went on hunger strike in Nafha and Eshel jails on Thursday and 80 more will join the battle on Friday in protest at their exposure to repression at the hands of their jailers.
Other prisoners also intend to participate in this hunger strike battle next Sunday. About 40 prisoners affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine have already gone on hunger strike in different jails in solidarity with hunger-striking fellow detainee Bilal Kayed, who is protesting his detention administratively after he completed his prison term in jail.
Kayed started his hunger strike about 51 days ago. Other four internees have also engaged in hunger strike in protest at their administrative detention, with no guilt.
They are Mahmoud and Mohamed al-Balboul (brothers), Malek al-Qaddi and Ayyad al-Huraimi, and all of them started their hunger strike last month.
In addition, journalist Omar Nazzal, from Jenin, said he would go on hunger strike on Friday in protest at his administrative detention.
Prisoner Walid Masalmeh, from al-Khalil, has been on hunger strike since July 18 in protest at his detention in an isolation cell. In a new development, four prisoners in Hadarim jail decided to suspend their hunger strike which they staged in protest at the Red Cross' decision to decrease its prison visit program for Palestinian families from twice to once a month.
The hunger strikers took this decision after they received serious pledges to allow their families to visit them twice a month, according to the PPS on Friday. The prisoners who froze their hunger strike are Ziyad al-Bazzar, Ahmed al-Barghouthi, Mahmoud Sarahneh and Amin Kamil.
The PPS has not stated if the Red Cross will resume its previous prison visit program for all prisoners or only those pledges are meant for the aforementioned prisoners.
At least seven Palestinians were kidnapped by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Friday in a mass-abduction sweep launched across the West Bank.
The IOF claimed responsibility for the abduction of seven allegedly-wanted Palestinians from Ourata town, to the southeast of Nablus, on allegations of hurling stones at Israeli cars.
Clashes flared up after IOF soldiers stormed Qalqilya’s eastern village of Kfar Qaddum at the crack of dawn and attacked the Palestinian protesters and civilian homes with randomly-shot spates of teargas canisters and rubber bullets.
The occupation soldiers also rummaged into the home of the expatriate Palestinian citizen Mufeed Shteiwi. At the same time, the IOF broke into northern al-Bireh city and seized surveillance cameras and recording devices.
A similar assault rocked al-Khalil’s southwestern town of Beit Awa, where a state of panic overwhelmed children and women due to the heavy barrages of bullet fire and stun grenades unleashed across the area.
Limited clashes broke out in al-Khalil’s towns of Sa’ir, to the north, and al-Shiyoukh, to the northeast, following the assault. The IOF soldiers reportedly broke into the family home of Udai Ghawadreh and threatened his family that he will be killed in case he does not turn himself in.
The occupation troops aggressively attacked children residing at the home and exhaustively interrogated Ghawadreh’s parents. The IOF soldiers have been chasing down Ghawadreh for several weeks, during which the family has been subjected to all sorts of harassment by the occupation troops.
Meanwhile, clashes burst out in eastern and southern Bethlehem province after the IOF rolled into Beit Fajjar and Tekou’a towns. The Palestinian youngster Anas Ismail al-Sheikh, from Marah Rabah town, to the south of Bethlehem, was also summoned for interrogation in the process.
The campaign culminated in a series of military checkpoints randomly pitched by the IOF across al-Khalil and Bethlehem.
The IOF claimed responsibility for the abduction of seven allegedly-wanted Palestinians from Ourata town, to the southeast of Nablus, on allegations of hurling stones at Israeli cars.
Clashes flared up after IOF soldiers stormed Qalqilya’s eastern village of Kfar Qaddum at the crack of dawn and attacked the Palestinian protesters and civilian homes with randomly-shot spates of teargas canisters and rubber bullets.
The occupation soldiers also rummaged into the home of the expatriate Palestinian citizen Mufeed Shteiwi. At the same time, the IOF broke into northern al-Bireh city and seized surveillance cameras and recording devices.
A similar assault rocked al-Khalil’s southwestern town of Beit Awa, where a state of panic overwhelmed children and women due to the heavy barrages of bullet fire and stun grenades unleashed across the area.
Limited clashes broke out in al-Khalil’s towns of Sa’ir, to the north, and al-Shiyoukh, to the northeast, following the assault. The IOF soldiers reportedly broke into the family home of Udai Ghawadreh and threatened his family that he will be killed in case he does not turn himself in.
The occupation troops aggressively attacked children residing at the home and exhaustively interrogated Ghawadreh’s parents. The IOF soldiers have been chasing down Ghawadreh for several weeks, during which the family has been subjected to all sorts of harassment by the occupation troops.
Meanwhile, clashes burst out in eastern and southern Bethlehem province after the IOF rolled into Beit Fajjar and Tekou’a towns. The Palestinian youngster Anas Ismail al-Sheikh, from Marah Rabah town, to the south of Bethlehem, was also summoned for interrogation in the process.
The campaign culminated in a series of military checkpoints randomly pitched by the IOF across al-Khalil and Bethlehem.
80 Palestinian detainees in the Israeli Ramon jail joined on Friday the open-ended hunger strike launched in protest at Israeli policies of psycho-physical torture.
According to the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS), new batches of Palestinian detainees in other Israeli jails are expected to join the hunger strike on Sunday.
On Thursday, over 300 Palestinian detainees started an open-ended hunger strike in protest at the mistreatment perpetrated by the Israeli prison service (IPS) and in solidarity with hunger-striker Bilal Kayed, who has been starving for 52 days in protest at his administrative detention, with neither charge nor trial.
Five Palestinian detainees have continued their hunger strike in response to being held administratively in Israeli jails. Mahmoud al-Balboul has been on an open-ended hunger strike since July 4 and his brother Muhammad since July 7.
Both prisoners Malek al-Kadhi and Ayad al-Hreimi started their hunger strike on July 15. Journalist Omar Nazal launched his hunger strike on Thursday.
Four detainees have also been on a hunger strike since July 18 in protest at a decision by the Red Cross reducing monthly prison visits. Prisoner Waleed Muslameh launched his hunger strike on July 18 after the IPS transferred him to solitary confinement.
Over 300 Palestinian prisoners on open hunger strike
Palestinian Prisoner Society on Thursday revealed that over 300 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are going on hunger strike in protest at different issues.
The Society pointed out that 285 captives of Hamas Movement started open hunger strike in Eshel and Nafha jails in protest at the abuse they are exposed to at daily storming and search operations in addition to arbitrary transfer of their colleagues and Hamas leaders to other prisons.
Prisoner Bilal Kayed has been on hunger strike for 51 days in a row in protest at holding him in administrative detention after he had completed a 15-year sentence.
Five prisoners, as well, are on hunger strike in protest at the illegal administrative detention order. Another four are protesting at the Red Cross’s decision to minimize the number of family visitations to only one visit a month.
Captive Walid Masalmeh continues his open hunger strike which he started on July 18 in protest at holding him in solitary confinement for over ten months.
Riyad al-Ashqar, researcher concerned with prisoner affairs, said that conditions in Israeli jails are escalating after prisoner Kayed had announced starting an open hunger strike followed by dozens of Popular Front’s prisoners joining him in the strike amid systematic quelling by the prison administration.
Ashqar revealed that the conditions have even worsened after a quelling attack took place on Wednesday whereby 135 of Hamas detainees were transferred from Raymond to Eshel jails.
According to the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS), new batches of Palestinian detainees in other Israeli jails are expected to join the hunger strike on Sunday.
On Thursday, over 300 Palestinian detainees started an open-ended hunger strike in protest at the mistreatment perpetrated by the Israeli prison service (IPS) and in solidarity with hunger-striker Bilal Kayed, who has been starving for 52 days in protest at his administrative detention, with neither charge nor trial.
Five Palestinian detainees have continued their hunger strike in response to being held administratively in Israeli jails. Mahmoud al-Balboul has been on an open-ended hunger strike since July 4 and his brother Muhammad since July 7.
Both prisoners Malek al-Kadhi and Ayad al-Hreimi started their hunger strike on July 15. Journalist Omar Nazal launched his hunger strike on Thursday.
Four detainees have also been on a hunger strike since July 18 in protest at a decision by the Red Cross reducing monthly prison visits. Prisoner Waleed Muslameh launched his hunger strike on July 18 after the IPS transferred him to solitary confinement.
Over 300 Palestinian prisoners on open hunger strike
Palestinian Prisoner Society on Thursday revealed that over 300 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are going on hunger strike in protest at different issues.
The Society pointed out that 285 captives of Hamas Movement started open hunger strike in Eshel and Nafha jails in protest at the abuse they are exposed to at daily storming and search operations in addition to arbitrary transfer of their colleagues and Hamas leaders to other prisons.
Prisoner Bilal Kayed has been on hunger strike for 51 days in a row in protest at holding him in administrative detention after he had completed a 15-year sentence.
Five prisoners, as well, are on hunger strike in protest at the illegal administrative detention order. Another four are protesting at the Red Cross’s decision to minimize the number of family visitations to only one visit a month.
Captive Walid Masalmeh continues his open hunger strike which he started on July 18 in protest at holding him in solitary confinement for over ten months.
Riyad al-Ashqar, researcher concerned with prisoner affairs, said that conditions in Israeli jails are escalating after prisoner Kayed had announced starting an open hunger strike followed by dozens of Popular Front’s prisoners joining him in the strike amid systematic quelling by the prison administration.
Ashqar revealed that the conditions have even worsened after a quelling attack took place on Wednesday whereby 135 of Hamas detainees were transferred from Raymond to Eshel jails.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Thursday afternoon kidnapped anew ex-detainee Randa Shahatit, a 29-year-old mother from Dura town in al-Khalil, at a checkpoint near Bethlehem.
According to local sources, Shahatit was en route to a hospital in Bethlehem when soldiers at an-Nashash checkpoint south of Bethlehem detained her and then took her to an undeclared place.
Shahatit, a mother of three young children, had already spent seven years in jails.
The number of Palestinian female prisoners in Sharon and Damon jails has risen to 65 following the detention of Shahatit. According to the Palestinian commission for detainees and ex-detainees, 41 Palestinian women, 12 of them under age 18, are suffering from harsh incarceration conditions in Sharon jail.
According to local sources, Shahatit was en route to a hospital in Bethlehem when soldiers at an-Nashash checkpoint south of Bethlehem detained her and then took her to an undeclared place.
Shahatit, a mother of three young children, had already spent seven years in jails.
The number of Palestinian female prisoners in Sharon and Damon jails has risen to 65 following the detention of Shahatit. According to the Palestinian commission for detainees and ex-detainees, 41 Palestinian women, 12 of them under age 18, are suffering from harsh incarceration conditions in Sharon jail.
Palestinian Prisoner Society’s lawyer Akram Samara said on Thursday that the Israeli military appeal court of Ofer issued over 1-year sentences against two Palestinian prisoners.
Yaqoub Abu Heshesh and Zakariya Ghatasha were sentenced to 20 months and 18 months instead of 10 months and 11 months respectively.
The lawyer revealed that this was the first time in which Israeli courts issue such long sentences for the charge of stone throwing.
Samara opined that the decision aims at paving the way for enforcing the resolution, which was signed by Israeli army commander in April, 2016, related to increasing the sentence of stone throwing.
The decision stipulated that the minimum sentence for stone throwing should be two years.
Yaqoub Abu Heshesh and Zakariya Ghatasha were sentenced to 20 months and 18 months instead of 10 months and 11 months respectively.
The lawyer revealed that this was the first time in which Israeli courts issue such long sentences for the charge of stone throwing.
Samara opined that the decision aims at paving the way for enforcing the resolution, which was signed by Israeli army commander in April, 2016, related to increasing the sentence of stone throwing.
The decision stipulated that the minimum sentence for stone throwing should be two years.
4 aug 2016
Female Israeli conscripts repeatedly beat Hadeel al-Faqih, the wife of the slain Palestinian anti-occupation activist, Mohammed al-Faqih.
The soldiers hit her on the back and stomach, in what the Palestinian family perceive as an attempt to assassinate the fetus. Hadeel al-Faqih said that IOF targeted her on Wednesday at dawn, as a huge force of the Israeli army broke into her father’s home and attacked her and her father, Zuheir Barakat Awda, who tried to prevent them from arresting her.
Mohammed al-Faqih was assassinated by Israeli soldiers in Surif town, after he was surrounded in a house for around six hours, in armed clashes between him and the IOF.
The Israeli forces opened heavy fire and launched eight shoulder-fired missiles at the house where al-Faqih ahd taken shelter.
Threats
Hadeel al-Faqih, the four-month pregnant widow, said that the IOF threatened her directly as they said, “We have had enough revenge from the people of al-Khalil.
Now we are after you. Even if Mohammed is dead, we will arrest you and abort your fetus.”
She added that two Israeli female conscripts beat her on the back and stomach, dragged her on the floor, threw her at the wall and forcibly pushed her to the door, while their eyes were focused on her stomach.
Arrest attempt
Al-Faqih went on, “After beating me severely, the Israeli forces dragged me into a room, interrogated me and said they would arrest me.”
According to al-Faqih, the IOF broke into her father’s home at 1.30 a.m. while her father was out. They were taking her to an Israeli jeep when she saw her father coming.
He started asking the Israeli officers about what was going on. She said, “As I stopped before the jeep, I looked back and saw my father lying on the ground, unconscious.”
Awda’s health condition
“The IOF soldiers left my father on the ground for 30 minutes without allowing anyone to reach him or me.
When they noticed that my father had reached a very critical condition, the forces withdrew hurriedly,” she added.
Her father was taken to the UNRWA hospital in Qalqilya as he sustained a critical brain hemorrhage and lungs damage.
“When my father was on the ground, I recalled the situation when the soldiers killed my husband and an Israeli intelligence agent smiled and told me, we killed Muhammad without letting you see him,” she said.
According to medical reports, Awda’s chance of going back to normal life is very slim.
The soldiers hit her on the back and stomach, in what the Palestinian family perceive as an attempt to assassinate the fetus. Hadeel al-Faqih said that IOF targeted her on Wednesday at dawn, as a huge force of the Israeli army broke into her father’s home and attacked her and her father, Zuheir Barakat Awda, who tried to prevent them from arresting her.
Mohammed al-Faqih was assassinated by Israeli soldiers in Surif town, after he was surrounded in a house for around six hours, in armed clashes between him and the IOF.
The Israeli forces opened heavy fire and launched eight shoulder-fired missiles at the house where al-Faqih ahd taken shelter.
Threats
Hadeel al-Faqih, the four-month pregnant widow, said that the IOF threatened her directly as they said, “We have had enough revenge from the people of al-Khalil.
Now we are after you. Even if Mohammed is dead, we will arrest you and abort your fetus.”
She added that two Israeli female conscripts beat her on the back and stomach, dragged her on the floor, threw her at the wall and forcibly pushed her to the door, while their eyes were focused on her stomach.
Arrest attempt
Al-Faqih went on, “After beating me severely, the Israeli forces dragged me into a room, interrogated me and said they would arrest me.”
According to al-Faqih, the IOF broke into her father’s home at 1.30 a.m. while her father was out. They were taking her to an Israeli jeep when she saw her father coming.
He started asking the Israeli officers about what was going on. She said, “As I stopped before the jeep, I looked back and saw my father lying on the ground, unconscious.”
Awda’s health condition
“The IOF soldiers left my father on the ground for 30 minutes without allowing anyone to reach him or me.
When they noticed that my father had reached a very critical condition, the forces withdrew hurriedly,” she added.
Her father was taken to the UNRWA hospital in Qalqilya as he sustained a critical brain hemorrhage and lungs damage.
“When my father was on the ground, I recalled the situation when the soldiers killed my husband and an Israeli intelligence agent smiled and told me, we killed Muhammad without letting you see him,” she said.
According to medical reports, Awda’s chance of going back to normal life is very slim.
The Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) has reported, Thursday, that more than 300 Palestinian political prisoners, held in Israeli prisons and detention centers, demanding an end to the escalating violation against them.
In a statement, the PPS said 285 detainees, held in Eshil and Nafha prisons, initiated an open-ended hunger strike demanding the Israeli Prison Authority to stop the violations and assaults against them.
Some of the violations are daily invasions and searches of their rooms, punitive transfers, bad conditions and repeated assaults against them and their visiting families.
It added that detainee Bilal Kayed is ongoing with his strike for the 51st consecutive day, protesting his arbitrary Administrative Detention, especially since Israel slapped an Administrative Detention order on him immediately after he served his prison sentence of 15.5 years.
40 detainees, members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) are also striking in solidarity with Kayed.
The PPS also said that five detainees are holding hungers strikes protesting their illegal Administrative Detention; they have been identified as Mahmoud al-Balboul, who started his strike on July 4th, his brother Mohammad, who started his strike on July 7th, Malek Qadi and Ayyad al-Hreimi, who started their strike on July 15th, and journalist Omar Nazzal, who launched his strike today.
In addition, four detainees, who are serving life-terms, also initiated a hunger strike protesting a decision by the International Red Cross to reduce visits to only once a month.
The decision was made on July 18th; the detainees are Ahmad Barghouthi, Mahmoud Sarahna, Ziad al-Bazzaz and Amin Kamil.
Another detainee, identified as Waleed Mallouh Masalma is ongoing with the hunger strike he started on July 18th, demanding to be removed from solitary confinement. He has been held in solidarity for the tenth consecutive month.
In a statement, the PPS said 285 detainees, held in Eshil and Nafha prisons, initiated an open-ended hunger strike demanding the Israeli Prison Authority to stop the violations and assaults against them.
Some of the violations are daily invasions and searches of their rooms, punitive transfers, bad conditions and repeated assaults against them and their visiting families.
It added that detainee Bilal Kayed is ongoing with his strike for the 51st consecutive day, protesting his arbitrary Administrative Detention, especially since Israel slapped an Administrative Detention order on him immediately after he served his prison sentence of 15.5 years.
40 detainees, members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) are also striking in solidarity with Kayed.
The PPS also said that five detainees are holding hungers strikes protesting their illegal Administrative Detention; they have been identified as Mahmoud al-Balboul, who started his strike on July 4th, his brother Mohammad, who started his strike on July 7th, Malek Qadi and Ayyad al-Hreimi, who started their strike on July 15th, and journalist Omar Nazzal, who launched his strike today.
In addition, four detainees, who are serving life-terms, also initiated a hunger strike protesting a decision by the International Red Cross to reduce visits to only once a month.
The decision was made on July 18th; the detainees are Ahmad Barghouthi, Mahmoud Sarahna, Ziad al-Bazzaz and Amin Kamil.
Another detainee, identified as Waleed Mallouh Masalma is ongoing with the hunger strike he started on July 18th, demanding to be removed from solitary confinement. He has been held in solidarity for the tenth consecutive month.
At least 13 Palestinian citizens were kidnapped by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) from the West Bank and Jerusalem overnight Wednesday and early Thursday.
A PIC news correspondent said eight Palestinians were kidnapped by the IOF from Occupied Jerusalem, including members of the reconstruction staff at al-Aqsa Mosque.
The IOF further kidnapped two Palestinians from the Akbat Jabr refugee camp in Jericho. Two more Palestinians were kidnapped by the occupation soldiers from the West Bank provinces of al-Khalil and Jenin.
The campaign culminated in the abduction of a Palestinian boy near Jerusalem’s light rail station on allegations that he was carrying a knife. The 17-year-old captive was dragged to an Israeli detention center pending further interrogation.
Earlier, on Tuesday, Israeli forces claimed responsibility for the abduction of a Palestinian university student who allegedly attempted to bomb the Jerusalem light rail last month.
A PIC news correspondent said eight Palestinians were kidnapped by the IOF from Occupied Jerusalem, including members of the reconstruction staff at al-Aqsa Mosque.
The IOF further kidnapped two Palestinians from the Akbat Jabr refugee camp in Jericho. Two more Palestinians were kidnapped by the occupation soldiers from the West Bank provinces of al-Khalil and Jenin.
The campaign culminated in the abduction of a Palestinian boy near Jerusalem’s light rail station on allegations that he was carrying a knife. The 17-year-old captive was dragged to an Israeli detention center pending further interrogation.
Earlier, on Tuesday, Israeli forces claimed responsibility for the abduction of a Palestinian university student who allegedly attempted to bomb the Jerusalem light rail last month.
The Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) on Wednesday sounded the alarm over the health status of three minor detainees infected with mumps in the Israeli Ofer jail.
PPS said the Israeli prison service isolated the three detainees in a separate cell after they caught a mumps virus. PPS identified the detainees as Mustafa al-Kadhi, Muayad Abu Ghazaleh (both from al-Khalil) and Abdullah Surur (from Ramallah).
162 Palestinian minors are locked up in the Israeli Ofer prison. Meanwhile, PPS lawyer sounded the alarm over the sharp deterioration rocking the health status of prisoners Ayad al-Hreimi and Malek al-Kadhi, who have been on an open-ended hunger strike since July 15 in protest at their administrative detention.
Al-Hreimi was reportedly rushed to the prison clinic, where the Israeli doctors tried to force him to drink water and sugar after he lost consciousness and fell over.
Hreimi firmly refused to succumb to the doctors' threats. The detainee was quoted as stating that he fell on the ground as the prison guards transferred him from the prison cell via a wheelchair and at a very high speed.
He added that the Israeli prison authorities continue to mistreat Palestinian hunger-strikers so as to dampen their high spirits. Prisoner Malek al-Kadhi was also quoted as sounding a cry for help over the excruciating pains hitting his body.
The Israeli occupation forces arrested prisoner al-Hreimi on December 21, 2015 and Malek al-Kadhi on May 23, 2016.
PPS said the Israeli prison service isolated the three detainees in a separate cell after they caught a mumps virus. PPS identified the detainees as Mustafa al-Kadhi, Muayad Abu Ghazaleh (both from al-Khalil) and Abdullah Surur (from Ramallah).
162 Palestinian minors are locked up in the Israeli Ofer prison. Meanwhile, PPS lawyer sounded the alarm over the sharp deterioration rocking the health status of prisoners Ayad al-Hreimi and Malek al-Kadhi, who have been on an open-ended hunger strike since July 15 in protest at their administrative detention.
Al-Hreimi was reportedly rushed to the prison clinic, where the Israeli doctors tried to force him to drink water and sugar after he lost consciousness and fell over.
Hreimi firmly refused to succumb to the doctors' threats. The detainee was quoted as stating that he fell on the ground as the prison guards transferred him from the prison cell via a wheelchair and at a very high speed.
He added that the Israeli prison authorities continue to mistreat Palestinian hunger-strikers so as to dampen their high spirits. Prisoner Malek al-Kadhi was also quoted as sounding a cry for help over the excruciating pains hitting his body.
The Israeli occupation forces arrested prisoner al-Hreimi on December 21, 2015 and Malek al-Kadhi on May 23, 2016.
The Israeli Knesset approved, in both second and third readings, the bill of arresting Palestinian children, below 14 years, alleging that they are "terrorists".
Israeli channel seven on Wednesday said that the bill states that “No minor less than 14 years shall be imprisoned, but a temporary amendment can be offered to a term of three years by which prison sentences can be reduced for minors who are convicted with manslaughter or attempted murder, and when they reach the age of 14, they can be held in a prison under supervision.”
The channel underlined that the endorsement of the bill was done in the third reading of the law 32 of the Knesset. It was objected by 16 members and one member refrained from voting, it added.
Israeli channel seven on Wednesday said that the bill states that “No minor less than 14 years shall be imprisoned, but a temporary amendment can be offered to a term of three years by which prison sentences can be reduced for minors who are convicted with manslaughter or attempted murder, and when they reach the age of 14, they can be held in a prison under supervision.”
The channel underlined that the endorsement of the bill was done in the third reading of the law 32 of the Knesset. It was objected by 16 members and one member refrained from voting, it added.
Israeli court on Tuesday adjourned the sentence hearing against the Jordanian captive Abdullah al-Zeitawi to August 17.
Sources revealed that Israeli general prosecution had increased his demand and asked for an 80 months sentence against the engineer al-Zeitawi.
Al-Zeitawi was arrested in September, 2014 while paying a visit to Palestine along with his family for his wedding ceremony.
He is a Jordanian citizen and member of the Jordanian engineer syndicate.
Sources revealed that Israeli general prosecution had increased his demand and asked for an 80 months sentence against the engineer al-Zeitawi.
Al-Zeitawi was arrested in September, 2014 while paying a visit to Palestine along with his family for his wedding ceremony.
He is a Jordanian citizen and member of the Jordanian engineer syndicate.
[Palestinian detainee] Bilal Kayed has now been on [hunger strike] for 50 days.
In mid-June, he was supposed to return to his home in the West Bank village of Asira al-Shamaliya after serving nearly 15 years in an Israeli prison.
But, when Israeli authorities reneged and placed him under administrative detention instead, he began refusing food.
His protest has drawn strong support: around 100 Palestinian prisoners have joined a hunger strike, in solidarity with him.
Among those who have begun refusing food are Ahmad Saadat, the secretary-general of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) who is currently serving a 30-year sentence.
Palestinian circus performer Mohammed Abu Sakha, placed under under administrative detention last December, and jailed activist Hassan Karajah are also on hunger strike.
Editor’s note: Administrative detention is an archaic method of punishment, enforced by Israeli authorities and dating back to the days of British Mandate, in which the detainee is subjected to imprisonment, without charge or trial, for renewable periods of up to six months. The order can be renewed indefinitely.
This week, Kayed issued a letter from his hospital bed addressed to the Palestinian people.
In mid-June, he was supposed to return to his home in the West Bank village of Asira al-Shamaliya after serving nearly 15 years in an Israeli prison.
But, when Israeli authorities reneged and placed him under administrative detention instead, he began refusing food.
His protest has drawn strong support: around 100 Palestinian prisoners have joined a hunger strike, in solidarity with him.
Among those who have begun refusing food are Ahmad Saadat, the secretary-general of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) who is currently serving a 30-year sentence.
Palestinian circus performer Mohammed Abu Sakha, placed under under administrative detention last December, and jailed activist Hassan Karajah are also on hunger strike.
Editor’s note: Administrative detention is an archaic method of punishment, enforced by Israeli authorities and dating back to the days of British Mandate, in which the detainee is subjected to imprisonment, without charge or trial, for renewable periods of up to six months. The order can be renewed indefinitely.
This week, Kayed issued a letter from his hospital bed addressed to the Palestinian people.
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Palestinian poet and political prisoner Dareen Tatour finally returned to her hometown of Reineh, last week, after enduring various forms of Israeli detention for nearly nine months.
Her family and supporters joyously greeted her with music, food and fireworks when she arrived to the village on July 26th. Yet, Tartour’s future remains uncertain: she will remain under house arrest and electronic surveillance in her family’s home. Moreover, her trial remains ongoing. If Israeli authorities find her guilty of “incitement to violence,” she will be taken back to prison for up to eight years. Israeli forces arrested Tatour on October 11th, 2015. They charged her with incitement to violence, based on a YouTube video showcasing a poem she wrote titled Resist, My People, Resist Them, as well as two statuses and an image of Israa Abed posted on her Facebook profile. “It is ironic, but not surprising, that I was sent to jail for protesting the killing of my people whereas actual Israeli killers roam free,” Tatour told The Electronic Intifada in April. After her initial arrest, Tatour was shuffled between multiple Israeli prisons for three months. In January, Israeli authorities transferred her to strict house arrest in |
Kiyrat Ono – a suburb over 100 kilometers away from her hometown. There, in a small apartment her brother had to rent for the occasion, Tatour was trapped with round-the-clock Israeli guards, forbidden from accessing Internet, and forced to wear an ankle monitor at all times.
However, between her release from Kiryat Ono and arrival in Reineh, Tatour spent another unexpected night in Israeli prison. At a court hearing on July 25th, the private for-profit ankle monitor company failed to produce a report required to approve Tatour’s transfer to Reineh. In anticipation of “negative reply” from operators of the ankle monitor, the judge detained Tatour. She had expressed that she would prefer jail to the draconian conditions of her house arrest.
Tartour court proceedings continued the following day. But, the surveillance company did not produce the requied report. In lieu of the surveillance report, Israeli authorities decided that Tatour should be taken back to prison. However, when the Israeli guards arrived with Tatour at Damoun prison, the prison authorities maintained the court had “released her” and refused to lock her up.
Though Tatour was stranded at the prison for some time, eventually her family was able to rescue her and happily take her home. A meeting with the surveillance company was scheduled for the following day.
On Thursday, Tatour told +972: “I feel much better now that I am in my home with my parents. Maybe I am nearing the end of the nightmare. Now I can have guests — I would be happy to meet the people who supported me.”
Solidarity with Tatour has grown over the course of her case. Demonstrations, vigils, and poetry nights for her freedom have been held in Haifa, Nazareth Jaffa, London, New York and Philadelphia.
Moreover, over 400 acclaimed poets and writers, including Alice Walker, Viet Thanh Nguyen and Eve Ensler, signed a letter calling for Tatour’s freedom. In the letter, the artists decry her arrest as evidence of the Israeli government’s “desire to silence Tatour” as “part of a larger pattern of Israeli repression against all Palestinians.”
Indeed, Tartour’s arrest is exemplary of Israel’s increasing criminalization of Palestinians’ Facebook activity since the popular uprising began in October 2015. So far, since October 2015, Israeli forces have arrested 400 Palestinians for Facebook posts.
Article author Anna Ty is a poet, activist and student of Anthropology, Gender, Sexuality, Feminism and Social Justice Studies at McGill University in Montreal.
However, between her release from Kiryat Ono and arrival in Reineh, Tatour spent another unexpected night in Israeli prison. At a court hearing on July 25th, the private for-profit ankle monitor company failed to produce a report required to approve Tatour’s transfer to Reineh. In anticipation of “negative reply” from operators of the ankle monitor, the judge detained Tatour. She had expressed that she would prefer jail to the draconian conditions of her house arrest.
Tartour court proceedings continued the following day. But, the surveillance company did not produce the requied report. In lieu of the surveillance report, Israeli authorities decided that Tatour should be taken back to prison. However, when the Israeli guards arrived with Tatour at Damoun prison, the prison authorities maintained the court had “released her” and refused to lock her up.
Though Tatour was stranded at the prison for some time, eventually her family was able to rescue her and happily take her home. A meeting with the surveillance company was scheduled for the following day.
On Thursday, Tatour told +972: “I feel much better now that I am in my home with my parents. Maybe I am nearing the end of the nightmare. Now I can have guests — I would be happy to meet the people who supported me.”
Solidarity with Tatour has grown over the course of her case. Demonstrations, vigils, and poetry nights for her freedom have been held in Haifa, Nazareth Jaffa, London, New York and Philadelphia.
Moreover, over 400 acclaimed poets and writers, including Alice Walker, Viet Thanh Nguyen and Eve Ensler, signed a letter calling for Tatour’s freedom. In the letter, the artists decry her arrest as evidence of the Israeli government’s “desire to silence Tatour” as “part of a larger pattern of Israeli repression against all Palestinians.”
Indeed, Tartour’s arrest is exemplary of Israel’s increasing criminalization of Palestinians’ Facebook activity since the popular uprising began in October 2015. So far, since October 2015, Israeli forces have arrested 400 Palestinians for Facebook posts.
Article author Anna Ty is a poet, activist and student of Anthropology, Gender, Sexuality, Feminism and Social Justice Studies at McGill University in Montreal.
