16 dec 2014
Around 110 Palestinian prisoners, held in different Israeli jails, have launched an open hunger strike a week ago in solidarity with the isolated detainee Nahar al-Saadi who enters his 27th day of hunger strike.
Nahar Al-Saadi (32 years old) was sentenced to four life imprisonment terms plus 20 years. He has served 11 years out of his sentence. He declared his strike nearly a month ago in protest of being held in solitary confinement for one year and seven months under unbearable conditions.
Al-Saadi has gone on hunger strike demanding an end to his solitary confinement, and to request his right to family visits, especially from his mother.
Mounting numbers of prisoners held in Nafha, Eshel, Negev, and Raymond prisons announced hunger strike to back al-Saadi’s demands.
As part of its punitive measures, the Israeli Prison Service imposed heavy fines on the hunger strikers, prevented their family visits, and transferred many of them to criminal prisons.
Al-Saadi suffers from previous health problems that have further deteriorated as a result of prolonged isolation and hunger strike. He suffers from scoliosis, abdominal pain and chronic digestive problems.
Following the Palestinian mass hunger strike in 2012 launched by Khader Adnan and joined by hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons in protest against administrative detention policy, things are going from bad to worse and may lead to the outbreak of a new battle behind Israeli bars.
Head of Ahrar Center Fuad al-Khuffash called on international human rights institutions to shed light on the prisoners' plight and support the strikers' human and legitimate demands.
The ongoing strike will certainly lead to a new victory in light of the prisoners' strong determination to meet their basic human needs.
Nahar Al-Saadi (32 years old) was sentenced to four life imprisonment terms plus 20 years. He has served 11 years out of his sentence. He declared his strike nearly a month ago in protest of being held in solitary confinement for one year and seven months under unbearable conditions.
Al-Saadi has gone on hunger strike demanding an end to his solitary confinement, and to request his right to family visits, especially from his mother.
Mounting numbers of prisoners held in Nafha, Eshel, Negev, and Raymond prisons announced hunger strike to back al-Saadi’s demands.
As part of its punitive measures, the Israeli Prison Service imposed heavy fines on the hunger strikers, prevented their family visits, and transferred many of them to criminal prisons.
Al-Saadi suffers from previous health problems that have further deteriorated as a result of prolonged isolation and hunger strike. He suffers from scoliosis, abdominal pain and chronic digestive problems.
Following the Palestinian mass hunger strike in 2012 launched by Khader Adnan and joined by hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons in protest against administrative detention policy, things are going from bad to worse and may lead to the outbreak of a new battle behind Israeli bars.
Head of Ahrar Center Fuad al-Khuffash called on international human rights institutions to shed light on the prisoners' plight and support the strikers' human and legitimate demands.
The ongoing strike will certainly lead to a new victory in light of the prisoners' strong determination to meet their basic human needs.
Three Palestinian young men were nabbed Monday evening in Tekoa town to the east of Bethlehem, while four citizens were notified to halt construction in their homes.
The three detainees were earlier summoned for investigation in Gush Etzion settlement, in southern Bethlehem, before being arrested.
Also in Bethlehem, Israeli forces stormed overnight Tekoa town and handed over four Palestinians notifications to halt construction in their homes under the pretext of lack of construction permits.
Earlier, violent clashes erupted at the entrance to Nabi Saleh town, north of Ramallah, between Israeli forces and dozens of local residents who threw stones at the soldiers.
In their turn, Israeli forces heavily fired tear gas bombs, rubber and live bullets at the protesters.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces tightened military restrictions at Za’atra checkpoint on Monday evening, which led to a traffic jam. Searches were carried out at the checkpoint.
In Nablus, a university student was nabbed while passing through Hawara checkpoint. The detainee was taken to an unknown detention center.
The three detainees were earlier summoned for investigation in Gush Etzion settlement, in southern Bethlehem, before being arrested.
Also in Bethlehem, Israeli forces stormed overnight Tekoa town and handed over four Palestinians notifications to halt construction in their homes under the pretext of lack of construction permits.
Earlier, violent clashes erupted at the entrance to Nabi Saleh town, north of Ramallah, between Israeli forces and dozens of local residents who threw stones at the soldiers.
In their turn, Israeli forces heavily fired tear gas bombs, rubber and live bullets at the protesters.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces tightened military restrictions at Za’atra checkpoint on Monday evening, which led to a traffic jam. Searches were carried out at the checkpoint.
In Nablus, a university student was nabbed while passing through Hawara checkpoint. The detainee was taken to an unknown detention center.
At least six Palestinian citizens were rounded up by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Tuesday while another civilian sustained critical wounds throughout a round of abrupt assaults launched across al-Khalil province.
Local sources said the IOF soldiers stormed Wadi al-Herya neighborhood via more than seven military jeeps and raided Palestinian family homes.
Heavy barrages of tear gas canisters have reportedly been unleashed in the process, resulting in injuries suffered by the young man Omar Amr.
Omar’s brother along with youngster Majed al-Himouni and another family member of Omar’s were kidnapped by the IOF in the process.
Sources based in al-Tabaka village, south of Dura town in al-Khalil province, said the IOF troops broke into Palestinian civilians’ homes and nabbed the ex-prisoner Mahmoud Hakam al-Haribat along with his peer Riadh Abu Ras. Both captives were dragged to an unidentified destination.
Earlier, overnight Monday the IOF apprehended a 20-year-old university student from al-Khalil at the Container checkpoint, pitched east of the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem.
Local press said the Israeli occupation patrols deployed at the checkpoint stopped Palestinian vehicles and scoured them before dragging the aforementioned youth, identified as Salah Ahmad Khalil al-Awawda, to an unknown location.
The IOF soldiers have stepped up arbitrary mass-abduction campaigns in the area over the past couple of weeks.
Earlier, on Monday evening the Israeli occupation army cordoned off al-Khalil’s Yatta town and closed the main road to Terka in an attempt to set the stage for settler vandalism in the area.
Coordinator for the anti-settlement committee in Yatta, Rateb al-Jabour, said a flock of Israeli extremist settlers, from the Susia and Maoun settlements, took to Street 60 and yelled racist and anti-Arab mottos inciting violence against Palestinians and Arabs.
Local sources said the IOF soldiers stormed Wadi al-Herya neighborhood via more than seven military jeeps and raided Palestinian family homes.
Heavy barrages of tear gas canisters have reportedly been unleashed in the process, resulting in injuries suffered by the young man Omar Amr.
Omar’s brother along with youngster Majed al-Himouni and another family member of Omar’s were kidnapped by the IOF in the process.
Sources based in al-Tabaka village, south of Dura town in al-Khalil province, said the IOF troops broke into Palestinian civilians’ homes and nabbed the ex-prisoner Mahmoud Hakam al-Haribat along with his peer Riadh Abu Ras. Both captives were dragged to an unidentified destination.
Earlier, overnight Monday the IOF apprehended a 20-year-old university student from al-Khalil at the Container checkpoint, pitched east of the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem.
Local press said the Israeli occupation patrols deployed at the checkpoint stopped Palestinian vehicles and scoured them before dragging the aforementioned youth, identified as Salah Ahmad Khalil al-Awawda, to an unknown location.
The IOF soldiers have stepped up arbitrary mass-abduction campaigns in the area over the past couple of weeks.
Earlier, on Monday evening the Israeli occupation army cordoned off al-Khalil’s Yatta town and closed the main road to Terka in an attempt to set the stage for settler vandalism in the area.
Coordinator for the anti-settlement committee in Yatta, Rateb al-Jabour, said a flock of Israeli extremist settlers, from the Susia and Maoun settlements, took to Street 60 and yelled racist and anti-Arab mottos inciting violence against Palestinians and Arabs.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Monday evening kidnapped two Palestinian young men from the Gaza Strip near the border fence, claiming they tried to cross into an Israeli-controlled territory.
Eyewitnesses said that Israeli soldiers posted near the border in central Gaza took the young men prisoners after they approached the fence.
Every once in a while, the Israeli army announces the detention or killing of young Gazans as they try to infiltrate into the 1948 occupied territories in order to find jobs.
The Israeli army prohibits the presence of Gazans within a distance of 300 meters from the perimeter of the border fence.
According to a Palestinian human rights group, the Israeli army has detained about 20 Palestinians from Gaza since the beginning of last October after they attempted to reach settlements behind the border fence to look for jobs.
Eyewitnesses said that Israeli soldiers posted near the border in central Gaza took the young men prisoners after they approached the fence.
Every once in a while, the Israeli army announces the detention or killing of young Gazans as they try to infiltrate into the 1948 occupied territories in order to find jobs.
The Israeli army prohibits the presence of Gazans within a distance of 300 meters from the perimeter of the border fence.
According to a Palestinian human rights group, the Israeli army has detained about 20 Palestinians from Gaza since the beginning of last October after they attempted to reach settlements behind the border fence to look for jobs.
The Israeli occupation police on Monday evening kidnapped three Palestinian children from holy al-Aqsa Mosque shortly after a horde of Israeli extremist setters stormed the compound.
By-standers at the scene said the Israeli officers abducted three children, aged between 10 and 11 years old.
The three minors were identified as Tawfiq Najib, Mustapha Abu Sneina, and Zakaria al-Bekri.
The apprehension cropped up a few hours after a gang of 22 extremist Jewish settlers broke into the Mosque early in the morning, a Palestinian official said.
"At least 22 Jewish settlers stormed the holy compound through the Al-Maghareba Gate under the protection of the Israeli occupation soldiers," Sheikh Omar al-Qiswani, director of the Al-Aqsa complex, told The Anadolu News Agency.
“We firmly condemn such sacrilegious break-ins and request that they immediately be stopped, once and for all,” he stated.
Al-Qiswani added that the Israeli officers stationed at one of the compound's gates had summoned Palestinian guard Mourad Mousa for interrogation.
Another member of al-Aqsa supervision personnel was rounded up by the Israeli policemen from his own family home in Ras al-Amoud neighborhood at dawn Monday.
By-standers at the scene said the police further nabbed an unidentified Palestinian young woman at the Majles Gate and dragged her to a nearby custody.
By-standers at the scene said the Israeli officers abducted three children, aged between 10 and 11 years old.
The three minors were identified as Tawfiq Najib, Mustapha Abu Sneina, and Zakaria al-Bekri.
The apprehension cropped up a few hours after a gang of 22 extremist Jewish settlers broke into the Mosque early in the morning, a Palestinian official said.
"At least 22 Jewish settlers stormed the holy compound through the Al-Maghareba Gate under the protection of the Israeli occupation soldiers," Sheikh Omar al-Qiswani, director of the Al-Aqsa complex, told The Anadolu News Agency.
“We firmly condemn such sacrilegious break-ins and request that they immediately be stopped, once and for all,” he stated.
Al-Qiswani added that the Israeli officers stationed at one of the compound's gates had summoned Palestinian guard Mourad Mousa for interrogation.
Another member of al-Aqsa supervision personnel was rounded up by the Israeli policemen from his own family home in Ras al-Amoud neighborhood at dawn Monday.
By-standers at the scene said the police further nabbed an unidentified Palestinian young woman at the Majles Gate and dragged her to a nearby custody.
Media sources in Hebron, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank, have reported that dozens of soldiers invaded the city, and nearby communities, shot and wounded one Palestinian, and kidnapped at least five others.
The sources said more than seven armored Israeli military vehicles invaded Wadi al-Harya area, before the soldiers fired concussion grenades and gas bombs at a number of homes.
One Palestinian, identified as ‘Omar ‘Amro, was shot and injured, before the soldiers also kidnapped his brother ‘Ammar.
Soldiers also invaded and ransacked a number of homes, near al-Ansar mosque in the Salam Street, and kidnapped Majed al-Haimouni and another member of his family.
In addition, several military vehicles invaded the at-Tabaqa village south of Doura town near Hebron, and searched a number of homes before kidnapping former political prisoner Mahmoud Hakam al-Harbiyyat and Riyadh Abu Ras.
Late on Monday at night, soldiers stationed at the Container Roadblock, east of Bethlehem, kidnapped a university student from Doura town.
Local sources said the soldiers stopped and searched dozens of cars before kidnapping Salah Ahmad al-‘Awawda, 20, a student of the Al-Quds University.
On Monday evening, dozens of extremist Israeli settlers marched between the Susiya and Ma’on illegal settlements, built on Palestinians land in Yatta town near Hebron.
Israeli soldiers were heavily deployed in the area, and completely blocked all Palestinian traffic.
Rateb Jabour, coordinator of the Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements in Yatta, said the colonists marched on bypass road #60, while chanting racist anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian slogans, including “Death to Arabs.”
Jabour added that the soldiers sealed the entrances of Yatta, and various roads leading to Palestinian villages and communities south of east of Yatta.
The sources said more than seven armored Israeli military vehicles invaded Wadi al-Harya area, before the soldiers fired concussion grenades and gas bombs at a number of homes.
One Palestinian, identified as ‘Omar ‘Amro, was shot and injured, before the soldiers also kidnapped his brother ‘Ammar.
Soldiers also invaded and ransacked a number of homes, near al-Ansar mosque in the Salam Street, and kidnapped Majed al-Haimouni and another member of his family.
In addition, several military vehicles invaded the at-Tabaqa village south of Doura town near Hebron, and searched a number of homes before kidnapping former political prisoner Mahmoud Hakam al-Harbiyyat and Riyadh Abu Ras.
Late on Monday at night, soldiers stationed at the Container Roadblock, east of Bethlehem, kidnapped a university student from Doura town.
Local sources said the soldiers stopped and searched dozens of cars before kidnapping Salah Ahmad al-‘Awawda, 20, a student of the Al-Quds University.
On Monday evening, dozens of extremist Israeli settlers marched between the Susiya and Ma’on illegal settlements, built on Palestinians land in Yatta town near Hebron.
Israeli soldiers were heavily deployed in the area, and completely blocked all Palestinian traffic.
Rateb Jabour, coordinator of the Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements in Yatta, said the colonists marched on bypass road #60, while chanting racist anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian slogans, including “Death to Arabs.”
Jabour added that the soldiers sealed the entrances of Yatta, and various roads leading to Palestinian villages and communities south of east of Yatta.
15 dec 2014
Head of Palestine Center for Prisoners’ Studies Osama Shahin was held in administrative detention for four months.
The PIC reporter quoted family sources as stating on Sunday that Shahin was nabbed Thursday at the Container checkpoint while on his way to al-Khalil. He was then directly taken to Ofer prison.
His detention came only three months after his last release from Israeli jails as he spent seven years in custody during different arrests, the sources added.
His multiple arrests caused him several health diseases including breathing problems and joint pains.
Palestine Center for Prisoners’ Studies strongly condemned the Israeli administrative detention order against its chairman that fell as part of Israel's attempts to foil efforts to expose its daily violations.
The center called on human rights institutions to intervene and end the Palestinian prisoners’ plight particularly those held in administrative detention without charge or trial in a clear violation of international laws.
The PIC reporter quoted family sources as stating on Sunday that Shahin was nabbed Thursday at the Container checkpoint while on his way to al-Khalil. He was then directly taken to Ofer prison.
His detention came only three months after his last release from Israeli jails as he spent seven years in custody during different arrests, the sources added.
His multiple arrests caused him several health diseases including breathing problems and joint pains.
Palestine Center for Prisoners’ Studies strongly condemned the Israeli administrative detention order against its chairman that fell as part of Israel's attempts to foil efforts to expose its daily violations.
The center called on human rights institutions to intervene and end the Palestinian prisoners’ plight particularly those held in administrative detention without charge or trial in a clear violation of international laws.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Monday raided Jenin city, its refugee camp and different areas of east Jerusalem and kidnapped a number of Palestinian citizens from their homes.
Local sources said that Israeli troops aboard armored vehicles stormed Jenin city at three o'clock in the morning and kidnapped two young men identified as Ahmed Adarbi and Mohamed al-Turki from their homes.
During the campaign, the invading troops ransacked several homes in the city, violently forced families outdoors in the cold for several hours and occupied the rooftops of some houses, the sources added
The troops also invaded Jenin refugee camp, patrolled different neighborhoods and established checkpoints, with no reported arrests.
In Jerusalem, Israeli policemen kidnapped four citizens, one of them works as a guard at the Aqsa Mosque, from their homes in different areas.
The police ransacked several homes during the campaign in the holy city and confiscated computers, cellphones and some personal belongings.
On the same day, the IOF kidnapped a Palestinian ex-detainee from al-Khalil city and summoned three others for interrogation in Yatta town, south of the city.
Local sources told the Palestinian information center (PIC) that the IOF detained Ahmed al-Atrash, an ex-detainee in Israeli jails, during his presence in al-Shuhadaa street in the central district of al-Khalil and took him to an unknown place.
They added that the IOF also raided homes in the nearby town of Yatta and handed three young men summonses for interrogation from the Shin Bet.
The three young men are Muaad Abu Arram, Fares Abu Eid, and Khaled Hamamdeh.
Local sources said that Israeli troops aboard armored vehicles stormed Jenin city at three o'clock in the morning and kidnapped two young men identified as Ahmed Adarbi and Mohamed al-Turki from their homes.
During the campaign, the invading troops ransacked several homes in the city, violently forced families outdoors in the cold for several hours and occupied the rooftops of some houses, the sources added
The troops also invaded Jenin refugee camp, patrolled different neighborhoods and established checkpoints, with no reported arrests.
In Jerusalem, Israeli policemen kidnapped four citizens, one of them works as a guard at the Aqsa Mosque, from their homes in different areas.
The police ransacked several homes during the campaign in the holy city and confiscated computers, cellphones and some personal belongings.
On the same day, the IOF kidnapped a Palestinian ex-detainee from al-Khalil city and summoned three others for interrogation in Yatta town, south of the city.
Local sources told the Palestinian information center (PIC) that the IOF detained Ahmed al-Atrash, an ex-detainee in Israeli jails, during his presence in al-Shuhadaa street in the central district of al-Khalil and took him to an unknown place.
They added that the IOF also raided homes in the nearby town of Yatta and handed three young men summonses for interrogation from the Shin Bet.
The three young men are Muaad Abu Arram, Fares Abu Eid, and Khaled Hamamdeh.
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Monday at dawn, various Palestinian neighborhoods in occupied East Jerusalem, violently searched homes, and kidnapped nine Palestinians.
Head of the Jerusalem Detainees Parents Committee Amjad Abu ‘Asab said the soldiers kidnapped four former political prisoners in various neighborhoods in occupied Jerusalem, after searching their homes, adding that the soldiers also confiscated mobile phones and computers from their homes.
The four have been identified as Omar Mheisin from Shu’fat refugee camp, former Fateh Secretary in Jerusalem Omar Shalabi, Nasser al-Hadmy from 'Aqbat As-Suwwana, and Odai Sonnoqrot from Ras al-‘Amoud.
Sonnoqrot is one of the guards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The family of Shalabi said the soldiers searched and ransacked their property, and confiscated some of his belongings.
The soldiers also broke into homes in Jabal al-Mokabber and at-Tour in Jerusalem, and kidnapped Mohammad ‘Ata Abdo, 43, ‘Ammar Ahmad ‘Oweisat, 26, Sami Ed’eis, and Nour Khader.
In addition, army invaded that home of Sami Abu Ghalia, secretary of Fateh movement in the Bedouin area, searched his property and his car.
In addition, soldiers kidnapped Ibrahim Abu Gharbiyya, member of the Fateh Regional Council in Jerusalem.
His son said the soldiers broke into the family home, and attacked several members, including a paralyzed family member, and kidnapped Ibrahim after cuffing and blindfolding him.
Head of the Jerusalem Detainees Parents Committee Amjad Abu ‘Asab said the soldiers kidnapped four former political prisoners in various neighborhoods in occupied Jerusalem, after searching their homes, adding that the soldiers also confiscated mobile phones and computers from their homes.
The four have been identified as Omar Mheisin from Shu’fat refugee camp, former Fateh Secretary in Jerusalem Omar Shalabi, Nasser al-Hadmy from 'Aqbat As-Suwwana, and Odai Sonnoqrot from Ras al-‘Amoud.
Sonnoqrot is one of the guards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The family of Shalabi said the soldiers searched and ransacked their property, and confiscated some of his belongings.
The soldiers also broke into homes in Jabal al-Mokabber and at-Tour in Jerusalem, and kidnapped Mohammad ‘Ata Abdo, 43, ‘Ammar Ahmad ‘Oweisat, 26, Sami Ed’eis, and Nour Khader.
In addition, army invaded that home of Sami Abu Ghalia, secretary of Fateh movement in the Bedouin area, searched his property and his car.
In addition, soldiers kidnapped Ibrahim Abu Gharbiyya, member of the Fateh Regional Council in Jerusalem.
His son said the soldiers broke into the family home, and attacked several members, including a paralyzed family member, and kidnapped Ibrahim after cuffing and blindfolding him.
Poster Of Detainee Lina al-Jarbouni
A report published by the Palestinian Detainees Committee on Sunday revealed that 17 Palestinian female detainees, held by Israel, are facing very harsh conditions, harassment and are denied the right to medical treatment.
The Committee said Israel is currently holding captive 17 Palestinians women; the oldest is Lina al-Jarbouni, 40 years of age, from ‘Arraba al-Batouf in Akka, who has been imprisoned since more than 13 years, and the youngest is Dima Sawahra, 16 years of age, from occupied Jerusalem.
It said all female detainees, held in the HaSharon Israel prison, and are facing very difficult living conditions, medical neglect, constant harassment and violations.
On Sunday, lawyer Heba Masalha of the Palestinian Detainees Committee, managed to visit four female detainees, held in the HaSharon Israeli prison, who informed her of constant harassment and violations, including soldiers repeatedly breaking into their rooms to search, and ransack them.
The detainees Masalha managed to visit are:
1. Lina al-Jarbouni, from ‘Arraba in the occupied Galilee, sentenced to a 17-year term.
2. Nahil Abu ‘Aisha, from Hebron, sentenced to 33 months.
3. Boshra Tawil, from al-Biereh near Ramallah, currently under interrogation, and was one of the detainees released under the Shalit prisoner swap deal.
4. Mona Qa’dan, from Jenin, currently under interrogation, and was one of the detainees released under the Shalit prisoner swap deal.
The female detainees, currently held by Israel, are:
1. Lina al-Jarbouni.
2. Mona Qa’dan.
3. Nahil Abu ‘Aisha.
4. Samaher Zein ed-deen.
5. Rasmiyya Balawna.
6. Boshra Tawil.
7. Fida’ Shabana.
8. Dina Waked.
9. Falasteen Najm.
10. Dima Sawahra.
11. We’am ‘Asseeda.
12. Sherin al-‘Eesawy.
13. Thorayya Taha.
14. Fida’ Suleiman.
15. Ehsan Dababsa.
16. Yathreb Rayyan.
17. Hala Musallam.
On November 10, head of the Census Department of the Palestinian Detainees’ Committee, Abdul-Nasser Ferwana, said Israeli soldiers have kidnapped more than 3000 Palestinians in five months, with a ratio of around 20 Palestinians each day.
Ferwana said 13000 (43%) of the kidnapped Palestinians are from occupied East Jerusalem, and that nearly 30% of them are children.
The former political prisoner also stated that all of the kidnapped Palestinians have been tortured during interrogation, and during their arrest, and that the torture was psychical and psychological, adding that they are held under very difficult, inhumane conditions, in direct violation of all related international agreements and conventions.
He said that there are currently more than 7000 Palestinians, including 280 children, held by Israel in various prisons, detention camps and interrogation centers, and that the number of Administrative Detainees, held without charges or trial is around 550.
In addition, the army kidnapped around 85 former political prisoners, who were previously released under the Shalit swap agreement, while four of them from the West Bank, were sent to Gaza as Israel refused to allow them back home.
A report published by the Palestinian Detainees Committee on Sunday revealed that 17 Palestinian female detainees, held by Israel, are facing very harsh conditions, harassment and are denied the right to medical treatment.
The Committee said Israel is currently holding captive 17 Palestinians women; the oldest is Lina al-Jarbouni, 40 years of age, from ‘Arraba al-Batouf in Akka, who has been imprisoned since more than 13 years, and the youngest is Dima Sawahra, 16 years of age, from occupied Jerusalem.
It said all female detainees, held in the HaSharon Israel prison, and are facing very difficult living conditions, medical neglect, constant harassment and violations.
On Sunday, lawyer Heba Masalha of the Palestinian Detainees Committee, managed to visit four female detainees, held in the HaSharon Israeli prison, who informed her of constant harassment and violations, including soldiers repeatedly breaking into their rooms to search, and ransack them.
The detainees Masalha managed to visit are:
1. Lina al-Jarbouni, from ‘Arraba in the occupied Galilee, sentenced to a 17-year term.
2. Nahil Abu ‘Aisha, from Hebron, sentenced to 33 months.
3. Boshra Tawil, from al-Biereh near Ramallah, currently under interrogation, and was one of the detainees released under the Shalit prisoner swap deal.
4. Mona Qa’dan, from Jenin, currently under interrogation, and was one of the detainees released under the Shalit prisoner swap deal.
The female detainees, currently held by Israel, are:
1. Lina al-Jarbouni.
2. Mona Qa’dan.
3. Nahil Abu ‘Aisha.
4. Samaher Zein ed-deen.
5. Rasmiyya Balawna.
6. Boshra Tawil.
7. Fida’ Shabana.
8. Dina Waked.
9. Falasteen Najm.
10. Dima Sawahra.
11. We’am ‘Asseeda.
12. Sherin al-‘Eesawy.
13. Thorayya Taha.
14. Fida’ Suleiman.
15. Ehsan Dababsa.
16. Yathreb Rayyan.
17. Hala Musallam.
On November 10, head of the Census Department of the Palestinian Detainees’ Committee, Abdul-Nasser Ferwana, said Israeli soldiers have kidnapped more than 3000 Palestinians in five months, with a ratio of around 20 Palestinians each day.
Ferwana said 13000 (43%) of the kidnapped Palestinians are from occupied East Jerusalem, and that nearly 30% of them are children.
The former political prisoner also stated that all of the kidnapped Palestinians have been tortured during interrogation, and during their arrest, and that the torture was psychical and psychological, adding that they are held under very difficult, inhumane conditions, in direct violation of all related international agreements and conventions.
He said that there are currently more than 7000 Palestinians, including 280 children, held by Israel in various prisons, detention camps and interrogation centers, and that the number of Administrative Detainees, held without charges or trial is around 550.
In addition, the army kidnapped around 85 former political prisoners, who were previously released under the Shalit swap agreement, while four of them from the West Bank, were sent to Gaza as Israel refused to allow them back home.
Heba Masalha, a lawyer working for the Palestinian Detainees Committee, managed to visit two Palestinian teens, held by Israel, who testified to her of horrific abuse and torture by the soldiers and the interrogators.
On December 13, Masalha visited detainee Mahmoud Ahmad Hadra, 17 years of age, from the at-Tour town, in occupied East Jerusalem, held at the HaSharon Israeli prison.
Hadra told Masalha that when the soldiers broke into his family home to kidnap him, on July 21 2014, undercover officers assaulted him, and a soldier fired a rubber-coated metal bullet, wounding him in his leg, and causing serious bleeding.
He added that the soldiers, and undercover officers, then attacked him, and started kicking, beating and punching him, in addition to striking him with their rifles, causing injuries to various parts of his body, especially to his head.
The wounded teen was moved to the al-Maskobiyya detention center, where he remained under interrogation, torture and abuse for 30 days.
On his part, detainee Mahmoud Jamil Gheith, 17, from Silwan town in Jerusalem, and currently held at the HaSharon prison, said he was kidnapped on October 26 2014, at around 10 at night.
He was standing in front of his family home when a number of undercover soldiers assaulted him, and started kicking and beating him all over his body.
Gheith said the soldiers were punching him, kicking him, striking him on the head and back with their rifles, before they threw him onto the ground and dragged him for more than 200 meters while he was bleeding from several parts of his body, including his nose and mouth.
He was then placed in a military vehicle, where he was beaten again all the way to the al-Maskobiyya, while the soldiers were laughing and making fun of him.
Gheith was interrogated for 23 consecutive days; he was tortured, physically and emotionally, and was held in a very small, bug-infested cell.
On December 13, Masalha visited detainee Mahmoud Ahmad Hadra, 17 years of age, from the at-Tour town, in occupied East Jerusalem, held at the HaSharon Israeli prison.
Hadra told Masalha that when the soldiers broke into his family home to kidnap him, on July 21 2014, undercover officers assaulted him, and a soldier fired a rubber-coated metal bullet, wounding him in his leg, and causing serious bleeding.
He added that the soldiers, and undercover officers, then attacked him, and started kicking, beating and punching him, in addition to striking him with their rifles, causing injuries to various parts of his body, especially to his head.
The wounded teen was moved to the al-Maskobiyya detention center, where he remained under interrogation, torture and abuse for 30 days.
On his part, detainee Mahmoud Jamil Gheith, 17, from Silwan town in Jerusalem, and currently held at the HaSharon prison, said he was kidnapped on October 26 2014, at around 10 at night.
He was standing in front of his family home when a number of undercover soldiers assaulted him, and started kicking and beating him all over his body.
Gheith said the soldiers were punching him, kicking him, striking him on the head and back with their rifles, before they threw him onto the ground and dragged him for more than 200 meters while he was bleeding from several parts of his body, including his nose and mouth.
He was then placed in a military vehicle, where he was beaten again all the way to the al-Maskobiyya, while the soldiers were laughing and making fun of him.
Gheith was interrogated for 23 consecutive days; he was tortured, physically and emotionally, and was held in a very small, bug-infested cell.
A unit of the Israeli suppression forces on Sunday afternoon broke into the Raymond jail and cracked down on the Palestinian detainees at a time when over 47 inmates joined an open-ended hunger strike.
Head of the prisoners and ex-prisoners’ committee Issa Qaraqe said tension had flared up in the Raymond lock-up after an Israeli suppression unit stormed Sections 1 and 7 and assaulted the Palestinian inmates.
Qaraqe spoke out against the arduous inter-prison transfers to which 26 Palestinians, out of a total of 42, were subjected to after they were dragged to the Ela jail.
Meanwhile, 47 Palestinian detainees held at the Negev desert jail joined the open-ended hunger strike initiated by prisoner Nahar Saadi, among other isolated inmates, for 25 uninterrupted days.
The detainees vowed in a letter leaked from behind the bars that they will stand firm until all of their demands are met.
They said the move has been basically initiated in solidarity with prisoner Saadi, heavily beaten up and mistreated by the prison authorities in an attempt to dash his hopes and spoil his hunger strike.
The situation has gone from bad to worse ever since the Israeli prison administration slapped an arbitrary visit-ban on the detainee.
In a related development, the Israeli occupation authorities on Sunday rounded up the wife of a Palestinian inmate, serving an eight-year-term in the Negev desert jail, allegedly for having passed 100 cell-phone chips into the jail.
Israeli prison sources claimed the chips were wrapped in the lady’s dress.
The husband was reportedly transferred to solitary lock-down in the process.
Head of the prisoners and ex-prisoners’ committee Issa Qaraqe said tension had flared up in the Raymond lock-up after an Israeli suppression unit stormed Sections 1 and 7 and assaulted the Palestinian inmates.
Qaraqe spoke out against the arduous inter-prison transfers to which 26 Palestinians, out of a total of 42, were subjected to after they were dragged to the Ela jail.
Meanwhile, 47 Palestinian detainees held at the Negev desert jail joined the open-ended hunger strike initiated by prisoner Nahar Saadi, among other isolated inmates, for 25 uninterrupted days.
The detainees vowed in a letter leaked from behind the bars that they will stand firm until all of their demands are met.
They said the move has been basically initiated in solidarity with prisoner Saadi, heavily beaten up and mistreated by the prison authorities in an attempt to dash his hopes and spoil his hunger strike.
The situation has gone from bad to worse ever since the Israeli prison administration slapped an arbitrary visit-ban on the detainee.
In a related development, the Israeli occupation authorities on Sunday rounded up the wife of a Palestinian inmate, serving an eight-year-term in the Negev desert jail, allegedly for having passed 100 cell-phone chips into the jail.
Israeli prison sources claimed the chips were wrapped in the lady’s dress.
The husband was reportedly transferred to solitary lock-down in the process.
