17 july 2016
Israeli court of Ofer on Sunday issued an administrative detention order for three months against the Palestinian journalist Adib al-Atrash.
Local sources revealed that journalist Atrash got his Master’s degree from Eastern Mediterranean University in Cyprus months ago and had returned back home to get married as his wedding was expected in September.
Israeli forces arrested journalist Atrash on Monday, June 20, from his family’s home in al-Khalil city. He was held in al-Maskobiya investigation center in Occupied Jerusalem.
Local sources revealed that journalist Atrash got his Master’s degree from Eastern Mediterranean University in Cyprus months ago and had returned back home to get married as his wedding was expected in September.
Israeli forces arrested journalist Atrash on Monday, June 20, from his family’s home in al-Khalil city. He was held in al-Maskobiya investigation center in Occupied Jerusalem.
Palestinian Prisoner Society revealed that detainee Tha'er Ta'amrah, 33, from Bethlehem, suffers from critical health condition due to injuries all over his body and fractions in his legs.
The society, as well, disclosed that the lawyer of captive Ta'amrah, who has been arrested since July 06 in Ramleh Prison Clinic, was arrested after a car accident on the charge of attempting to carry out a hit-and-run attack.
As for the other prisoner, the lawyer of the Society quoted detainee Rateb Harbiyat, representative of sick prisoners in the clinic, as saying that captive Mamdouh Omar has recently been transferred to Assaf Harofe Hospital after deterioration of his health condition.
Harbiyat said that detainee Omar, 27, from al-Khalil, suffers from a serious health condition due to injuries by several shots in his body (in the feet, lungs, chest, and back).
Part of his lungs was removed out before transferring him to Ramleh clinic, Harbiyat pointed out. Prisoner Omar has difficulties in breathing and speaking. He also depends on a wheel chair in order to be able to move around and uses bags instead of toilet.
The society, as well, disclosed that the lawyer of captive Ta'amrah, who has been arrested since July 06 in Ramleh Prison Clinic, was arrested after a car accident on the charge of attempting to carry out a hit-and-run attack.
As for the other prisoner, the lawyer of the Society quoted detainee Rateb Harbiyat, representative of sick prisoners in the clinic, as saying that captive Mamdouh Omar has recently been transferred to Assaf Harofe Hospital after deterioration of his health condition.
Harbiyat said that detainee Omar, 27, from al-Khalil, suffers from a serious health condition due to injuries by several shots in his body (in the feet, lungs, chest, and back).
Part of his lungs was removed out before transferring him to Ramleh clinic, Harbiyat pointed out. Prisoner Omar has difficulties in breathing and speaking. He also depends on a wheel chair in order to be able to move around and uses bags instead of toilet.
Three Palestinian prisoners, held in Ofer prison, declared an open hunger strike in protest against their arbitrary administrative detention.
Mohja Foundation for Prisoners and Martyrs identified the three hunger strikers as Ayad Herama, detained in December 2013, Muhaned Mutahna, arrested in December 2013, and Malek al-Kadhi, arrested in May 2016.
Administrative detention is a procedure that allows the Israeli authorities to hold prisoners indefinitely on secret information without charging them or allowing them to stand trial.
Although international human rights law permits some limited use of administrative detention in emergency situations, the authorities are required to follow basic rules for detention, including a fair hearing at which the detainee can challenge the reasons for his or her detention.
In practice, Israel routinely uses administrative detention in violation of the strict parameters established by the international law.
Mohja Foundation for Prisoners and Martyrs identified the three hunger strikers as Ayad Herama, detained in December 2013, Muhaned Mutahna, arrested in December 2013, and Malek al-Kadhi, arrested in May 2016.
Administrative detention is a procedure that allows the Israeli authorities to hold prisoners indefinitely on secret information without charging them or allowing them to stand trial.
Although international human rights law permits some limited use of administrative detention in emergency situations, the authorities are required to follow basic rules for detention, including a fair hearing at which the detainee can challenge the reasons for his or her detention.
In practice, Israel routinely uses administrative detention in violation of the strict parameters established by the international law.
The Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) has reported Sunday that Israeli soldiers attacked dozens of Palestinian detainees in Section 5 of the Ramon Israeli Prison.
The PPS said the soldiers invaded room number 72, after completely sealing the entire sections, and repeatedly assaulting the detainees, wounding many of them.
The attack is part of collective punished imposed on the detainees, especially members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) for their protest and strikes in support of hunger striking detainee Bilal Kayed.
It is worth mentioning that Kayed started a hunger strike on June 15th, protesting being held under arbitrary Administrative Detention orders, without charges or trial.
The detainee was ordered to administrative detention on June 13th, after the completion of his 14.5-year sentence in Israeli jails, where he has been imprisoned since December 2001.
The PPS said the soldiers invaded room number 72, after completely sealing the entire sections, and repeatedly assaulting the detainees, wounding many of them.
The attack is part of collective punished imposed on the detainees, especially members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) for their protest and strikes in support of hunger striking detainee Bilal Kayed.
It is worth mentioning that Kayed started a hunger strike on June 15th, protesting being held under arbitrary Administrative Detention orders, without charges or trial.
The detainee was ordered to administrative detention on June 13th, after the completion of his 14.5-year sentence in Israeli jails, where he has been imprisoned since December 2001.
Israeli soldiers kidnapped, overnight and on Sunday at dawn, ten Palestinians, including a young woman, after invading their homes, in different parts of the occupied West Bank.
The Hebron office of the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) has reported that the army invaded the towns of Yatta, Sa’ir and Sammoa’, in the southern West Bank district of Hebron, violently searched homes and kidnapped six Palestinians.
The kidnapped have been identified as Mo’tasem Farouq Masalma, Mohammad Sabri Masalma, Eyad Mousa Daghameen, Mohammad Issa Daghameen, Mohammad Hamed Rawashda, and a young woman, identified as Amaal Khader Masalma.
In occupied Jerusalem, the army kidnapped one Palestinian, as Saif an-Natsha, 34.
Also in Jerusalem, the Israeli police said another Palestinian, who remained unidentified until the time of this report, was taken prisoner, after the police searched his bag and found explosives.
The Palestinian was moved to an interrogation center, he was taken prisoner in Jaffa Gate area, west of Jerusalem.
The soldiers also invaded Qalandia camp, north of Jerusalem, and kidnapped one Palestinian, identified as Ahmad Abdulla Nimir.
The PPS also said that the soldiers invaded Beit Rima town, north of the central West Bank city of Ramallah, and kidnapped one Palestinian, identified as Taher Mohammad Yacoub.
It is worth mentioning that the army has kidnapped more than twenty Palestinians in the Ramallah district over the past several days.
The Hebron office of the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) has reported that the army invaded the towns of Yatta, Sa’ir and Sammoa’, in the southern West Bank district of Hebron, violently searched homes and kidnapped six Palestinians.
The kidnapped have been identified as Mo’tasem Farouq Masalma, Mohammad Sabri Masalma, Eyad Mousa Daghameen, Mohammad Issa Daghameen, Mohammad Hamed Rawashda, and a young woman, identified as Amaal Khader Masalma.
In occupied Jerusalem, the army kidnapped one Palestinian, as Saif an-Natsha, 34.
Also in Jerusalem, the Israeli police said another Palestinian, who remained unidentified until the time of this report, was taken prisoner, after the police searched his bag and found explosives.
The Palestinian was moved to an interrogation center, he was taken prisoner in Jaffa Gate area, west of Jerusalem.
The soldiers also invaded Qalandia camp, north of Jerusalem, and kidnapped one Palestinian, identified as Ahmad Abdulla Nimir.
The PPS also said that the soldiers invaded Beit Rima town, north of the central West Bank city of Ramallah, and kidnapped one Palestinian, identified as Taher Mohammad Yacoub.
It is worth mentioning that the army has kidnapped more than twenty Palestinians in the Ramallah district over the past several days.
Ali Abu Hassan
The Israeli occupation police on Sunday morning said they arrested a Palestinian young man on allegations of carrying a bag containing an improvised explosive device.
Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said that an Arab young man was arrested on King George street in central Jerusalem after he aroused the suspicion of policemen as he was intending to board the light rail.
Samri claimed the policemen questioned the young man and knew from him that he was carrying an explosive device in his bag.
She added that the police temporarily closed off the main King George street and Jaffa street after checking the bag and neutralizing the bomb.
The Israeli occupation police on Sunday morning said they arrested a Palestinian young man on allegations of carrying a bag containing an improvised explosive device.
Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said that an Arab young man was arrested on King George street in central Jerusalem after he aroused the suspicion of policemen as he was intending to board the light rail.
Samri claimed the policemen questioned the young man and knew from him that he was carrying an explosive device in his bag.
She added that the police temporarily closed off the main King George street and Jaffa street after checking the bag and neutralizing the bomb.
The Jerusalemite sick captive, Ali Daana, 38, who is sentenced to 20 years, has completed the 13th year of imprisonment in Israeli jails. He was arrested on July 16, 2003.
Palestinian Prisoners Center for Studies revealed that detainee Daana has been infected with intestinal cancer for six years amid tough detention conditions in Israeli jails.
He has been suffering from urination problems and severe pain in the stomach and guts. Israeli prison service (IPS) though has been refusing to offer him treatment.
Captive Daana went on a hunger strike two years ago in the isolation cells of Negev jail. He started the hunger strike after he was transferred as a punishment procedure for filing a complaint to the Israeli Supreme Court in protest at the IPS practices against him.
His health condition worsened because he was not offered treatment.
His hunger strike lasted for over three weeks.
Palestinian Prisoners Center for Studies revealed that detainee Daana has been infected with intestinal cancer for six years amid tough detention conditions in Israeli jails.
He has been suffering from urination problems and severe pain in the stomach and guts. Israeli prison service (IPS) though has been refusing to offer him treatment.
Captive Daana went on a hunger strike two years ago in the isolation cells of Negev jail. He started the hunger strike after he was transferred as a punishment procedure for filing a complaint to the Israeli Supreme Court in protest at the IPS practices against him.
His health condition worsened because he was not offered treatment.
His hunger strike lasted for over three weeks.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Sunday kidnapped several Palestinian citizens in different areas of the West Bank and Jerusalem.
In al-Khalil, local sources said that an Israeli military force kidnapped two young man and one girl from al-Masalmeh family during raids on homes in Beit Awwa town.
The sources added that two other young men identified as Mohamed al-Daghamin and Mohamed Rawashdeh were taken prisoners during a dawn campaign in as-Samua town, south of al-Khalil.
The IOF also raided homes in different towns of al-Khalil, including Sa'ir, Ash-Shuyukh, Yatta and Halhoul, and handed citizens summonses for interrogation.
In Ramallah, a Palestinian young girl identified as Banan Mafarjeh was kidnapped, for an unknown reason, at a military checkpoint near Beit Liqya town.
In Jerusalem, local sources said that Israeli police forces stormed Qalandiya refugee camp and kidnapped a young man called Ahmed al-Lawzi.
In the nearby town of Anata, journalist Faisal al-Refa'ie received a summons for interrogation from the Shin Bet during an IOF dawn raid.
In al-Khalil, local sources said that an Israeli military force kidnapped two young man and one girl from al-Masalmeh family during raids on homes in Beit Awwa town.
The sources added that two other young men identified as Mohamed al-Daghamin and Mohamed Rawashdeh were taken prisoners during a dawn campaign in as-Samua town, south of al-Khalil.
The IOF also raided homes in different towns of al-Khalil, including Sa'ir, Ash-Shuyukh, Yatta and Halhoul, and handed citizens summonses for interrogation.
In Ramallah, a Palestinian young girl identified as Banan Mafarjeh was kidnapped, for an unknown reason, at a military checkpoint near Beit Liqya town.
In Jerusalem, local sources said that Israeli police forces stormed Qalandiya refugee camp and kidnapped a young man called Ahmed al-Lawzi.
In the nearby town of Anata, journalist Faisal al-Refa'ie received a summons for interrogation from the Shin Bet during an IOF dawn raid.
16 july 2016
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested a Palestinian girl Saturday evening after stopping her at Beit Our barrier to the west of Ramallah.
Local sources said that the IOF arrested Banan Mafarjeh, 21, student at medicine faculty in the university of Jerusalem. She is from Beit Leqiya village in northwestern Ramallah.
The IOF soldiers detained Mafarjeh then took her to Ofer jail, the sources pointed out.
Local sources said that the IOF arrested Banan Mafarjeh, 21, student at medicine faculty in the university of Jerusalem. She is from Beit Leqiya village in northwestern Ramallah.
The IOF soldiers detained Mafarjeh then took her to Ofer jail, the sources pointed out.
Two Palestinian brothers from Bethlehem have been on hunger strike in Ofer jail since July 11, 2016 in protest at their administrative detention, according to the Palestinian commission for detainees and ex-detainees.
The brothers, Mohamed and Mahmoud al-Balboul, were taken prisoners last month and received administrative detention orders for six months, with no indictment or trial.
Lawyer of the commission Ibrahim al-Araj recently visited the brothers in Ofer and said that Mahmoud suffered from inhaling leaking gas from one of the prison administration's air conditioners and lost his consciousness for three hours.
Araj added that Mahmoud received medical care in the infirmary of the jail and his condition became stable.
The brothers, Mohamed and Mahmoud al-Balboul, were taken prisoners last month and received administrative detention orders for six months, with no indictment or trial.
Lawyer of the commission Ibrahim al-Araj recently visited the brothers in Ofer and said that Mahmoud suffered from inhaling leaking gas from one of the prison administration's air conditioners and lost his consciousness for three hours.
Araj added that Mahmoud received medical care in the infirmary of the jail and his condition became stable.
Palestinian professor Farid Abu Daheer, a lecturer at al-Najah University, has accused the Israeli security authorities of abusing and maltreating his son, Baraa, in Israeli jails.
This came in a lengthy letter Abu Daheer wrote to human rights groups and media outlets, in which he highlighted the suffering of his son in detention and the injustice being inflicted on him.
He explained that the Israeli security authorities arrested Baraa, who was born in 1990 in Britain, on Allenby Brigade after he came back from Jordan on May 30, 2016 following his stay in Turkey for about one month where he was looking for a job.
According to his letter, Baraa is a holder of a bachelor's degree in computer science and has made recently efforts to join a master's degree program in the field of three-dimensional animation.
His son suffers from a delicate medical condition that resulted from a fall incident when he was two years old in 1992. Since then he has been suffering from concentration problems and dealing with matters happening to him very simply.
Since his arrest, the father says, Baraa has been exposed to intensive psychological pressure and long hours of interrogation by Israeli officers, who made him confess to doing things he had not committed.
He was recently rushed to hospital after he tried to physically harm himself because of the size of torment he encountered during his detention at the hands of Israeli interrogators.
The father affirmed that his son is innocent of all the accusations leveled against him, appealing in his letter to human rights groups, the media and all concerned parties and competent authorities to intervene to end the suffering of his son and have him released.
This came in a lengthy letter Abu Daheer wrote to human rights groups and media outlets, in which he highlighted the suffering of his son in detention and the injustice being inflicted on him.
He explained that the Israeli security authorities arrested Baraa, who was born in 1990 in Britain, on Allenby Brigade after he came back from Jordan on May 30, 2016 following his stay in Turkey for about one month where he was looking for a job.
According to his letter, Baraa is a holder of a bachelor's degree in computer science and has made recently efforts to join a master's degree program in the field of three-dimensional animation.
His son suffers from a delicate medical condition that resulted from a fall incident when he was two years old in 1992. Since then he has been suffering from concentration problems and dealing with matters happening to him very simply.
Since his arrest, the father says, Baraa has been exposed to intensive psychological pressure and long hours of interrogation by Israeli officers, who made him confess to doing things he had not committed.
He was recently rushed to hospital after he tried to physically harm himself because of the size of torment he encountered during his detention at the hands of Israeli interrogators.
The father affirmed that his son is innocent of all the accusations leveled against him, appealing in his letter to human rights groups, the media and all concerned parties and competent authorities to intervene to end the suffering of his son and have him released.
Israeli soldiers kidnapped, on Saturday at dawn, at least four Palestinians during invasions and searches of homes, in different parts of the southern West Bank district on Hebron.
The Hebron office of the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) has reported that the soldiers invaded Kreisa area, in Hebron city, searched several homes, and kidnapped a young man identified as Ali Shehda Rajoub, 22.
The soldiers demolished inner walls of Rajoub’s home, and violently searched the property, causing excessive damage, and interrogated several members of his family. They also searched the family car, causing damage.
Prior to abducting him, Israeli military helicopters deployed dozens of soldiers in surrounding mountains.
In addition, the soldiers kidnapped another young man, identified as Ezzeddin Talahma, after breaking into his home and searching it, in Doura town, southwest of Hebron.
The soldiers also invaded homes in Kharsa village, south of Doura, searched homes and kidnapped Salem Shadeed and his brother Mofeed.
Furthermore, the soldiers invaded Sa’ir town, northeast of Hebron, and kidnapped a Palestinian security officer, identified as Heeran Jaradat, after breaking into his home and searching it.
Heeran is the brother of Arif Sharif Jaradat, 22, who died on June 19th 2016, from serious wounds he suffered on May 4th, after Israeli soldiers shot him during an invasion of Sa’ir. The Palestinian suffered from Down’s Syndrome.
The Hebron office of the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) has reported that the soldiers invaded Kreisa area, in Hebron city, searched several homes, and kidnapped a young man identified as Ali Shehda Rajoub, 22.
The soldiers demolished inner walls of Rajoub’s home, and violently searched the property, causing excessive damage, and interrogated several members of his family. They also searched the family car, causing damage.
Prior to abducting him, Israeli military helicopters deployed dozens of soldiers in surrounding mountains.
In addition, the soldiers kidnapped another young man, identified as Ezzeddin Talahma, after breaking into his home and searching it, in Doura town, southwest of Hebron.
The soldiers also invaded homes in Kharsa village, south of Doura, searched homes and kidnapped Salem Shadeed and his brother Mofeed.
Furthermore, the soldiers invaded Sa’ir town, northeast of Hebron, and kidnapped a Palestinian security officer, identified as Heeran Jaradat, after breaking into his home and searching it.
Heeran is the brother of Arif Sharif Jaradat, 22, who died on June 19th 2016, from serious wounds he suffered on May 4th, after Israeli soldiers shot him during an invasion of Sa’ir. The Palestinian suffered from Down’s Syndrome.
15 july 2016
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested Friday 35 Palestinian peaceful activists as they were cleaning an area located in the neighborhood of Tel Rumeida in the southern West Bank district of al-Khalil in order to establish a cultural cinema, according to Youth Against Settlements Group.
Mohamed Azghir, an activist in the group, affirmed that large numbers of Israeli forces surrounded Palestinian activists before taking them to the nearby military camps.
According to the group, the activists were cleaning inside an abandoned Palestinian factory in preparation for opening a cinema in the area when several Israeli settlers began verbally harassing the activists and throwing stones and tomatoes at them.
“The cultural cinema project was planned to provide much-needed cultural infrastructure to the Palestinian communities in al-Khalil, while showcasing ways in which nonviolent resistance can work to end the nearly 50-year Israeli military occupation of the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem.”
Earlier in the day, Israeli forces stormed the headquarters of Steadfastness and Challenge Center and Youth Against Settlements Group in Tel Rumeida.
The area of Tel Rumeida has long been a flashpoint of tension between Palestinians and Israeli settlers and military, as it is located near an illegal Israeli settlement.
Mohamed Azghir, an activist in the group, affirmed that large numbers of Israeli forces surrounded Palestinian activists before taking them to the nearby military camps.
According to the group, the activists were cleaning inside an abandoned Palestinian factory in preparation for opening a cinema in the area when several Israeli settlers began verbally harassing the activists and throwing stones and tomatoes at them.
“The cultural cinema project was planned to provide much-needed cultural infrastructure to the Palestinian communities in al-Khalil, while showcasing ways in which nonviolent resistance can work to end the nearly 50-year Israeli military occupation of the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem.”
Earlier in the day, Israeli forces stormed the headquarters of Steadfastness and Challenge Center and Youth Against Settlements Group in Tel Rumeida.
The area of Tel Rumeida has long been a flashpoint of tension between Palestinians and Israeli settlers and military, as it is located near an illegal Israeli settlement.
The Israeli occupation police backtracked on accusing a Palestinian young man of trying to carry out a stabbing attack on Thursday morning at the entrance to Shuafat refugee camp in Jerusalem.
The police also admitted that plain-clothes officers mistakenly opened fire at 22-year-old Yehya Hejazi, from Anata town in Jerusalem, during his presence at Shuafat checkpoint.
Hejazi, who has suffered eight bullet injuries in his legs as well as a leg fracture, underwent several surgeries at Shaare Zedek hospital, according to his family.
The family told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that its son had been exposed to brutal beating by Israeli soldiers after the shooting.
Hejazi told his family that he left his car at the checkpoint to stop a quarrel between two other young men when soldiers suddenly opened fire at him with no reason.
The police also admitted that plain-clothes officers mistakenly opened fire at 22-year-old Yehya Hejazi, from Anata town in Jerusalem, during his presence at Shuafat checkpoint.
Hejazi, who has suffered eight bullet injuries in his legs as well as a leg fracture, underwent several surgeries at Shaare Zedek hospital, according to his family.
The family told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that its son had been exposed to brutal beating by Israeli soldiers after the shooting.
Hejazi told his family that he left his car at the checkpoint to stop a quarrel between two other young men when soldiers suddenly opened fire at him with no reason.
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Friday at dawn, the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem and kidnapped two siblings after storming their homes. The soldiers also invaded a village near the northern West Bank city of Jenin.
The Tulkarem office of the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) has reported that the soldiers kidnapped Moath Jasser Awwad, 25, and his brother Morad, 23, after invading their homes and violently searching it.
In addition, the soldiers invaded Be’er al-Basha village, south of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, and broke into the home of a young man, identified as Odai Ghawadra.
The soldiers interrogated him and his family, while ransacking the property, and withdrew later.
In related news, dozens of soldiers invaded ‘Aida refugee camp, in Bethlehem, and searched at least six homes.
The Tulkarem office of the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) has reported that the soldiers kidnapped Moath Jasser Awwad, 25, and his brother Morad, 23, after invading their homes and violently searching it.
In addition, the soldiers invaded Be’er al-Basha village, south of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, and broke into the home of a young man, identified as Odai Ghawadra.
The soldiers interrogated him and his family, while ransacking the property, and withdrew later.
In related news, dozens of soldiers invaded ‘Aida refugee camp, in Bethlehem, and searched at least six homes.
Over 150 renowned literary figures from around the world have signed a petition demanding the Israeli occupation authorities to release Palestinian poet Dareen Tatour, who has been in detention since October 2015.
"We believe in the rights of artists and writers to freely express their artistic vision, and share work freely. The Israeli government’s actions reveal a desire to silence Tatour, part of a larger pattern of Israeli repression against all Palestinians," the literary figures stated in their petition.
"Expressing resistance to oppression and occupation through poetry is by nature non-violent and should not be criminalized by any government," they added.
This petition marks the launch of an international solidarity campaign organized by Jewish Voice for Peace and Adalah-NY to demand the release of Tatour and to draw attention to the widespread arrests and detentions of Palestinians for political expression on social media, as well as Israel’s targeting of Palestinian writers and artists.
The signers of the petition are some of the most respected and renowned individuals in the arts and literary worlds, including nine Pulitzer Prize winners, several National Book Award recipients and United States poet laureates, many Guggenheim Fellowship recipients, an NAACP Image Award winner, many Lambda Literary Award winners, and scores of recipients of the highest US writing, poetry, translation, and arts honors.
Susan Abulhawa, Rae Armantrout, Carl Dennis, Dave Eggers, Carolyn Forche, Jorie Graham, Naomi Klein, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Naomi Shihab Nye, Claudia Rankine, Tracy K Smith, Natasha Trethewey, Ayelet Waldman, Alice Walker and Jacqueline Woodson are among the award-winning literary figures who have joined the call for the immediate release of the Palestinian poet who is being detained for her poetry.
Dareen Tatour, a resident of Reineh town near Nazareth, is one of many Palestinians arrested by Israel's security authorities since last fall for political remarks on social media.
Tatour’s ordeal started in October 2015 when she was arrested during an overnight raid on her home. She has been charged with incitement to violence and terrorism based on Facebook postings and a poem posted to YouTube called "Qawim ya sha’bi, qawimhom" (Resist, my people, resist them).
She spent the first three months of her detention in three different jails before being transferred to house arrest in an apartment in Tel Aviv in compliance with a court order.
She will appeal to be allowed to transfer to house arrest in her hometown at a hearing on July 18. Her hearings are slated to continue until September and she could face additional time in prison if convicted.
"We believe in the rights of artists and writers to freely express their artistic vision, and share work freely. The Israeli government’s actions reveal a desire to silence Tatour, part of a larger pattern of Israeli repression against all Palestinians," the literary figures stated in their petition.
"Expressing resistance to oppression and occupation through poetry is by nature non-violent and should not be criminalized by any government," they added.
This petition marks the launch of an international solidarity campaign organized by Jewish Voice for Peace and Adalah-NY to demand the release of Tatour and to draw attention to the widespread arrests and detentions of Palestinians for political expression on social media, as well as Israel’s targeting of Palestinian writers and artists.
The signers of the petition are some of the most respected and renowned individuals in the arts and literary worlds, including nine Pulitzer Prize winners, several National Book Award recipients and United States poet laureates, many Guggenheim Fellowship recipients, an NAACP Image Award winner, many Lambda Literary Award winners, and scores of recipients of the highest US writing, poetry, translation, and arts honors.
Susan Abulhawa, Rae Armantrout, Carl Dennis, Dave Eggers, Carolyn Forche, Jorie Graham, Naomi Klein, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Naomi Shihab Nye, Claudia Rankine, Tracy K Smith, Natasha Trethewey, Ayelet Waldman, Alice Walker and Jacqueline Woodson are among the award-winning literary figures who have joined the call for the immediate release of the Palestinian poet who is being detained for her poetry.
Dareen Tatour, a resident of Reineh town near Nazareth, is one of many Palestinians arrested by Israel's security authorities since last fall for political remarks on social media.
Tatour’s ordeal started in October 2015 when she was arrested during an overnight raid on her home. She has been charged with incitement to violence and terrorism based on Facebook postings and a poem posted to YouTube called "Qawim ya sha’bi, qawimhom" (Resist, my people, resist them).
She spent the first three months of her detention in three different jails before being transferred to house arrest in an apartment in Tel Aviv in compliance with a court order.
She will appeal to be allowed to transfer to house arrest in her hometown at a hearing on July 18. Her hearings are slated to continue until September and she could face additional time in prison if convicted.
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Thursday detained the Palestinian Suleiman Sawafta, from Bardala village, at Tayaseer barrier near Tubas and abused him along with others who were subjected to questioning.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that the IOF forced Sawafta out of a car and chained him and left him handcuffed for a long time at the barrier which separates Tubas from North Jordan Valley.
Palestinians in the area are being continuously exposed to Israeli forces’ maltreatment and abuse.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that the IOF forced Sawafta out of a car and chained him and left him handcuffed for a long time at the barrier which separates Tubas from North Jordan Valley.
Palestinians in the area are being continuously exposed to Israeli forces’ maltreatment and abuse.
The Israeli police arrested Thursday afternoon a Jerusalemite woman from Silwan town southwest of al-Aqsa Mosque and took her for investigation in Maskoubiya detention center.
Family sources affirmed that Suad Abu Ramouz, 41, was detained by Israeli police for allegedly being affiliated to a banned organisation.
No further details were revealed. Suad is scheduled to be brought to court on Friday morning, the sources pointed out.
Last year, Suad was subjected to a brutal attack at the hands of Israeli police after violently storming her father’s house in Silwan town. She was transferred to hospital for treatment at that time.
Family sources affirmed that Suad Abu Ramouz, 41, was detained by Israeli police for allegedly being affiliated to a banned organisation.
No further details were revealed. Suad is scheduled to be brought to court on Friday morning, the sources pointed out.
Last year, Suad was subjected to a brutal attack at the hands of Israeli police after violently storming her father’s house in Silwan town. She was transferred to hospital for treatment at that time.
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) stormed Thursday Aida refugee camp south of Bethlehem and attacked a number of local residents before breaking into a nearby cemetery.
According to local sources, Israeli forces stormed a local cemetery in Aida camp and uprooted ten trees in the surrounding areas under the pretext of obscuring the Israeli soldiers’ vision.
Surveillance cameras were erected in the area to monitor the residents’ movement, a local activist affirmed. The sources pointed out that a group of rights activists were detained in the camp while several local homes were stormed and violently searched which led to the outbreak of violent clashes.
Earlier Thursday, Israeli forces detained a number of farmers near al-Khuder town, south of the city.
According to local sources, Israeli forces stormed a local cemetery in Aida camp and uprooted ten trees in the surrounding areas under the pretext of obscuring the Israeli soldiers’ vision.
Surveillance cameras were erected in the area to monitor the residents’ movement, a local activist affirmed. The sources pointed out that a group of rights activists were detained in the camp while several local homes were stormed and violently searched which led to the outbreak of violent clashes.
Earlier Thursday, Israeli forces detained a number of farmers near al-Khuder town, south of the city.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Thursday kidnapped Palestinian photojournalist Kamel Barham at a makeshift checkpoint near Sarra town, southwest of Nablus.
Eyewitnesses said that Israeli soldiers at a roadblock near the town stopped the vehicle which Barham was aboard and checked the IDs of all passengers before rounding him up.
Barham, 27, works as a freelancer and covers anti-wall marches and weekly events in Kafr Qaddum town, east of Qalqilya governorate.
Eyewitnesses said that Israeli soldiers at a roadblock near the town stopped the vehicle which Barham was aboard and checked the IDs of all passengers before rounding him up.
Barham, 27, works as a freelancer and covers anti-wall marches and weekly events in Kafr Qaddum town, east of Qalqilya governorate.
Undercover Israeli soldiers infiltrated, on Thursday evening, into the al-Mazra’a al-Gharbiyya village, north of the central West Bank city of Ramallah, shot thirteen Palestinians with live fire, and kidnapped one.
Eyewitnesses said the undercover soldiers infiltrated into the village, before breaking into the home of a young Palestinian, identified as Tareq Rabea’, and abducted him. Rabea’ is the coordinator of the Islamic Block at Birzeit University.
The abduction of the Palestinian led to clashes between the soldiers and many local youths; several army vehicles the invaded the village.
The undercover forces fired dozens of rounds of live ammunition, wounding thirteen Palestinians, including one who suffered a serious injury, the Palestinian Red Crescent said.
In addition, armed clashes also took place between resistance fighters and the soldiers after a number of military jeeps invaded the village from different directions.
Furthermore, clashes took place near Birzeit University after dozens of soldiers gathered near its main entrance. The soldiers fired gas bombs and live rounds, while many students hurled stones and empty bottles on them.
Eyewitnesses said the undercover soldiers infiltrated into the village, before breaking into the home of a young Palestinian, identified as Tareq Rabea’, and abducted him. Rabea’ is the coordinator of the Islamic Block at Birzeit University.
The abduction of the Palestinian led to clashes between the soldiers and many local youths; several army vehicles the invaded the village.
The undercover forces fired dozens of rounds of live ammunition, wounding thirteen Palestinians, including one who suffered a serious injury, the Palestinian Red Crescent said.
In addition, armed clashes also took place between resistance fighters and the soldiers after a number of military jeeps invaded the village from different directions.
Furthermore, clashes took place near Birzeit University after dozens of soldiers gathered near its main entrance. The soldiers fired gas bombs and live rounds, while many students hurled stones and empty bottles on them.
