9 june 2014
Aida Sidawi
The Israeli forces arrested Aida Sidawi after assaulting and beating her when she attempted to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Wadi Hilweh Information Center was informed that one of the soldiers stationed at Hutta Gate refused to allow Sidawi to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque and assaulted her. Another force then arrived and arrested the lady and dispersed the locals who condemned the assault.
The Israeli forces arrested Aida Sidawi after assaulting and beating her when she attempted to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Wadi Hilweh Information Center was informed that one of the soldiers stationed at Hutta Gate refused to allow Sidawi to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque and assaulted her. Another force then arrived and arrested the lady and dispersed the locals who condemned the assault.
The administration of Hasharon prison released on Monday the 39-year old Jerusalemite prisoner Intisar Sayyad after spending 19 months in the occupation prisons on charges of stabbing an Israeli soldier in the city.
Amjad Abu Asab, head of Jerusalemites detainees and prisoners families committee, said that the administration of Hasharon prison released the prisoner Sayyad on Monday morning after spending two thirds of her 30-month prison sentence since she recently got an approval from “Shalish” committee to reduce her sentence by one third.
Abu Asab added that Intisar was arrested on 22/11/2012 after stabbing an Israeli soldier in the occupied city of Jerusalem. Intisar is married and has four children and is a resident of Al-Tur.
Abu Asab pointed out that after the release of Sayyad, the number of Palestinian female prisoner inside the occupation prisons is now 16 where the oldest is Lina Jarbuni from the village of Arraba in the 1948 lands and she was arrested on 18/04/2002 and is sentenced for 17 years.
Amjad Abu Asab, head of Jerusalemites detainees and prisoners families committee, said that the administration of Hasharon prison released the prisoner Sayyad on Monday morning after spending two thirds of her 30-month prison sentence since she recently got an approval from “Shalish” committee to reduce her sentence by one third.
Abu Asab added that Intisar was arrested on 22/11/2012 after stabbing an Israeli soldier in the occupied city of Jerusalem. Intisar is married and has four children and is a resident of Al-Tur.
Abu Asab pointed out that after the release of Sayyad, the number of Palestinian female prisoner inside the occupation prisons is now 16 where the oldest is Lina Jarbuni from the village of Arraba in the 1948 lands and she was arrested on 18/04/2002 and is sentenced for 17 years.
The Magistrate court judge extended on Monday the arrest of six Jerusalemites and released four others with financial bails and on conditions of house arrest.
Mohammad Mahmoud, Al-Dameer organization lawyer, said that the Magistrate court judge extended the arrest of Walid Atyeh and Yassin Suboh from the village of Esawyeh until 11/06/2014 on charges of throwing stones; note that they were arrested on Monday early morning after raiding their homes in the village.
Hamed Obeid was also presented to the Magistrate court judge who scheduled a sentencing session for him on 14/07/2014. Lawyer Mohammad pointed out that his file has been transferred from the “adults” to the “minors” since he was accused of the charges when he was less than 18 years old.
In a related matter, the District court overturned on Monday the Magistrate court’s decision regarding the detention of the child Mohammad Jaber for 5 months and ordered to detain him for 150 hours only.
The judge also extended the arrest of Yousef Haleisi until Wednesday to submit an indictment against him; note that Yousef was assaulted by the settlers of “Price Tag” in Silwan when the locals of Silwan confronted the settlers who broke into their neighbourhood and sprayed the Haleisi family with pepper gas.
The Magistrate judge extended on Monday the arrest of Louai Sarandah until completing all the legal procedures against him; note that the judge held a session on Sunday to discuss the conditions of releasing Louai which he had set and in case the financial bail is not paid then he will be arrested until completing the legal procedures.
The District court judge decided on Sunday to release Mohammad Dari from the village of Esawyeh with a bail of 10 thousand NIS and house arrest in addition to isolating him to his brother’s house in Al-Tur and a third-party bail of 25 thousand NIS.
The judge also extended the arrested of Mohammad Firawi until 12/06/2014.
The lawyer of the International movement to defend children, Ziad Hidmi, said that the Magistrate court judge released on Sunday Mohammad Abu Hummos, Daoud Atyeh and Ayoub Abu Asab with a 750-NIS bail and house arrest for 14 days with the possibility of going to the school.
Mohammad Mahmoud, Al-Dameer organization lawyer, said that the Magistrate court judge extended the arrest of Walid Atyeh and Yassin Suboh from the village of Esawyeh until 11/06/2014 on charges of throwing stones; note that they were arrested on Monday early morning after raiding their homes in the village.
Hamed Obeid was also presented to the Magistrate court judge who scheduled a sentencing session for him on 14/07/2014. Lawyer Mohammad pointed out that his file has been transferred from the “adults” to the “minors” since he was accused of the charges when he was less than 18 years old.
In a related matter, the District court overturned on Monday the Magistrate court’s decision regarding the detention of the child Mohammad Jaber for 5 months and ordered to detain him for 150 hours only.
The judge also extended the arrest of Yousef Haleisi until Wednesday to submit an indictment against him; note that Yousef was assaulted by the settlers of “Price Tag” in Silwan when the locals of Silwan confronted the settlers who broke into their neighbourhood and sprayed the Haleisi family with pepper gas.
The Magistrate judge extended on Monday the arrest of Louai Sarandah until completing all the legal procedures against him; note that the judge held a session on Sunday to discuss the conditions of releasing Louai which he had set and in case the financial bail is not paid then he will be arrested until completing the legal procedures.
The District court judge decided on Sunday to release Mohammad Dari from the village of Esawyeh with a bail of 10 thousand NIS and house arrest in addition to isolating him to his brother’s house in Al-Tur and a third-party bail of 25 thousand NIS.
The judge also extended the arrested of Mohammad Firawi until 12/06/2014.
The lawyer of the International movement to defend children, Ziad Hidmi, said that the Magistrate court judge released on Sunday Mohammad Abu Hummos, Daoud Atyeh and Ayoub Abu Asab with a 750-NIS bail and house arrest for 14 days with the possibility of going to the school.
By Julie Webb-Pullman
Gazans hunger-striking in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails want the world to act – and fast.
At today’s weekly event held by families of prisoners in front of the Red Cross in Gaza City, several hunger-strikers expressed their growing frustration with the international community’s lack of action.
Here are their messages to the world.
Gazans hunger-striking in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails want the world to act – and fast.
At today’s weekly event held by families of prisoners in front of the Red Cross in Gaza City, several hunger-strikers expressed their growing frustration with the international community’s lack of action.
Here are their messages to the world.
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Qadoura Faris, head of the Palestinian Prisoner Society, cautioned against the Israeli government today to approve the law of force- feeding the Palestinian Political prisoners, who have been in hunger strike for over 46 days.
This law was suggested by the Israeli Shabak, who is responsible for the negotiations with the hunger striking prisoners. Israel refuses to follow Faris’ caution against the force-feeding law, because they want to keep the administrative detention, as it is recognized as a magnificent tool in the war situation, especially if there is not enough evidence against the detainee.
Later today, Israel’s Security Cabinet approved the law of force- feeding hungers and they will put it up for vote next week in the Israeli Knesset.
Faris added that if the Israeli Keenest approves this law the Palestinian Political Prisoners life will be in danger.
Two Palestinian Political Prisoners who had been hunger striking were killed by the Israeli prison administration through the strategy of Force- Feedings in 80’s.
This law was suggested by the Israeli Shabak, who is responsible for the negotiations with the hunger striking prisoners. Israel refuses to follow Faris’ caution against the force-feeding law, because they want to keep the administrative detention, as it is recognized as a magnificent tool in the war situation, especially if there is not enough evidence against the detainee.
Later today, Israel’s Security Cabinet approved the law of force- feeding hungers and they will put it up for vote next week in the Israeli Knesset.
Faris added that if the Israeli Keenest approves this law the Palestinian Political Prisoners life will be in danger.
Two Palestinian Political Prisoners who had been hunger striking were killed by the Israeli prison administration through the strategy of Force- Feedings in 80’s.
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Yesterday morning on the 8th June, Israeli police forces raided the village of Iqrit (located on the northern tip of Israel, within eyesight of Lebanon). The police uprooted trees, destroyed and confiscated all the personal belongings of Palestinian activists present in the village. Furthermore they beat and violently arrested 3 Palestinian men who were present in the village at the time. The 3 arrested are: Walla Sbait, Nidal Khoury and Jeries Khiatt. They were taken to the police station in Nahariyya, where they were kept in detention over night.
Today at 8:30 AM the three detainees were brought before the Kiryat Gat Magistrates’ Court, following a police request for an extension of their detention. The police have charged the detainees with trespassing the land owned by the ILA, obstructing the work of public officials, assaulting a public employee and endangering public order. The court ruled that Nidal Khoury is kept in detention until Wednesday 11th of June. |
Walaa Sbeit and Jeries Khiatt was sentenced house arrest until Sunday 15th of June and they are not allowed to go back to Iqrit for 60 days.
As the season of Advent approached in November 1948, the Israeli military forced residents of Iqrit and the neighboring village of Kufr Bir’im —all citizens of the newly created state of Israel— to leave their homes near the northern border with Lebanon because of military operations in the area. The Israeli forces made a promise to the inhabitants, that they could return to their homes after 15 days. The people of Iqrit are still waiting. In July 1951, the Israeli High Court ruled that the people of Iqrit and Kufr Bir’im had the right to return to their homes. The military refused to comply, and on Christmas Eve 1951 blew up all houses in both villages.
Shortly thereafter, all village lands were confiscated by the state and has been rented out to the nearby Kibbutz for their cows to graze until this day. Since then, decades of demonstrations and legal appeals for the villagers’ right to return have seen a string of favorable decisions by courts and commissions that have resulted only in more broken promises and unenforced rulings.In the 1970s, the government had granted use of the cemetery —allowing only the dead to return to Iqrit after they lived and died in exile at Kufr Yasif, Rameh, Haifa or other places. The original villagers and their descendants —now around 1,500 people scattered across northern Israel— are allowed only to hold services in the church and bury their dead in the cemetery. Every first Saturday of the month there has been a mass held at the village church and every year a summer camp has been organised on the hillside. In August 2012 the third generation reclaimed their village.
Around 20 descendants from Iqrit took the initiative to begin resurrecting the village despite the village’s legal limbo. The activists make sure that the village is constantly inhabited, sleeping in tents, under the stars or in rooms attached to the church. The group consists of university students, factory and restaurant workers, and teachers.
Their attempts to construct or plant anything in the village have been met with immediate demolition by the Israeli authorities. But over time, they’ve been able to add a few amenities, including solar panels on the church roof, determined to bring back life to Iqrit.
Iqrit’s 80 homes are long gone, but the activists goal is to rebuild Iqrit for the villagers-in-exile, refusing only to return to their home in coffins, but alive. The activists have returned to the area and are discussing on how to proceed with their campaign, determined not to be intimidated by Israeli forces and their harassment
As the season of Advent approached in November 1948, the Israeli military forced residents of Iqrit and the neighboring village of Kufr Bir’im —all citizens of the newly created state of Israel— to leave their homes near the northern border with Lebanon because of military operations in the area. The Israeli forces made a promise to the inhabitants, that they could return to their homes after 15 days. The people of Iqrit are still waiting. In July 1951, the Israeli High Court ruled that the people of Iqrit and Kufr Bir’im had the right to return to their homes. The military refused to comply, and on Christmas Eve 1951 blew up all houses in both villages.
Shortly thereafter, all village lands were confiscated by the state and has been rented out to the nearby Kibbutz for their cows to graze until this day. Since then, decades of demonstrations and legal appeals for the villagers’ right to return have seen a string of favorable decisions by courts and commissions that have resulted only in more broken promises and unenforced rulings.In the 1970s, the government had granted use of the cemetery —allowing only the dead to return to Iqrit after they lived and died in exile at Kufr Yasif, Rameh, Haifa or other places. The original villagers and their descendants —now around 1,500 people scattered across northern Israel— are allowed only to hold services in the church and bury their dead in the cemetery. Every first Saturday of the month there has been a mass held at the village church and every year a summer camp has been organised on the hillside. In August 2012 the third generation reclaimed their village.
Around 20 descendants from Iqrit took the initiative to begin resurrecting the village despite the village’s legal limbo. The activists make sure that the village is constantly inhabited, sleeping in tents, under the stars or in rooms attached to the church. The group consists of university students, factory and restaurant workers, and teachers.
Their attempts to construct or plant anything in the village have been met with immediate demolition by the Israeli authorities. But over time, they’ve been able to add a few amenities, including solar panels on the church roof, determined to bring back life to Iqrit.
Iqrit’s 80 homes are long gone, but the activists goal is to rebuild Iqrit for the villagers-in-exile, refusing only to return to their home in coffins, but alive. The activists have returned to the area and are discussing on how to proceed with their campaign, determined not to be intimidated by Israeli forces and their harassment
Israeli Shin Bet security service is encouraging Prime Minister Netanyahu not to negotiate with hunger-striking Palestinian administrative detainees, according to Israeli media.
Israeli daily Haaretz stated that Netanyahu's decision not to negotiate with prisoners refusing meals, in addition to his recent push for a bill allowing the Israeli Prison Service to force-feed those on hunger strike, is based on a recommendation by the Shin Bet, Ma'an News Agency has reported.
The paper cited sources close to Shin Bet Director Yoram Cohen as saying that he believes the negotiations with Palestinian hunger strikers in 2012 was a mistake, and that such negotiations should not be repeated.
However, according to Haaretz, Cohen fears that should any hunger strikers die, mass protests would break out in the West Bank and rockets would be fired from Gaza.
Under the previous agreement, 2,000 Palestinian prisoners ended their hunger strike with a promise by Israel to end the policy itself but, as of March 1, 183 Palestinians were still being held under administrative detention.
About 5,000 Palestinians are now currently being held in Israeli prisons, nearly 200 of them under administrative detention.
Since 1967, Israel has imprisoned over 800,000 Palestinians, including children.
Israeli daily Haaretz stated that Netanyahu's decision not to negotiate with prisoners refusing meals, in addition to his recent push for a bill allowing the Israeli Prison Service to force-feed those on hunger strike, is based on a recommendation by the Shin Bet, Ma'an News Agency has reported.
The paper cited sources close to Shin Bet Director Yoram Cohen as saying that he believes the negotiations with Palestinian hunger strikers in 2012 was a mistake, and that such negotiations should not be repeated.
However, according to Haaretz, Cohen fears that should any hunger strikers die, mass protests would break out in the West Bank and rockets would be fired from Gaza.
Under the previous agreement, 2,000 Palestinian prisoners ended their hunger strike with a promise by Israel to end the policy itself but, as of March 1, 183 Palestinians were still being held under administrative detention.
About 5,000 Palestinians are now currently being held in Israeli prisons, nearly 200 of them under administrative detention.
Since 1967, Israel has imprisoned over 800,000 Palestinians, including children.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu refused to negotiate with hunger-striking administrative detainees based on a recommendation from the Shin Bet security service, Haaretz, Israeli daily paper reported.
In several discussions on the issue recently, Shin Bet security service head Yoram Cohen has voiced support for the force-feeding bill, saying it would be a suitable solution to the hunger strike. His stance encouraged Netanyahu to support the bill, which has already been approved by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation and is expected to come up for its first reading in the Knesset in the coming weeks.
There are currently 189 Palestinians in administrative detention, meaning detention without trial. Between 100 and 125 have joined the hunger strike that began on April 24. Palestinian detainees at several prisons have also joined the strike for limited periods as a sign of solidarity with the detainees.
The Israel military forces warned that if any of the strikers died, it would likely spark rioting in the West Bank and perhaps rocket fire from the Gaza Strip. But while Cohen has not said so explicitly, people who have spoken with him recently say their impression is that he believes Israel could cope with these responses, Haaretz reported.
Administrative detainees explained that they have learnt that the Shin Bet and Israeli prison service(IPS) have intention neither to negotiate with the strikers nor to meet their demands. Close people who have participated in meetings on the issue with Cohen said that Cohen fears a compromise would leave IPS vulnerable to nonstop extortion by means of recurrent hunger strikes.
Cohen believed that the agreement reached to end the last major hunger-strike by Palestinian prisoners was a mistake.
The report noted that the Israeli military forces prepares to cope with widespread Palestinian rioting in the event that one of the hunger- strikers dies. The forces have updated its operational plans .
Addameer Association explained in a report that The frequency of the use of administrative detention has fluctuated throughout Israel’s occupation and has been steadily rising since the outbreak of the Second Intifada in September 2000,when it has specifically been used as a means of collective punishment against Palestinians opposing the occupation.
In several discussions on the issue recently, Shin Bet security service head Yoram Cohen has voiced support for the force-feeding bill, saying it would be a suitable solution to the hunger strike. His stance encouraged Netanyahu to support the bill, which has already been approved by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation and is expected to come up for its first reading in the Knesset in the coming weeks.
There are currently 189 Palestinians in administrative detention, meaning detention without trial. Between 100 and 125 have joined the hunger strike that began on April 24. Palestinian detainees at several prisons have also joined the strike for limited periods as a sign of solidarity with the detainees.
The Israel military forces warned that if any of the strikers died, it would likely spark rioting in the West Bank and perhaps rocket fire from the Gaza Strip. But while Cohen has not said so explicitly, people who have spoken with him recently say their impression is that he believes Israel could cope with these responses, Haaretz reported.
Administrative detainees explained that they have learnt that the Shin Bet and Israeli prison service(IPS) have intention neither to negotiate with the strikers nor to meet their demands. Close people who have participated in meetings on the issue with Cohen said that Cohen fears a compromise would leave IPS vulnerable to nonstop extortion by means of recurrent hunger strikes.
Cohen believed that the agreement reached to end the last major hunger-strike by Palestinian prisoners was a mistake.
The report noted that the Israeli military forces prepares to cope with widespread Palestinian rioting in the event that one of the hunger- strikers dies. The forces have updated its operational plans .
Addameer Association explained in a report that The frequency of the use of administrative detention has fluctuated throughout Israel’s occupation and has been steadily rising since the outbreak of the Second Intifada in September 2000,when it has specifically been used as a means of collective punishment against Palestinians opposing the occupation.
The administrative detainees on Monday, June 9, 2014, entered the 47th day of their open-ended hunger strike as many of them were admitted to hospitals after a serious decline in their health conditions. The Israeli administrations of prisons have taken punitive measures against several hunger strikers to force them to end their strike and isolated many of them in special cells and hospital rooms.
In a related incident, thousands of citizens, including families of prisoners, human rights activists and lawmakers, participated on Sunday evening in a march held in Al-Khalil city in solidarity with the hunger strikers in Israeli jails.
The march was held at the invitation of Al-Ja'bari family, the Palestinian information center (PIC) reporter said.
The participants marched from Al-Haras Mosque to Ibn Rushd roundabout carrying pictures of hunger strikers and chanting slogans urging the Palestinian resistance to kidnap Israeli soldiers to swap them for Palestinian prisoners.
Some speeches delivered at the rally called on the Palestinian Authority to move to support the hunger strikers in Israeli jails and work on having them released.
In a related incident, thousands of citizens, including families of prisoners, human rights activists and lawmakers, participated on Sunday evening in a march held in Al-Khalil city in solidarity with the hunger strikers in Israeli jails.
The march was held at the invitation of Al-Ja'bari family, the Palestinian information center (PIC) reporter said.
The participants marched from Al-Haras Mosque to Ibn Rushd roundabout carrying pictures of hunger strikers and chanting slogans urging the Palestinian resistance to kidnap Israeli soldiers to swap them for Palestinian prisoners.
Some speeches delivered at the rally called on the Palestinian Authority to move to support the hunger strikers in Israeli jails and work on having them released.
Palestinian administrative detainees have sent on Monday a letter to Palestinian people and the free world stressing their determination to continue the hunger strike till achieving victory or martyrdom. “On the 47th day of hunger strike, we face death in Israeli hospitals that are turned to barracks during which we are exposed to torture, ill-treatment, and inhumane crimes,” the hunger strikers said in their letter.
Both Israeli jailers and doctors are involved in torturing and pressuring hunger strikers held in hospitals, where nurses prepare and eat their meals directly in front of the hunger strikers in a failed attempt to break their will and high spirits, according to the letter.
Israeli jailers kept tying hunger strikers' hands and legs (in what is known as the shabeh position) round the clock, the letter continued.
The prisoners stressed in their letter their determination to continue the hunger strike battle till their demands are met especially ending the administrative detention policy, pointing out that each one of them has wrote his will.
Hunger strikers are held in very poor conditions in Israeli hospitals, where many of them suffer blood clots, very low sugar levels, and frequent bleeding, while others were transferred to intensive care, the letter revealed.
The prisoners denounced the continued international silence towards their plight, saying that they have sent a letter calling on Egyptian authorities to intervene and put an end to the Israeli administrative detention policy.
“We are facing slow death in Israeli hospitals”, they said, expressing their wish to spend the rest of their lives among their mothers, wives, and children.
Both Israeli jailers and doctors are involved in torturing and pressuring hunger strikers held in hospitals, where nurses prepare and eat their meals directly in front of the hunger strikers in a failed attempt to break their will and high spirits, according to the letter.
Israeli jailers kept tying hunger strikers' hands and legs (in what is known as the shabeh position) round the clock, the letter continued.
The prisoners stressed in their letter their determination to continue the hunger strike battle till their demands are met especially ending the administrative detention policy, pointing out that each one of them has wrote his will.
Hunger strikers are held in very poor conditions in Israeli hospitals, where many of them suffer blood clots, very low sugar levels, and frequent bleeding, while others were transferred to intensive care, the letter revealed.
The prisoners denounced the continued international silence towards their plight, saying that they have sent a letter calling on Egyptian authorities to intervene and put an end to the Israeli administrative detention policy.
“We are facing slow death in Israeli hospitals”, they said, expressing their wish to spend the rest of their lives among their mothers, wives, and children.
Tawfiq Abu Naim
80 Palestinian hunger-striking detainees have been rushed to hospitals by the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) ever since the hunger strike was initiated 46 days ago, Tawfiq Abu Naim, head of the Wa’ed Organization for Prisoners and ex-Prisoners, revealed. “The current state of affairs of our Palestinian detainees inside of Israeli jails has become quite unbearable.
Each and every day new prisoner-batches are being carried to hospitals for emergency treatment after having been starving for 46 uninterrupted days,” Abu Naim said during a solidarity demo in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, on Sunday evening.
According to Abu Naim, such a number has been the first of a kind in the entire history of the Prisoners’ Movement.
The hunger strikers vowed to keep going until all of their demands are met, he said, adding that 21 more detainees have joined the strike on Sunday.
Abu Naim acclaimed the strike as a unique and a historic move aiming at lifting the administrative bars, which have been enchaining Palestinians for days, months, and even perhaps years as is the case with Aed Doudine, detained for 17 years under the administrative custody, without trial or charge.
“Neither words, nor protest rallies, nor bemoaning sermons shall tone down our guilty consciences if that moment comes by,” Abu Naim said as he warned of near-by deaths among the detainees and slammed the solidarity moves staged so far.
Saad al-Maghari, Hamas representative in Rafah, declared that resistance is the only path towards the liberation of the prisoners, “the only legitimate representatives of our unity.”
“The hunger strikers are in need of our prayers, solidarity moves, and continuous support,” said al-Maghari. “Prisoners for Prisoners; soldiers for soldiers, shall both be our guiding prerequisites to face up to the Israeli occupation. This is the only message they seem to have picked up.”
According to the Fatah leader Taysir Al-Bardini, a real Intifada (Uprising) reverberating the echoes of a unified voice and vision has to be launched so as to rally round the prisoners after 46 days of thirst and hunger.
In a related event, a statement issued by the Prisoner Society on Monday identified the names of some of the Palestinian hunger strikers who have been rushed to hospitals by the IPS due to their exacerbated health status.
The list includes Abdul Jabar Foukaha, Jawad al-Jaabari, Mahmoud Wardiyan, Raed Hamdane, Salem Badi, Mahmoud Daoud, and Muhammad Jamal al-Natsha, all hospitalized in different clinics, namely Soroka, Tel HaShomer, and HaEmek, among other medical centers.
The overall number of Palestinian hunger strikers, without food for 47 days in a row inside of Israeli lock-ups, has gone up to more than 1500 detainees, who have initiated the historic “Battle of the Empty Stomachs” to protest Israeli arbitrary administrative detention and IPS oppressive policies
80 Palestinian hunger-striking detainees have been rushed to hospitals by the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) ever since the hunger strike was initiated 46 days ago, Tawfiq Abu Naim, head of the Wa’ed Organization for Prisoners and ex-Prisoners, revealed. “The current state of affairs of our Palestinian detainees inside of Israeli jails has become quite unbearable.
Each and every day new prisoner-batches are being carried to hospitals for emergency treatment after having been starving for 46 uninterrupted days,” Abu Naim said during a solidarity demo in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, on Sunday evening.
According to Abu Naim, such a number has been the first of a kind in the entire history of the Prisoners’ Movement.
The hunger strikers vowed to keep going until all of their demands are met, he said, adding that 21 more detainees have joined the strike on Sunday.
Abu Naim acclaimed the strike as a unique and a historic move aiming at lifting the administrative bars, which have been enchaining Palestinians for days, months, and even perhaps years as is the case with Aed Doudine, detained for 17 years under the administrative custody, without trial or charge.
“Neither words, nor protest rallies, nor bemoaning sermons shall tone down our guilty consciences if that moment comes by,” Abu Naim said as he warned of near-by deaths among the detainees and slammed the solidarity moves staged so far.
Saad al-Maghari, Hamas representative in Rafah, declared that resistance is the only path towards the liberation of the prisoners, “the only legitimate representatives of our unity.”
“The hunger strikers are in need of our prayers, solidarity moves, and continuous support,” said al-Maghari. “Prisoners for Prisoners; soldiers for soldiers, shall both be our guiding prerequisites to face up to the Israeli occupation. This is the only message they seem to have picked up.”
According to the Fatah leader Taysir Al-Bardini, a real Intifada (Uprising) reverberating the echoes of a unified voice and vision has to be launched so as to rally round the prisoners after 46 days of thirst and hunger.
In a related event, a statement issued by the Prisoner Society on Monday identified the names of some of the Palestinian hunger strikers who have been rushed to hospitals by the IPS due to their exacerbated health status.
The list includes Abdul Jabar Foukaha, Jawad al-Jaabari, Mahmoud Wardiyan, Raed Hamdane, Salem Badi, Mahmoud Daoud, and Muhammad Jamal al-Natsha, all hospitalized in different clinics, namely Soroka, Tel HaShomer, and HaEmek, among other medical centers.
The overall number of Palestinian hunger strikers, without food for 47 days in a row inside of Israeli lock-ups, has gone up to more than 1500 detainees, who have initiated the historic “Battle of the Empty Stomachs” to protest Israeli arbitrary administrative detention and IPS oppressive policies
Zaid Junaidi
The Israeli occupation authorities released a couple of days ago the Palestinian prisoner Zaid Junaidi, who was immediately transferred to hospital after being on hunger strike for 22 days. Liberated captive Junaidi, who was held in solitary confinement in Ramla jail, told PIC's reporter that the imprisonment conditions in the Israeli jails are very harsh, which endangers the lives of prisoners.
Junaidi was liberated 22 days after joining the open hunger strike which was launched by the administrative prisoners on the 24th of April to demand an end to their arbitrary incarceration without trial or charge.
He said there are 200 prisoners on hunger strike, 110 of them are held in administrative detention. Every week 100 other captives join the strike in solidarity with their fellows.
The ex- captive pointed out that the Israeli prison administration has started a fierce campaign against the hunger strikers. They are subjected to strip search twice a day, and are deprived of visits and medicines, he added.
The Israeli jailers have also forced the hunger strikers into solitary confinement rooms and confiscated their personal belongings to force them break their strike.
Meanwhile, the health status of the hunger-striking prisoners, starving for 44 days in a row, has noticeably worsened. They have only been drinking water while they refuse to take the salt and vitamins, since the start of their strike, Junaidi explained.
He further stated that the occupation soldiers have been deliberately assaulting the detained MPs and ministers on hunger strike, pointing to the recent attack on the two MPs Mohammed Natsheh and Mohammed Badr
"MP Sheikh Mohammed Jamal Natshe was beaten until he lost consciousness for four hours. The soldiers also attacked MP Mohammed Maher Badr and broke his finger, in addition to the attack on the prisoner Tareq Edeis, who tried to help the old men," Junaidi said.
Following the attack, he added, a state of tension and anger prevailed among the captives who threatened to set fire to the prison rooms, forcing the soldiers to move MP Natsheh and Tareq Edeis to the clinic, where they were attacked once again.
Two days later, the prison administration transferred Sheikh Natsheh to solitary confinement cells.
The liberated captive told PIC's correspondent that the prisoners have formed a committee of seven members to negotiate with the prison administration; however, the Israeli authorities have been refusing to open dialog with the hunger strikers and said was ready to negotiate only those who are not on strike.
He stressed that the captives are determined to continue refusing meals until their demands are met, despite the Israeli tough sanctions and punitive measures to break their strike.
Junaid called on the Palestinian people and leadership to support the hunger striking prisoners and their families through taking part in the marches, sit-ins and solidarity events.
The Israeli occupation authorities released a couple of days ago the Palestinian prisoner Zaid Junaidi, who was immediately transferred to hospital after being on hunger strike for 22 days. Liberated captive Junaidi, who was held in solitary confinement in Ramla jail, told PIC's reporter that the imprisonment conditions in the Israeli jails are very harsh, which endangers the lives of prisoners.
Junaidi was liberated 22 days after joining the open hunger strike which was launched by the administrative prisoners on the 24th of April to demand an end to their arbitrary incarceration without trial or charge.
He said there are 200 prisoners on hunger strike, 110 of them are held in administrative detention. Every week 100 other captives join the strike in solidarity with their fellows.
The ex- captive pointed out that the Israeli prison administration has started a fierce campaign against the hunger strikers. They are subjected to strip search twice a day, and are deprived of visits and medicines, he added.
The Israeli jailers have also forced the hunger strikers into solitary confinement rooms and confiscated their personal belongings to force them break their strike.
Meanwhile, the health status of the hunger-striking prisoners, starving for 44 days in a row, has noticeably worsened. They have only been drinking water while they refuse to take the salt and vitamins, since the start of their strike, Junaidi explained.
He further stated that the occupation soldiers have been deliberately assaulting the detained MPs and ministers on hunger strike, pointing to the recent attack on the two MPs Mohammed Natsheh and Mohammed Badr
"MP Sheikh Mohammed Jamal Natshe was beaten until he lost consciousness for four hours. The soldiers also attacked MP Mohammed Maher Badr and broke his finger, in addition to the attack on the prisoner Tareq Edeis, who tried to help the old men," Junaidi said.
Following the attack, he added, a state of tension and anger prevailed among the captives who threatened to set fire to the prison rooms, forcing the soldiers to move MP Natsheh and Tareq Edeis to the clinic, where they were attacked once again.
Two days later, the prison administration transferred Sheikh Natsheh to solitary confinement cells.
The liberated captive told PIC's correspondent that the prisoners have formed a committee of seven members to negotiate with the prison administration; however, the Israeli authorities have been refusing to open dialog with the hunger strikers and said was ready to negotiate only those who are not on strike.
He stressed that the captives are determined to continue refusing meals until their demands are met, despite the Israeli tough sanctions and punitive measures to break their strike.
Junaid called on the Palestinian people and leadership to support the hunger striking prisoners and their families through taking part in the marches, sit-ins and solidarity events.
The Israeli security authorities at Lod airport on Sunday afternoon kidnapped a Jerusalemite university student upon his return from Egypt and transferred him to Al-Maskubiya detention center for interrogation. According to the family committee of Jerusalem prisoners, 21-year-old student Anas Obeid will stand trial on Monday morning at the Israeli magistrates' court in occupied Jerusalem in order to decide whether to extend his detention or not.
The Israeli occupation forces unjustifiably had stormed the house of Anas in Attour town, east Jerusalem, in 2011 a few days after he had left for Egypt for academic study and handed his family a summons ordering him to turn himself in.
Later in 2012, they handed his family a similar summons, without stating why they wanted to arrest him.
One month ago, Anas finished his academic study at October 6 university and obtained a bachelor's degree in accounting and business administration.
The Israeli occupation forces unjustifiably had stormed the house of Anas in Attour town, east Jerusalem, in 2011 a few days after he had left for Egypt for academic study and handed his family a summons ordering him to turn himself in.
Later in 2012, they handed his family a similar summons, without stating why they wanted to arrest him.
One month ago, Anas finished his academic study at October 6 university and obtained a bachelor's degree in accounting and business administration.
Israeli soldiers kidnapped at least nine Palestinians in different parts of the occupied West Bank, kidnapped eight Palestinians, and confiscated around 80 computers from two stores in Tulkarem.
Local sources in Hebron, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank, have reported that the soldiers invaded the al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of the city, and kidnapped six Palestinians.
The six have been identified as Khaled Jibreel Jawabra, Zakariyya Nabil al-Qeeq, Salah Hasaniyya, Imad Khaled al-Jondy, Malek Abu Haikal Jawabra, and Mahmoud Ziad al-Mezyen, the Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) has reported.
Soldiers also invaded ‘Atteel town, north of the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem, and kidnapped a Palestinian identified as Mahmoud Abu Shams, 29.
They also invaded two computer stores Abu Shams owns in the town, and in Tulkarem city, and confiscated at least 80 computers and monitors, in addition to large sums of cash.
Eyewitnesses said the army smashed and destroyed several computers, being repaired in the stores, and destroyed the main gate on a nearby trade bank.
On Sunday at night, dozens of soldiers invaded the al-Yamoun town, west of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, and kidnapped a university student, identified as Aseed Jihad Nawahda, 20.
Nawahda was taken prisoner at a sudden roadblock the soldiers installed on the main Jenin-Nablus road, south of Jenin.
The army also installed a roadblock at the entrance of Ya’bad nearby town, stopped and searched dozens of vehicles, and examined the ID cards of dozens of passengers.
Israeli raids, arbitrary mass-arrests, excavations in al-Khalil
The Israeli Occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Monday invaded different neighborhoods in al-Khalil, where a series of raids, mass-arrests, and excavations were carried out. More than 6 Palestinian civilians and human rights advocates, involved in solidarity activities with prisoners in al-Aroub refugee camp, were arrested at dawn, following large-scale raids and attacks by the IOF, a PIC correspondent at the scene reported.
“More than 12 Israeli military jeeps and armored personnel carriers broke into the al-Aroub camp and attacked Palestinian homes in al-Jawabra and near Omar Ibn al-Khatab Mosque,” eye-witnesses told the PIC.
The Israeli soldiers destroyed the properties of the houses they have broken into, blew up their gates, and assaulted their native inhabitants. Khaled Jawabra, Imad Khaled al-Jundi, Salah Al-Kadnawi, Malek Abu Haikel, Mahmoud Al-Muzin, and Zakaria al-Kik, were all rounded up in the process while another Palestinian citizen was summoned for interrogation, the witnesses added.
In a related event, violent clashes broke out between the well-equipped Israeli soldiers and dozens of Palestinian unarmed youths following IOF invasions into the Fawar camp, south of al-Khalil.
Several other bystanders at the scene have reported to the PIC having viewed the IOF invade the camp, backed up by more than 6 military vehicles, and targeted the Palestinian civilians with tear gas canisters, rubber bullets, and live ammunition.
In a related context, local sources confirmed to a PIC news reporter that Israeli patrols stormed the quarters of Ras al-Jura, Namra, al-Sheikh, Bab al-Zaouia, and al-Salam street and raked through the alleys backed up by more than 5 armored vehicles.
A military checkpoint was erected by the IOF near the Halhoul Bridge, north of al-Khalil, where passers-by IDs and vehicles were meticulously inspected.
The IOF attacks culminated in a series of bulldozing and excavation procedures, already initiated near the military tower in Beit Ummar, two days ago.
Local sources in Hebron, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank, have reported that the soldiers invaded the al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of the city, and kidnapped six Palestinians.
The six have been identified as Khaled Jibreel Jawabra, Zakariyya Nabil al-Qeeq, Salah Hasaniyya, Imad Khaled al-Jondy, Malek Abu Haikal Jawabra, and Mahmoud Ziad al-Mezyen, the Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) has reported.
Soldiers also invaded ‘Atteel town, north of the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem, and kidnapped a Palestinian identified as Mahmoud Abu Shams, 29.
They also invaded two computer stores Abu Shams owns in the town, and in Tulkarem city, and confiscated at least 80 computers and monitors, in addition to large sums of cash.
Eyewitnesses said the army smashed and destroyed several computers, being repaired in the stores, and destroyed the main gate on a nearby trade bank.
On Sunday at night, dozens of soldiers invaded the al-Yamoun town, west of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, and kidnapped a university student, identified as Aseed Jihad Nawahda, 20.
Nawahda was taken prisoner at a sudden roadblock the soldiers installed on the main Jenin-Nablus road, south of Jenin.
The army also installed a roadblock at the entrance of Ya’bad nearby town, stopped and searched dozens of vehicles, and examined the ID cards of dozens of passengers.
Israeli raids, arbitrary mass-arrests, excavations in al-Khalil
The Israeli Occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Monday invaded different neighborhoods in al-Khalil, where a series of raids, mass-arrests, and excavations were carried out. More than 6 Palestinian civilians and human rights advocates, involved in solidarity activities with prisoners in al-Aroub refugee camp, were arrested at dawn, following large-scale raids and attacks by the IOF, a PIC correspondent at the scene reported.
“More than 12 Israeli military jeeps and armored personnel carriers broke into the al-Aroub camp and attacked Palestinian homes in al-Jawabra and near Omar Ibn al-Khatab Mosque,” eye-witnesses told the PIC.
The Israeli soldiers destroyed the properties of the houses they have broken into, blew up their gates, and assaulted their native inhabitants. Khaled Jawabra, Imad Khaled al-Jundi, Salah Al-Kadnawi, Malek Abu Haikel, Mahmoud Al-Muzin, and Zakaria al-Kik, were all rounded up in the process while another Palestinian citizen was summoned for interrogation, the witnesses added.
In a related event, violent clashes broke out between the well-equipped Israeli soldiers and dozens of Palestinian unarmed youths following IOF invasions into the Fawar camp, south of al-Khalil.
Several other bystanders at the scene have reported to the PIC having viewed the IOF invade the camp, backed up by more than 6 military vehicles, and targeted the Palestinian civilians with tear gas canisters, rubber bullets, and live ammunition.
In a related context, local sources confirmed to a PIC news reporter that Israeli patrols stormed the quarters of Ras al-Jura, Namra, al-Sheikh, Bab al-Zaouia, and al-Salam street and raked through the alleys backed up by more than 5 armored vehicles.
A military checkpoint was erected by the IOF near the Halhoul Bridge, north of al-Khalil, where passers-by IDs and vehicles were meticulously inspected.
The IOF attacks culminated in a series of bulldozing and excavation procedures, already initiated near the military tower in Beit Ummar, two days ago.
Al-Jabari family in Hebron organized a massive rally on Sunday in solidarity with Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons who have been on hunger strike for 47 days until this moment. Members of the Legislative Council and notables of Al-Jabari family delivered speeches to the rallies confirming their support for the striking administrative detainees.
Hundreds participated in the march, carried pictures of hunger-striking detainees and slogans demanding an urgent popular actions to release them and save their lives.
In 2012, Israel made a promise to put limits on the policy of administrative detention , in an agreement which ended the strike of 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, but as of March 1, 183 Palestinians were still being held under administrative detention.
At the beginning of May, the vast majority of more than 5,000 Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli prisons began taking part in a solidarity strike with the prisoners who have been refusing food since April 24. Health conditions of the hunger strikers are deteriorating, with some close to death.
Hundreds participated in the march, carried pictures of hunger-striking detainees and slogans demanding an urgent popular actions to release them and save their lives.
In 2012, Israel made a promise to put limits on the policy of administrative detention , in an agreement which ended the strike of 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, but as of March 1, 183 Palestinians were still being held under administrative detention.
At the beginning of May, the vast majority of more than 5,000 Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli prisons began taking part in a solidarity strike with the prisoners who have been refusing food since April 24. Health conditions of the hunger strikers are deteriorating, with some close to death.
Ignoring the International law, Israeli Prison Service (IPS) denied 289 administrative detainees to receive the monthly prison commissary which was paid to them by the Palestinian Authority, ministry of detainees condemned the measure. A prison commissary or canteen is a store from which detainees may purchase products. Typically detainees are not allowed to possess cash; instead, they make purchases through an account with funds from money contributed by friends, family members, etc.
Shawki Alissa, the Minister of detainees affairs, said, "The IPS took this measure to force the detainees to break their hunger strike," noting that the ministry provides 5000 Palestinian detainees with 400 NIS each a month..
He condemned the IPS policy and said that it follows series of punishment procedures against hunger strikers.
On April, 24th, administrative Prisoners started an open hunger strike which continues until this moment calling to revoke Administrative detention, since there are prisoners been detained for more than 5 years. There are still 150 prisoners on hunger strike facing critical health conditions, without any kind of understanding from the Israeli side regardless of the prisoners’ basic human needs.
Shawki Alissa, the Minister of detainees affairs, said, "The IPS took this measure to force the detainees to break their hunger strike," noting that the ministry provides 5000 Palestinian detainees with 400 NIS each a month..
He condemned the IPS policy and said that it follows series of punishment procedures against hunger strikers.
On April, 24th, administrative Prisoners started an open hunger strike which continues until this moment calling to revoke Administrative detention, since there are prisoners been detained for more than 5 years. There are still 150 prisoners on hunger strike facing critical health conditions, without any kind of understanding from the Israeli side regardless of the prisoners’ basic human needs.
8 june 2014
Wafa Al-Biss, a freed Palestinian prisoner, waves a Palestinian flag at her house as she is greeted upon her return in the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday under Jilad Shalit exchange deal between Hamas and Israel October 2011
Israel's Cabinet approved a bill Sunday that could complicate future Palestinian prisoner releases, a central element of negotiations with the Palestinians. The bill would allow Israeli courts to block the pardon of prisoners convicted of murder. Critics say that will limit Israel's room to maneuver in negotiations.
It would only apply to people convicted after the legislation becomes law, meaning prisoners currently serving would not be affected. The bill, proposed by several hard-line lawmakers, still needs to be approved by parliament.
‘Israel’ also previously exchanged prisoners for captive Israelis — and even the remains of fallen soldiers — held by Hamas and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
Palestinian-viewed as a historic deal, the Israeli occupation and Hamas Movement agreed to a prisoner exchange deal in 2011, under the terms of which 1047 Palestinian prisoners were released from Israeli jails in exchange for a French-Israeli soldier captured by Palestinian resistance fighters.
Over 5000 Palestinians are held in Israeli prisons, distributed to 16 main centers throughout the state.
Around 220 prisoners have been holding a hunger strike to protest the administrative detention policy which allows to detain Palestinians without trying or charging them.
Israel's Cabinet approved a bill Sunday that could complicate future Palestinian prisoner releases, a central element of negotiations with the Palestinians. The bill would allow Israeli courts to block the pardon of prisoners convicted of murder. Critics say that will limit Israel's room to maneuver in negotiations.
It would only apply to people convicted after the legislation becomes law, meaning prisoners currently serving would not be affected. The bill, proposed by several hard-line lawmakers, still needs to be approved by parliament.
‘Israel’ also previously exchanged prisoners for captive Israelis — and even the remains of fallen soldiers — held by Hamas and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
Palestinian-viewed as a historic deal, the Israeli occupation and Hamas Movement agreed to a prisoner exchange deal in 2011, under the terms of which 1047 Palestinian prisoners were released from Israeli jails in exchange for a French-Israeli soldier captured by Palestinian resistance fighters.
Over 5000 Palestinians are held in Israeli prisons, distributed to 16 main centers throughout the state.
Around 220 prisoners have been holding a hunger strike to protest the administrative detention policy which allows to detain Palestinians without trying or charging them.
Ezzat al-Resheq, member of Hamas political bureau, spoke against Israeli attempts to force-feed the Palestinian hunger-striking detainees, describing them as an “Israeli crime” that amounts to psycho-physical torture. But such Israeli crimes will never dampen the spirits of the hunger strikers who vowed to stand their grounds until all of their demands are met, Resheq said in a statement on Sunday
“46 days have passed by since the strike was initiated inside of Israeli lock-ups, but the prisoners’ will and faith have grown stronger. Today they are more resilient and determinant than ever to face up to their Israeli wardens,” he added.
Resheq called on all Palestinians and the world’s free people to assume their national, ethical, and humanitarian responsibilities to back up the prisoners and rally round them.
According to Resheq, the prisoners’ issue will always remain among Hamas’s main concerns.
“Time has come by for a real wake-up aiming at backing up the prisoners throughout their fight for freedom and dignity,” Resheq declared while acclaiming the solidarity moves staged so far.
Resheq slammed the PA security forces’ mistreatment of prisoners’ families and wives during the protest rally held in Tulkarem last Friday
Hamas member called for a serious prosecution of such violations and the assaults launched on the wife of the Hamas leader Abbas al-Sayyed, among many other women.
Along the same context, the health condition of Palestinian activist Fahmi Shahine, detained following a solidarity demo on the Naksa commemoration, has remarkably gone down, the Prisoner Society said on Sunday.
The Israeli occupation authorities carried the prisoner from Kiryat Arba detention center to Soroka hospital. Shahine has undergone a cardiac surgery and still needs another due to arterial laceration, the Prisoner Society added.
In a related event, the leadership of the administrative hunger strike confirmed to lawyer Jawad Boulos, following a prison visit that three hearing sessions with the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) did not work out.
IPS representatives revealed, verbatim, they are sick of the Palestinian hunger strikes and threatened, in the worst of cases, to hospitalize the strikers.
IPS further revealed, through a warning letter, their indifference vis-à-vis any potential deaths among the hunger-strikers.
“46 days have passed by since the strike was initiated inside of Israeli lock-ups, but the prisoners’ will and faith have grown stronger. Today they are more resilient and determinant than ever to face up to their Israeli wardens,” he added.
Resheq called on all Palestinians and the world’s free people to assume their national, ethical, and humanitarian responsibilities to back up the prisoners and rally round them.
According to Resheq, the prisoners’ issue will always remain among Hamas’s main concerns.
“Time has come by for a real wake-up aiming at backing up the prisoners throughout their fight for freedom and dignity,” Resheq declared while acclaiming the solidarity moves staged so far.
Resheq slammed the PA security forces’ mistreatment of prisoners’ families and wives during the protest rally held in Tulkarem last Friday
Hamas member called for a serious prosecution of such violations and the assaults launched on the wife of the Hamas leader Abbas al-Sayyed, among many other women.
Along the same context, the health condition of Palestinian activist Fahmi Shahine, detained following a solidarity demo on the Naksa commemoration, has remarkably gone down, the Prisoner Society said on Sunday.
The Israeli occupation authorities carried the prisoner from Kiryat Arba detention center to Soroka hospital. Shahine has undergone a cardiac surgery and still needs another due to arterial laceration, the Prisoner Society added.
In a related event, the leadership of the administrative hunger strike confirmed to lawyer Jawad Boulos, following a prison visit that three hearing sessions with the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) did not work out.
IPS representatives revealed, verbatim, they are sick of the Palestinian hunger strikes and threatened, in the worst of cases, to hospitalize the strikers.
IPS further revealed, through a warning letter, their indifference vis-à-vis any potential deaths among the hunger-strikers.
Sheikh Raed Salah, head of the Islamic Movement inside the Green Line, called on the Arab and Muslim masses along with the world’s free people to rally round the Palestinian hunger-striking detainees, ceaselessly targeted by Israeli persecution campaigns. Sheikh Salah, during a solidarity horse-march in Umm al-Fahm in 48 occupied Palestine on Saturday, called for the need to rally round the prisoners and raise awareness levels vis-à-vis the cause.
“The message to be conveyed by the march is the first of a kind. The organizers agreed to make of it an annual event aiming at carrying out the prisoner’s voice and agony to the entire world,” Firas al-Omri, head of Youssef al-Sidiq Foundation for Prisoner Support, said.
Al-Omri urged the youth leadership to adopt the cause and turn it into one of public opinion.
Along the same context, dozens of Palestinian lawyers inside the Green Line partook in a protest rally staged in front of the Israeli Megiddo prison afternoon Saturday in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners and in protest against the Israeli arbitrary detention policies.
The protesters raised slogans denouncing administrative detention and calling for the immediate release of the Palestinian “heroic” detainees, who have been without food for 45 days, a PIC correspondent documented.
Lawyer Mustafa Suhail said in a speech during the rally that the prisoners are starving to lift the administrative bars and bring such a crime against humanity to a halt.
“Netanyahu’s order to feed the prisoners by force stands in sharp contrast to all international laws and treaties,” said lawyer Muhammad Lotfi. “We call on the Israeli occupation authorities to either restore the freedom of our detainees or else to let the world see for what charges they have been locked up behind Israeli bars.”
“The message to be conveyed by the march is the first of a kind. The organizers agreed to make of it an annual event aiming at carrying out the prisoner’s voice and agony to the entire world,” Firas al-Omri, head of Youssef al-Sidiq Foundation for Prisoner Support, said.
Al-Omri urged the youth leadership to adopt the cause and turn it into one of public opinion.
Along the same context, dozens of Palestinian lawyers inside the Green Line partook in a protest rally staged in front of the Israeli Megiddo prison afternoon Saturday in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners and in protest against the Israeli arbitrary detention policies.
The protesters raised slogans denouncing administrative detention and calling for the immediate release of the Palestinian “heroic” detainees, who have been without food for 45 days, a PIC correspondent documented.
Lawyer Mustafa Suhail said in a speech during the rally that the prisoners are starving to lift the administrative bars and bring such a crime against humanity to a halt.
“Netanyahu’s order to feed the prisoners by force stands in sharp contrast to all international laws and treaties,” said lawyer Muhammad Lotfi. “We call on the Israeli occupation authorities to either restore the freedom of our detainees or else to let the world see for what charges they have been locked up behind Israeli bars.”
13 Palestinian hunger strikers have been transferred to the Israeli hospital Tel Hashomer following a serious decline in their health conditions. The hospitalized prisoners has suffered from abdominal bleeding and two of them underwent endoscopic surgery, while the others were asked to end their hunger strike before having the surgery, according to the Palestinian prisoner society.
Two of the previous cases were also admitted to the intensive care unit for several days, the society said, noting that many of these hunger strikers suffer from diabetes and other health problems.
Society: 13 hunger strikers suffering stomach bleeding
Prisoner's Club Society said the Israel Prison Service (IPS) is compromising with 13 Palestinian hunger strikers suffering stomach bleeding to get them to halt the strike in exchange for medical treatment. The society’s legal unit Jawad Polis, who visited some hunger strikers in "Tal HaShomer" Hospital, said in a statement that the IPS is taking arbitrary measures against the prisoners accommodated in the hospital,”
He pointed to their worsening health conditions, as some started to suffer from muscle pains and bad sight, while two of them fainted and were moved to the intensive care unit (ICU).
A good number of the hunger striking patients suffer from diabetes and other health problems, he said, adding that the health of 11 prisoners, who refused to take their medicine to protest their detention conditions, deteriorated.
The IPS has recently mounted malicious measures against the hunger strikers to pressure them into breaking their strike, at a time denying them personal holdings like tooth brushes, bath shampoo and shaving tools, and closing the windows of the prison cells at another, he continued.
Polis confirmed that "the hunger strikers lost an average of 16 kilograms of their weight as they only take water and some vitamins,"
The IPS officers deliberately eat in front of hunger strikers in an attempt to psychologically harass them, he said.
The prisoners regretted the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)’s position to submit to the IPS’s refusing to pass the letters sent to the prisoners by their relatives.
Two of the previous cases were also admitted to the intensive care unit for several days, the society said, noting that many of these hunger strikers suffer from diabetes and other health problems.
Society: 13 hunger strikers suffering stomach bleeding
Prisoner's Club Society said the Israel Prison Service (IPS) is compromising with 13 Palestinian hunger strikers suffering stomach bleeding to get them to halt the strike in exchange for medical treatment. The society’s legal unit Jawad Polis, who visited some hunger strikers in "Tal HaShomer" Hospital, said in a statement that the IPS is taking arbitrary measures against the prisoners accommodated in the hospital,”
He pointed to their worsening health conditions, as some started to suffer from muscle pains and bad sight, while two of them fainted and were moved to the intensive care unit (ICU).
A good number of the hunger striking patients suffer from diabetes and other health problems, he said, adding that the health of 11 prisoners, who refused to take their medicine to protest their detention conditions, deteriorated.
The IPS has recently mounted malicious measures against the hunger strikers to pressure them into breaking their strike, at a time denying them personal holdings like tooth brushes, bath shampoo and shaving tools, and closing the windows of the prison cells at another, he continued.
Polis confirmed that "the hunger strikers lost an average of 16 kilograms of their weight as they only take water and some vitamins,"
The IPS officers deliberately eat in front of hunger strikers in an attempt to psychologically harass them, he said.
The prisoners regretted the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)’s position to submit to the IPS’s refusing to pass the letters sent to the prisoners by their relatives.
Scores of Palestinian citizens on Saturday afternoon participated in a march called for by the Hamas Movement in the West Bank in solidarity with the hunger striking administrative detainees. According to the Palestinian information center (PIC), the participants marched carrying flags and pictures of hunger strikers from the grand Mosque of El-Bireh city to Yaser Arafat roundabout in central Ramallah.
Palestinian lawmaker Hasan Yousuf called in a speech during the rally for necessarily standing united behind the Palestinian prisoners, expressing his belief that the steadfastness of the hunger strikers made their jailers stagger and get confused.
He stressed that the administrative detainees in Israeli jails are determined to continue their hunger strike until their jailers end their illegal detention.
MP Yousuf deplored the Palestinian Authority's security apparatuses for harassing and detaining many activists advocating the prisoners' rights, describing such acts as antinational and serving the occupation.
The lawmaker highlighted that the compass of the Hamas Movement is only directed against the criminal occupation and will never lose its way.
Palestinian lawmaker Hasan Yousuf called in a speech during the rally for necessarily standing united behind the Palestinian prisoners, expressing his belief that the steadfastness of the hunger strikers made their jailers stagger and get confused.
He stressed that the administrative detainees in Israeli jails are determined to continue their hunger strike until their jailers end their illegal detention.
MP Yousuf deplored the Palestinian Authority's security apparatuses for harassing and detaining many activists advocating the prisoners' rights, describing such acts as antinational and serving the occupation.
The lawmaker highlighted that the compass of the Hamas Movement is only directed against the criminal occupation and will never lose its way.
Shops were shuttered in the Palestinian commercial capital on Sunday in solidarity with nearly 300 Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike against Israeli detention without trial. Black-and-white flags bearing slogans such as "Freedom for Prisoners" and "Chains must be broken" flew in the streets of the West Bank city of Ramallah, where the commercial strike was observed.
In Hebron, also in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, dozens of Palestinian protesters marched in the streets in support of the hunger strikers.
The hunger strike was begun on April 24 by a group of 120 Palestinian prisoners held under what Israel terms administrative detention. They were later joined by 170 other inmates who also demanded that Israel abolish the procedure, which has drawn international criticism.
Israel's Prisons Service said 65 hunger strikers were being treated in hospitals, although none was in critical condition and all were conscious. The Palestinians put the number of prisoners who had required hospital care at 100.
"The weight of striking prisoners has gone down by an average of 16 kilograms," said Jawad Bolus, a Palestinian lawyer who visited eight of the hospitalized inmates.
On Friday, a UN spokesman said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was concerned about "reports regarding the deteriorating health of Palestinian administrative detainees". Ban, the spokesman said, reiterated his long-standing position that they be charged or released without delay.
Israel says detention without trial of Palestinians suspected of security offences is sometimes necessary to avoid court proceedings that could expose sensitive intelligence information or informants.
Lawyers who visited prisoners over the past several weeks said Israel had begun a dialogue with some of the hunger strikers' representatives but no progress had been made.
In Hebron, also in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, dozens of Palestinian protesters marched in the streets in support of the hunger strikers.
The hunger strike was begun on April 24 by a group of 120 Palestinian prisoners held under what Israel terms administrative detention. They were later joined by 170 other inmates who also demanded that Israel abolish the procedure, which has drawn international criticism.
Israel's Prisons Service said 65 hunger strikers were being treated in hospitals, although none was in critical condition and all were conscious. The Palestinians put the number of prisoners who had required hospital care at 100.
"The weight of striking prisoners has gone down by an average of 16 kilograms," said Jawad Bolus, a Palestinian lawyer who visited eight of the hospitalized inmates.
On Friday, a UN spokesman said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was concerned about "reports regarding the deteriorating health of Palestinian administrative detainees". Ban, the spokesman said, reiterated his long-standing position that they be charged or released without delay.
Israel says detention without trial of Palestinians suspected of security offences is sometimes necessary to avoid court proceedings that could expose sensitive intelligence information or informants.
Lawyers who visited prisoners over the past several weeks said Israel had begun a dialogue with some of the hunger strikers' representatives but no progress had been made.
Israeli forces detained five Palestinians across the West Bank in overnight raids Sunday morning in Nablus and near Hebron.
Israeli forces carried out two separate predawn raids in the Nablus region in the northern West Bank and detained three young Palestinian men there, Palestinian security sources told Ma'an.
The sources said that Israeli troops stormed the old city of Nablus and detained 23-year-old Amjad Hassan Anabtawi and 22-year-old Ali Nidal Abu Shamat after ransacking their homes.
Separately, a number of Israeli military vehicles raided the village of Yasid south of Nablus before dawn and detained 19-year-old Asim Muhammad Thahir.
Locals told Ma'an that clashes broke between young Palestinian men and Israeli soldiers during the detention raid.
Israeli forces also stormed al-Fawwar refugee camp south of Hebron in the southern West Bank before dawn Sunday and detained two young Palestinian men, locals told Ma'an.
The detainees were identified as Muhammad Abdullah Abu Tuimah and Salamah Suleiman Daajnah.
An Israeli military spokesperson said that only two Palestinians had been detained in Nablus and one in Hebron.
He said that the three had been taken away for "security questioning," but declined to state where they had been taken.
Israeli forces carried out two separate predawn raids in the Nablus region in the northern West Bank and detained three young Palestinian men there, Palestinian security sources told Ma'an.
The sources said that Israeli troops stormed the old city of Nablus and detained 23-year-old Amjad Hassan Anabtawi and 22-year-old Ali Nidal Abu Shamat after ransacking their homes.
Separately, a number of Israeli military vehicles raided the village of Yasid south of Nablus before dawn and detained 19-year-old Asim Muhammad Thahir.
Locals told Ma'an that clashes broke between young Palestinian men and Israeli soldiers during the detention raid.
Israeli forces also stormed al-Fawwar refugee camp south of Hebron in the southern West Bank before dawn Sunday and detained two young Palestinian men, locals told Ma'an.
The detainees were identified as Muhammad Abdullah Abu Tuimah and Salamah Suleiman Daajnah.
An Israeli military spokesperson said that only two Palestinians had been detained in Nablus and one in Hebron.
He said that the three had been taken away for "security questioning," but declined to state where they had been taken.
Israeli soldiers invaded Zabbouba town, near the northern West Bank city of Jenin, kidnapped an elderly man and hurled gas bombs, causing several family members to suffer the effects of tear gas inhalation.
Local sources stated that the soldiers invaded the home of Hasan Thiab Abu Zeitoun, 60, and kidnapped him, the Raya News Agency has reported.
The soldiers also attacked, and violently beat, his son Emad, causing various injuries.
The sources added that the soldiers also hurled gas bombs into the home after searching it, causing several members of the Abu Zeitoun family to suffocate due to gas inhalation.
The invasion also led to clashes between the soldiers and local youth, who hurled stones at them; several residents suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation.
Local medics provided the wounded Palestinians with the needed treatment.
Local sources stated that the soldiers invaded the home of Hasan Thiab Abu Zeitoun, 60, and kidnapped him, the Raya News Agency has reported.
The soldiers also attacked, and violently beat, his son Emad, causing various injuries.
The sources added that the soldiers also hurled gas bombs into the home after searching it, causing several members of the Abu Zeitoun family to suffocate due to gas inhalation.
The invasion also led to clashes between the soldiers and local youth, who hurled stones at them; several residents suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation.
Local medics provided the wounded Palestinians with the needed treatment.
Palestinian detainees continued their hunger strike for 46 days running to protest their indefinite administrative detention without trial or charge amid Israeli tough sanctions and punitive measures to break their strike. The hunger strikers called for intensifying popular events in support of their demands and protest steps and for pressuring the Israeli authorities to meet their demands.
For his part, administrative detainee Ayman Atabish continued his hunger strike for 101 days demanding his immediate release.
Atabish, who is serving a six-month detention period, demands an end to the policy of “secret files” against detainees upon which the Israeli intelligence continues to renew their incarceration.
The detainee’s family expressed fear for his life due to his health deterioration especially that his heart muscles are weakening because of the hunger strike.
For his part, administrative detainee Ayman Atabish continued his hunger strike for 101 days demanding his immediate release.
Atabish, who is serving a six-month detention period, demands an end to the policy of “secret files” against detainees upon which the Israeli intelligence continues to renew their incarceration.
The detainee’s family expressed fear for his life due to his health deterioration especially that his heart muscles are weakening because of the hunger strike.
Israeli navy forces arrested on Saturday night three Palestinian fishermen off the Sudaniya coast northern Gaza Strip. The Israeli forces arrested the three fishermen while fishing within the 6 nautical miles allowed for fishermen to work off the Gaza coast. The fishermen were taken to Ashdod port after the confiscation of their boat.
Palestinian fishing boats are daily exposed to Israeli harassments and violations along the Gaza coast.
Palestinian fishing boats are daily exposed to Israeli harassments and violations along the Gaza coast.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Sunday kidnapped two young men and summoned another during raids on homes in several areas in Bethlehem city, according to the Palestinian information center (PIC) reporter in the West Bank. The IOF raided and ransacked the house of martyr Mohamed Jubran in Hindaza area in the city before taking his 31-year-old son Numan prisoner.
Numan Jubran is an activist in prisoners' rights, and has been jailed previously by a Palestinian Authority (PA) security apparatus in the West Bank.
An Israeli military force also stormed Al-Doheisheh refugee camp, south of Bethlehem, and handed 26-year-old Mahmoud Ayad a summons for interrogation from the intelligence.
Ayad works for Aneen Al-Qaid network, which advocates the rights of the Palestinian prisoners. He has spent more than five years in an Israeli jail and some time in a PA jail.
Another young man identified as Mu'aad Al-Badan was kidnapped by the IOF from his house in Tekoa town to the east of Bethlehem.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that Israeli troops stormed Aida refugee camp to the north of the city at dawn and patrolled its streets without making any arrests.
Numan Jubran is an activist in prisoners' rights, and has been jailed previously by a Palestinian Authority (PA) security apparatus in the West Bank.
An Israeli military force also stormed Al-Doheisheh refugee camp, south of Bethlehem, and handed 26-year-old Mahmoud Ayad a summons for interrogation from the intelligence.
Ayad works for Aneen Al-Qaid network, which advocates the rights of the Palestinian prisoners. He has spent more than five years in an Israeli jail and some time in a PA jail.
Another young man identified as Mu'aad Al-Badan was kidnapped by the IOF from his house in Tekoa town to the east of Bethlehem.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that Israeli troops stormed Aida refugee camp to the north of the city at dawn and patrolled its streets without making any arrests.
