17 apr 2014
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By Huda Julie Webb-Pullman
Thousands of people today converged on Soraya, site of the Gaza Central prison destroyed during the November 2012 Israeli offensive, and now the site to celebrate the indomitable spirit of Palestinians held in Israeli jails. April 17th was designated Palestinian Political Prisoners’ Day by the Palestinian National Council in 1974. It also marks the assassinations of two Palestinian political leaders – Fateh leader Khalil Al Wazir on 16 April 1988 and Dr Abdul-Aziz Al Rantisi of Hamas on 17 April 2004. |
Members of all factions and none gathered to hear speeches, view exhibits of handcrafts and photos produced by prisoners in Israeli jails, and later to march on the International Committee for the Red Cross.
Tawfiq Abu Naim, head of the National prisoners’ Committee said that one of today’s messages to the world is to demand that Israel release the fourth group of prisoners, as agreed in the latest round of peace negotiations.
“Hamas is not against negotiations that serve Palestinian principles, but the negotiators must stick to the principles,” he said. “Releasing the fourth batch of prisoners is fundamental to those.”
Mr. Mohammed Almadhoun, Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, welcomed the fact that all factions were represented.
Ahmed Al Farid, released prisoner and organiser of the Souls, Not Pictures exhibition of photographs taken by Palestinian prisoners inside Israeli jails with hidden cameras, said the real heroes of the event are the Palestinian prisoners themselves.
The final speaker was Dr Attallah Abu El Sebah, Minister of Justice and of Detainees Affairs, who spoke on behalf of the Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyeh.
Dr Abu El Sebah noted that the prisoners are making a great sacrifice for the rights of all Palestinians, and that negotiations, including the Oslo Agreement, have never led to the freedom of prisoners.
“Israel will not exist forever, and Allah will bring us victory, insha’allah.”
He went on to say that the prisoners issue is an integral part of the larger Palestinian cause, and that the prisoners will not be freed until the Israeli occupation ends. He said we should not forget the exiles in countries such as Lebanon, whose banishment is equivalent to a prison sentence.
“This criminal occupation does not understand anything except the barrel of a gun,” he said, “assaulting Palestinians, attacking our holy sites and mosques, detaining our youth – the Hamas response is to do the same, to detain their soldiers.”
Dr Abu El Sebah recounted that amongst the 5000 current Palestinian prisoners are 19 women and over 220 children, and called on the public to fight for these vulnerable people for the sake of Allah, and for justice.
“After 22 years of negotiations the suffering still continues. We have to raise the awareness of the Palestinian people, and this exhibition is one of the tools to do it.”
Emphasising that he was conveying Ismail Haniyeh’s message, he said that all Palestinians should be freed.
“We have to make sure that the prisoners stay in our hearts and eyes, and they are the top priority of the Hamas movement leadership and of all the factions, Islamic Jihad and its brothers who broke the silence against the occupier. We have to unite our efforts to free ALL of Palestine, and the prisoners are part of this goal.”
Huda Julie Webb-Pullman is a New Zealand activist and writer living in Gaza. She has written on social and political justice issues for New Zealand Independent News website SCOOP since 2003, as well as for websites in Australia, Canada, the US, and Latin America, and participated in several human rights observation missions.
Tawfiq Abu Naim, head of the National prisoners’ Committee said that one of today’s messages to the world is to demand that Israel release the fourth group of prisoners, as agreed in the latest round of peace negotiations.
“Hamas is not against negotiations that serve Palestinian principles, but the negotiators must stick to the principles,” he said. “Releasing the fourth batch of prisoners is fundamental to those.”
Mr. Mohammed Almadhoun, Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, welcomed the fact that all factions were represented.
Ahmed Al Farid, released prisoner and organiser of the Souls, Not Pictures exhibition of photographs taken by Palestinian prisoners inside Israeli jails with hidden cameras, said the real heroes of the event are the Palestinian prisoners themselves.
The final speaker was Dr Attallah Abu El Sebah, Minister of Justice and of Detainees Affairs, who spoke on behalf of the Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyeh.
Dr Abu El Sebah noted that the prisoners are making a great sacrifice for the rights of all Palestinians, and that negotiations, including the Oslo Agreement, have never led to the freedom of prisoners.
“Israel will not exist forever, and Allah will bring us victory, insha’allah.”
He went on to say that the prisoners issue is an integral part of the larger Palestinian cause, and that the prisoners will not be freed until the Israeli occupation ends. He said we should not forget the exiles in countries such as Lebanon, whose banishment is equivalent to a prison sentence.
“This criminal occupation does not understand anything except the barrel of a gun,” he said, “assaulting Palestinians, attacking our holy sites and mosques, detaining our youth – the Hamas response is to do the same, to detain their soldiers.”
Dr Abu El Sebah recounted that amongst the 5000 current Palestinian prisoners are 19 women and over 220 children, and called on the public to fight for these vulnerable people for the sake of Allah, and for justice.
“After 22 years of negotiations the suffering still continues. We have to raise the awareness of the Palestinian people, and this exhibition is one of the tools to do it.”
Emphasising that he was conveying Ismail Haniyeh’s message, he said that all Palestinians should be freed.
“We have to make sure that the prisoners stay in our hearts and eyes, and they are the top priority of the Hamas movement leadership and of all the factions, Islamic Jihad and its brothers who broke the silence against the occupier. We have to unite our efforts to free ALL of Palestine, and the prisoners are part of this goal.”
Huda Julie Webb-Pullman is a New Zealand activist and writer living in Gaza. She has written on social and political justice issues for New Zealand Independent News website SCOOP since 2003, as well as for websites in Australia, Canada, the US, and Latin America, and participated in several human rights observation missions.
Events in support of the Palestinian prisoners’ cause were held on Habib Bourguiba street on Thursday in Tunis to mark the Palestinian Prisoner’s Day. Leaflets and flyers containing information and statistics about the number of Palestinian prisoners and their suffering in Israeli jails were distributed during the solidarity events.
A number of participants, carrying detainees and ex-detainees’ pictures, roamed Habib Bourguiba street.
A similar event was held by Fida Association in Support of Palestine where several reports and pictures of ill and tortured detainees were put on display.
A number of participants, carrying detainees and ex-detainees’ pictures, roamed Habib Bourguiba street.
A similar event was held by Fida Association in Support of Palestine where several reports and pictures of ill and tortured detainees were put on display.
The Israeli Magistrates’ Court’s judge in the occupied Jerusalem extended detention of four Jerusalemite prisoners, and released two with conditions. Lawyer of al-Dameer association, Mohammed Mahmoud, said the court's judge extended detention of youth Mahmoud Abdulatif and minor Mohammed Abu Esnina to April 23.
The Israeli forces arrested them on last Wednesday after clashes erupted in Al-Aqsa mosque.
He added that the judge released youth Amro Abu Arafa on bail of 3000 NIS.
Israeli intelligence demanded extending Abu Arafa’s detention for five days claiming that he threw Molotov cocktail, stones, and bombs at them inside Al-Aqsa mosque.
The judge released Munir Albalbisi,17, and prevented him from entering al-Aqsa Mosque for 60 days.
The lawyer added that the judge extended detention of Mohammed and Ibrahim Alian to April 24 to be interrogated; they were arrested on April 11.
Local sources said that Israeli forces arrested Wednesday evening and Thursday morning six Palestinian citizens and led them to al-Qashla interrogation center in Jerusalem.
Arrests, extension of arrest and isolations from Al-Aqsa
The Israeli Magistrate court judge extended on Thursday the arrest of four Jerusalemites and released two others with conditions.
Mohammad Mahmoud, Al-Dameer organization lawyer, said that the Magistrate court judge extended the arrest of Mahmoud Abdel Wahab Abdellatif and the minor Mohammad Abu Sneineh until 23/04/2014l note that they were arrested on Wednesday during the clashes that broke out at the gate of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
He added that the judge decided to release his client Amro Abu Arafeh with a 3000-NIS bail and on condition of isolation from Al-Aqsa Mosque for one month and house arrest for five days.
The lawyer explained that the Israeli Intelligence requested to extend the arrest of Amro for five more days on charges of throwing Molotov cocktails, stones and firecrackers inside Al-Aqsa but the lawyer requested to release him without any conditions because of the lack of evidence towards the charges filed against him.
The Magistrate judge also released the 17-year old Munir Bilbeisi on condition of isolating him from Al-Aqsa for 60 days.
Lawyer Mohammad also said that the judge extended the arrest of Mohammad Alyan and Ibrahim Alyan until 24/04/2014; note that they were arrested on 11/04/2014 and are being interrogated in “Cells 20”.
The Israeli police said that they arrested six Jerusalemites since last night and transferred them to Al-Qishleh interrogation center.
The Israeli forces arrested them on last Wednesday after clashes erupted in Al-Aqsa mosque.
He added that the judge released youth Amro Abu Arafa on bail of 3000 NIS.
Israeli intelligence demanded extending Abu Arafa’s detention for five days claiming that he threw Molotov cocktail, stones, and bombs at them inside Al-Aqsa mosque.
The judge released Munir Albalbisi,17, and prevented him from entering al-Aqsa Mosque for 60 days.
The lawyer added that the judge extended detention of Mohammed and Ibrahim Alian to April 24 to be interrogated; they were arrested on April 11.
Local sources said that Israeli forces arrested Wednesday evening and Thursday morning six Palestinian citizens and led them to al-Qashla interrogation center in Jerusalem.
Arrests, extension of arrest and isolations from Al-Aqsa
The Israeli Magistrate court judge extended on Thursday the arrest of four Jerusalemites and released two others with conditions.
Mohammad Mahmoud, Al-Dameer organization lawyer, said that the Magistrate court judge extended the arrest of Mahmoud Abdel Wahab Abdellatif and the minor Mohammad Abu Sneineh until 23/04/2014l note that they were arrested on Wednesday during the clashes that broke out at the gate of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
He added that the judge decided to release his client Amro Abu Arafeh with a 3000-NIS bail and on condition of isolation from Al-Aqsa Mosque for one month and house arrest for five days.
The lawyer explained that the Israeli Intelligence requested to extend the arrest of Amro for five more days on charges of throwing Molotov cocktails, stones and firecrackers inside Al-Aqsa but the lawyer requested to release him without any conditions because of the lack of evidence towards the charges filed against him.
The Magistrate judge also released the 17-year old Munir Bilbeisi on condition of isolating him from Al-Aqsa for 60 days.
Lawyer Mohammad also said that the judge extended the arrest of Mohammad Alyan and Ibrahim Alyan until 24/04/2014; note that they were arrested on 11/04/2014 and are being interrogated in “Cells 20”.
The Israeli police said that they arrested six Jerusalemites since last night and transferred them to Al-Qishleh interrogation center.
Large numbers of students from different schools, Thursday morning, participated in a sit-in organized by the Ministry of Education in Gaza, to mark the Prisoners’ Day, on April 17.
Director General of the ministry’s educational activities Zakaria al-Hur said, during a solidarity sit-in in front of the ministry’s headquarter, that the ministry supports prisoners’ issues and stands with them in prisons, as well as with their families, Al Ray reports.
Large numbers of children and students participated in the sit-in, using their pens to draw pictures mimicking the suffering of Palestinian prisoners and their diaries inside the illegal occupation prisons, he added.
He stressed that the ministry also seeks to focus efforts to serve Palestinian prisoners at all levels, such as exempting sons of ex-prisoners from paying students’ fees and recognizing all the certificates prisoners got in prison.
It also provided prisoners with several scholarships and facilitated exams held inside Israeli prisons, al-Hur pointed out.
He stressed the necessity for documenting the Israeli occupation crimes and encouraging students to learn more about their just cause.
Al-Hur called on all international human rights organizations to take a serious and firm stand to stop the Israeli violations against Palestinian prisoners, demanding the Palestinian factions to unite in order to serve the cause.
On April 17, Palestinian Prisoners Day is commemorated, reminding the world of one of the many injustices Israel practices against the Palestinian people, who struggle only to live a normal life with all the basic human rights.
On this day every year, Palestinians and sympathizers in districts across the West Bank and Gaza, as well as across the world, organize sit-ins, demonstrations and solidarity tents in support of their relatives, friends and neighbors in prison.
These actions often take place outside the International Committee of the Red Cross office, because it is the body in charge of monitoring the conditions of Palestinian detainees.
Photos at Al Ray, via link
Director General of the ministry’s educational activities Zakaria al-Hur said, during a solidarity sit-in in front of the ministry’s headquarter, that the ministry supports prisoners’ issues and stands with them in prisons, as well as with their families, Al Ray reports.
Large numbers of children and students participated in the sit-in, using their pens to draw pictures mimicking the suffering of Palestinian prisoners and their diaries inside the illegal occupation prisons, he added.
He stressed that the ministry also seeks to focus efforts to serve Palestinian prisoners at all levels, such as exempting sons of ex-prisoners from paying students’ fees and recognizing all the certificates prisoners got in prison.
It also provided prisoners with several scholarships and facilitated exams held inside Israeli prisons, al-Hur pointed out.
He stressed the necessity for documenting the Israeli occupation crimes and encouraging students to learn more about their just cause.
Al-Hur called on all international human rights organizations to take a serious and firm stand to stop the Israeli violations against Palestinian prisoners, demanding the Palestinian factions to unite in order to serve the cause.
On April 17, Palestinian Prisoners Day is commemorated, reminding the world of one of the many injustices Israel practices against the Palestinian people, who struggle only to live a normal life with all the basic human rights.
On this day every year, Palestinians and sympathizers in districts across the West Bank and Gaza, as well as across the world, organize sit-ins, demonstrations and solidarity tents in support of their relatives, friends and neighbors in prison.
These actions often take place outside the International Committee of the Red Cross office, because it is the body in charge of monitoring the conditions of Palestinian detainees.
Photos at Al Ray, via link
In an exclusive interview with PIC held on the occasion of the Palestinian Prisoner’s Day on Thursday April 17, Moussa Doudine, Hamas’s leader in charge of the prisoners’ issue, revealed shocking facts about Palestinian prisoners’ tragedy in Israeli prisons. Moussa Doudine, an ex-Palestinian detainee incarcerated for more than 19 years, including 12 spent in solitary confinement, on charges of leading Qassam Brigade cells, raised alarm bells over the prisoners’ issue when he said: “We are running short of time. The situation inside of Israeli prisons is becoming unbearable. It is high time Israeli Occupation Authorities were pursued in International Courts.”
Doudine addressed Palestinian prisoners in a tone that echoed his unparalleled optimism: “Freedom is around the corner. We should resist till our last breath. Our sacred soil is worth fighting for. Allah will never let you down just as none of us will.”
According to Doudine, the Palestinian Prisoner’s Day is the best occasion to honor the persistent Palestinian detainees. “This is the occasion par excellence. This day has a voice of its own. It never ceases to remind us, just as every single day, every single moment, and every single second does, that freedom is looming in the horizon.”
“Ever since the first commemoration on 17 April 1947, we have all been going along the same line. Hamas has always kept its promises and al-Ahrar Deal is a conclusive testimony for the movements’ unconditional commitment to the Palestinian fight for freedom,” Doudine added.
“We shall all remember, now and forever, that our legendary Palestinian prisoners are part and parcel of who we are. They are the nation’s offspring that have been shaping Palestine’s contemporary history,” declared Doudine. “No Palestinian faction, not even Hamas or any other party, can deny the veracity of such a statement.”
According to Doudine, Hamas’s commitment to the prisoners’ cause is just quite natural. This is what the current state of affairs quite normally requires, without any further possible delay.
“Hamas has already given its word. This is a promise that should be kept by all means,” said Doudine. “The Palestinian prisoners’ tragedy, which has been going on for over than half a century now, shall not go unnoticed.”
“How can we bear, or anybody else in fact, when more than a million Palestinian citizens, including grown-ups, women and even innocent children, have been put through the atrocities of detention?” Doudine wonders.
Doudine spoke against Israeli daily violations of human rights and international laws inside of detention centers and lockups, maintaining that history should always remember the 5,100 Palestinian prisoners being currently incarcerated in Israeli jails.
“The irony of the situation is that these are not the only preys of the Israeli power apparatuses. Each new day sets some Palestinians free but sends so many others to prisons.”
As an ex-detainee Doudine saw with his own eyes the price that one had to pay just by being of a Palestinian descent. Palestinian prisoners were subject to the most horrible torture methods including physical and moral assaults and public humiliation.
“It is just unbelievable how Israeli Occupation Authorities (IOA) dared torture Palestinian prisoners before their friends and children’s eyes and interrogated them after having stripped them of all clothes.”
“Shouldn’t any ordinary human being go out of mind and fly into a rage when he/she finds out that such unbearable violations have barely, if ever, been documented?” Doudine wondered.
In Doudine’s view, statistics about the number and current state of affairs in Israeli prisons are just unbelievable. 5,100 prisoners, including 410 from the Gaza Strip, 4,400 from the Occupied West Bank, along with 210 children, and 20 female captives are held in Israeli prisons.
“But how on earth can the world remain silent over the torture of Palestinian children and woman? How can we in fact tolerate the violations of our brothers’ and sisters’ rights?”
Despite the quasi-taken for granted silence over the prisoners’ issue, Doudine’s language carried within its melancholic pitch a spark of optimism kindled by the efforts carried by international solidarity campaigns in support of the Palestinian prisoners’ issue. Several ceremonial events and conferences have been held in Tunisia, Nigeria, Somalia in support of the cause. A ceremonial event will be held in Qatar on April 17 attended by Hamas leaders and other national and international prominent figures.
These events are proofs that the prisoners’ issue has become part and parcel of people’s thoughts despite Israeli efforts to hide it from the world’s view.
“Pressure has to be going on. We must appeal to International Courts to prosecute Israeli perpetrators of war crimes,” said Doudine.
Another intifada seems to be looming in the horizon. IOA should think twice before carrying on its aggression schemes. Otherwise, Israeli security will be put in serious jeopardy, according to Doudine.
“Only when people raise their voices against Israeli crimes and all Palestinian factions meet up over a national program to restore prisoners’ freedom, only then can we hope for a rewarding end. Whispers and half-solutions will never bring such a disastrous situation to its projected halt,” Doudine added.
“We want our people and the world to remember now and forever the tragedy of our brothers and sisters. All Palestinian factions should hold a wide-scale conference to find practical solutions to the prisoners’ issue and embark on a national unified program so as to ensure a near mass-liberation.”
According to Doudine, national programs have failed so far to achieve the expected results. “The least we can say is that such endeavors have come at a very late timing”.
“Several prisoners have gone unnoticed by the Oslo agreement for more than 20 years. The struggle is going on and we should not get over-thrilled by half-solutions. IOA did not keep to its promise and refused to release of fourth prisoners-batch”.
Doudine applauded, however, the achievements accomplished by Wafa al-Ahrar’s deal, which managed to unshackle more than 1,000 detainees.
“The time has come when the entire world need to remember the 205 Palestinians who have been killed inside of Israeli prisons. Some of them died under torture while others were shot from a close range, often at pointblank. The cases are just countless. But absurdly enough these crimes remain undocumented.”
“Now or never! These crimes need to be documented before it is too late!” declares Doudine. “The entire world should get the drift and see with their own eyes the shocking truth about Israeli violations of Palestinian prisoners’ rights, to which IOA are turning their back.”
“Several prisoners’ testimonies bear witness to the atrocities of Israeli crimes against Palestinian detainees. Gilboa’s 2007 incident is a typical case in point. Unbelievable as it already sounds, 15 prisoners were fully stripped and incarcerated in one small cell in front of each other. Nothing is more humiliating than to be interrogated naked before everybody’s eyes. Yet, this crime is also left undocumented!”
Despite differences in viewpoints and judgment criteria, Wafa Al-Ahrar’s deal has been a historical turning point that broke all standards and surpassed all redlines set by Israeli occupation. This is just an unprecedented concrete move towards the liberation route and it has paved the way for other future deals, in Doudine’s words.
The fact that Israeli Prison Serivce (IPS) leaned down before unyielding calls to end Ibrahim Hamed and Dirar Abu Sissi’s solitary confinement is enough proof of the solid determination of prisoners and their wise leadership.
“The struggle with IPS is very much complicated. Much has to be done yet. But I was quite sure from the beginning that the result would be somehow rewarding especially after Hamas’s firm position against IPS reluctance to release a fourth batch of prisoners. Enough is enough. IPS has long been dragging its feet!”
“Israeli Occupation is blackmailing PA negotiator to give in more concessions. But this moment shall never come. Their dream shall never see the day.”
Doudine added: “We know Israeli usurpers more than everybody else does. They are like darting snakes forever seeking new pretexts to blow up peace talks and wriggle out of their expected commitments.”
Doudine’s interview was closed by a message to the PA and its security branches incarcerating ex-detainees in the occupied West Bank. “PA has to immediately get off our activists’ back. They should leave the Palestinian resistance in peace. Nobody is asking them neither to open fire nor to wage a war against Israeli perpetrators. But at least they should respect the choices and needs of the Palestinian people”.
“We would like to remind our Palestinian heroes (prisoners) that we are on the verge of making their dream come true. We will continue the fight till our last breath. Just trust Allah. My brothers and sisters I swear, your dream, our dream, every Palestinian’s dream will soon come true.”
Doudine addressed Palestinian prisoners in a tone that echoed his unparalleled optimism: “Freedom is around the corner. We should resist till our last breath. Our sacred soil is worth fighting for. Allah will never let you down just as none of us will.”
According to Doudine, the Palestinian Prisoner’s Day is the best occasion to honor the persistent Palestinian detainees. “This is the occasion par excellence. This day has a voice of its own. It never ceases to remind us, just as every single day, every single moment, and every single second does, that freedom is looming in the horizon.”
“Ever since the first commemoration on 17 April 1947, we have all been going along the same line. Hamas has always kept its promises and al-Ahrar Deal is a conclusive testimony for the movements’ unconditional commitment to the Palestinian fight for freedom,” Doudine added.
“We shall all remember, now and forever, that our legendary Palestinian prisoners are part and parcel of who we are. They are the nation’s offspring that have been shaping Palestine’s contemporary history,” declared Doudine. “No Palestinian faction, not even Hamas or any other party, can deny the veracity of such a statement.”
According to Doudine, Hamas’s commitment to the prisoners’ cause is just quite natural. This is what the current state of affairs quite normally requires, without any further possible delay.
“Hamas has already given its word. This is a promise that should be kept by all means,” said Doudine. “The Palestinian prisoners’ tragedy, which has been going on for over than half a century now, shall not go unnoticed.”
“How can we bear, or anybody else in fact, when more than a million Palestinian citizens, including grown-ups, women and even innocent children, have been put through the atrocities of detention?” Doudine wonders.
Doudine spoke against Israeli daily violations of human rights and international laws inside of detention centers and lockups, maintaining that history should always remember the 5,100 Palestinian prisoners being currently incarcerated in Israeli jails.
“The irony of the situation is that these are not the only preys of the Israeli power apparatuses. Each new day sets some Palestinians free but sends so many others to prisons.”
As an ex-detainee Doudine saw with his own eyes the price that one had to pay just by being of a Palestinian descent. Palestinian prisoners were subject to the most horrible torture methods including physical and moral assaults and public humiliation.
“It is just unbelievable how Israeli Occupation Authorities (IOA) dared torture Palestinian prisoners before their friends and children’s eyes and interrogated them after having stripped them of all clothes.”
“Shouldn’t any ordinary human being go out of mind and fly into a rage when he/she finds out that such unbearable violations have barely, if ever, been documented?” Doudine wondered.
In Doudine’s view, statistics about the number and current state of affairs in Israeli prisons are just unbelievable. 5,100 prisoners, including 410 from the Gaza Strip, 4,400 from the Occupied West Bank, along with 210 children, and 20 female captives are held in Israeli prisons.
“But how on earth can the world remain silent over the torture of Palestinian children and woman? How can we in fact tolerate the violations of our brothers’ and sisters’ rights?”
Despite the quasi-taken for granted silence over the prisoners’ issue, Doudine’s language carried within its melancholic pitch a spark of optimism kindled by the efforts carried by international solidarity campaigns in support of the Palestinian prisoners’ issue. Several ceremonial events and conferences have been held in Tunisia, Nigeria, Somalia in support of the cause. A ceremonial event will be held in Qatar on April 17 attended by Hamas leaders and other national and international prominent figures.
These events are proofs that the prisoners’ issue has become part and parcel of people’s thoughts despite Israeli efforts to hide it from the world’s view.
“Pressure has to be going on. We must appeal to International Courts to prosecute Israeli perpetrators of war crimes,” said Doudine.
Another intifada seems to be looming in the horizon. IOA should think twice before carrying on its aggression schemes. Otherwise, Israeli security will be put in serious jeopardy, according to Doudine.
“Only when people raise their voices against Israeli crimes and all Palestinian factions meet up over a national program to restore prisoners’ freedom, only then can we hope for a rewarding end. Whispers and half-solutions will never bring such a disastrous situation to its projected halt,” Doudine added.
“We want our people and the world to remember now and forever the tragedy of our brothers and sisters. All Palestinian factions should hold a wide-scale conference to find practical solutions to the prisoners’ issue and embark on a national unified program so as to ensure a near mass-liberation.”
According to Doudine, national programs have failed so far to achieve the expected results. “The least we can say is that such endeavors have come at a very late timing”.
“Several prisoners have gone unnoticed by the Oslo agreement for more than 20 years. The struggle is going on and we should not get over-thrilled by half-solutions. IOA did not keep to its promise and refused to release of fourth prisoners-batch”.
Doudine applauded, however, the achievements accomplished by Wafa al-Ahrar’s deal, which managed to unshackle more than 1,000 detainees.
“The time has come when the entire world need to remember the 205 Palestinians who have been killed inside of Israeli prisons. Some of them died under torture while others were shot from a close range, often at pointblank. The cases are just countless. But absurdly enough these crimes remain undocumented.”
“Now or never! These crimes need to be documented before it is too late!” declares Doudine. “The entire world should get the drift and see with their own eyes the shocking truth about Israeli violations of Palestinian prisoners’ rights, to which IOA are turning their back.”
“Several prisoners’ testimonies bear witness to the atrocities of Israeli crimes against Palestinian detainees. Gilboa’s 2007 incident is a typical case in point. Unbelievable as it already sounds, 15 prisoners were fully stripped and incarcerated in one small cell in front of each other. Nothing is more humiliating than to be interrogated naked before everybody’s eyes. Yet, this crime is also left undocumented!”
Despite differences in viewpoints and judgment criteria, Wafa Al-Ahrar’s deal has been a historical turning point that broke all standards and surpassed all redlines set by Israeli occupation. This is just an unprecedented concrete move towards the liberation route and it has paved the way for other future deals, in Doudine’s words.
The fact that Israeli Prison Serivce (IPS) leaned down before unyielding calls to end Ibrahim Hamed and Dirar Abu Sissi’s solitary confinement is enough proof of the solid determination of prisoners and their wise leadership.
“The struggle with IPS is very much complicated. Much has to be done yet. But I was quite sure from the beginning that the result would be somehow rewarding especially after Hamas’s firm position against IPS reluctance to release a fourth batch of prisoners. Enough is enough. IPS has long been dragging its feet!”
“Israeli Occupation is blackmailing PA negotiator to give in more concessions. But this moment shall never come. Their dream shall never see the day.”
Doudine added: “We know Israeli usurpers more than everybody else does. They are like darting snakes forever seeking new pretexts to blow up peace talks and wriggle out of their expected commitments.”
Doudine’s interview was closed by a message to the PA and its security branches incarcerating ex-detainees in the occupied West Bank. “PA has to immediately get off our activists’ back. They should leave the Palestinian resistance in peace. Nobody is asking them neither to open fire nor to wage a war against Israeli perpetrators. But at least they should respect the choices and needs of the Palestinian people”.
“We would like to remind our Palestinian heroes (prisoners) that we are on the verge of making their dream come true. We will continue the fight till our last breath. Just trust Allah. My brothers and sisters I swear, your dream, our dream, every Palestinian’s dream will soon come true.”
Arbitrary demolition and search processes in al-Khalil and Nablus have been launched by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) at dawn Thursday. Five Palestinian native citizens were arrested in the process. According to local sources, Palestinian youngster Nihad Radhi Abdul Karim, 22, was arrested and carried to an unidentified destination after IOF stormed his house and ransacked it.
Mass arbitrary break-ins were carried out by IOF troops at dawn time in Yabad town south of Jenin. Several targeted houses were photographed by IOF soldiers in the southern quarter and Malloul area, according to the same sources.
The sources further documented incursions at an early morning hour in Mithloun, Zababde and Sanour towns where IOF military vehicles have been roaming several alleys and streets. Tough bullying and interrogation procedures were forced on the passers-by and a number of commercial buildings were raided and rummaged through.
In the same context, IOF invaded Beit Oua town in al-Khalil and arrested three Palestinian youths, in their twenties, after searching their homes at 3a.m.
IOF soldiers have been heavily deployed in al-Khalil crossroads and main entrances for three uninterrupted days. Military checkpoints are being set up by IOF to control traffic under the security pretext.
In a separate event, Israeli Occupation Authorities (IOA) renewed, for the second time in less than four months, the administrative detention of Palestinian student Nael Taysir Khalaf, 24, whose father, detainee Tasir Khalaf, has already been sentenced to seven years on unconfirmed charges of a potential membership in the Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas.
An Islamic Bloc spokesperson in al-Khalil University corroborated the arrest data. The latter further told PIC news reporter that Nael enrolled in al-Khalil University after IOA banned him from pursuing law studies in Sudan.
Nael Tayssir Khalaf is currently imprisoned within the same jail as his father.
PIC news reporter further stated, quoting eye-witnesses, that Khaled Samih Draghma was arrested by IOF under unproven charges that he was planning to stab an Israeli soldier.
According to the eye-witnesses, Draghma’s son, Jalal, 19, was severely beaten by Jewish settlers, who invaded his house and uprooted all of its trees. They added that an IOF patrol later broke into his house and arrested him on the fake charge of attempting to stab one of those settlers.
Mass arbitrary break-ins were carried out by IOF troops at dawn time in Yabad town south of Jenin. Several targeted houses were photographed by IOF soldiers in the southern quarter and Malloul area, according to the same sources.
The sources further documented incursions at an early morning hour in Mithloun, Zababde and Sanour towns where IOF military vehicles have been roaming several alleys and streets. Tough bullying and interrogation procedures were forced on the passers-by and a number of commercial buildings were raided and rummaged through.
In the same context, IOF invaded Beit Oua town in al-Khalil and arrested three Palestinian youths, in their twenties, after searching their homes at 3a.m.
IOF soldiers have been heavily deployed in al-Khalil crossroads and main entrances for three uninterrupted days. Military checkpoints are being set up by IOF to control traffic under the security pretext.
In a separate event, Israeli Occupation Authorities (IOA) renewed, for the second time in less than four months, the administrative detention of Palestinian student Nael Taysir Khalaf, 24, whose father, detainee Tasir Khalaf, has already been sentenced to seven years on unconfirmed charges of a potential membership in the Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas.
An Islamic Bloc spokesperson in al-Khalil University corroborated the arrest data. The latter further told PIC news reporter that Nael enrolled in al-Khalil University after IOA banned him from pursuing law studies in Sudan.
Nael Tayssir Khalaf is currently imprisoned within the same jail as his father.
PIC news reporter further stated, quoting eye-witnesses, that Khaled Samih Draghma was arrested by IOF under unproven charges that he was planning to stab an Israeli soldier.
According to the eye-witnesses, Draghma’s son, Jalal, 19, was severely beaten by Jewish settlers, who invaded his house and uprooted all of its trees. They added that an IOF patrol later broke into his house and arrested him on the fake charge of attempting to stab one of those settlers.
Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad said in a statement on Thursday to mark Palestinian Prisoners Day that they would not "abandon" any prisoners and that they refused to see them as "numbers" to be traded in negotiations.
"Treating prisoners as numbers will not continue, especially under the conditions of suffering and injustice that they are going through" in Israeli prison, the statement said.
"We view prisoners from Jerusalem and 1948 occupied Palestine as our people and it is unacceptable religiously, ethically or nationally to abandon them," the statement said.
The statement added that the group refuses to deal with the issue of prisoners as a "game" for negotiations, in a jab at the Palestine Liberation Organization's inclusion of the release of long-held prisoners as a condition of ongoing peace negotiations with Israel.
The statement come as hundreds of Palestinians marked the annual Palestinian Prisoners Day across the country, with marches in major cities in solidarity with the thousands of Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli jails.
Over 800,000 Palestinians have been detained since 1967, with 5,224 currently being held in Israeli detention centers, according to the PLO.
Since 1967, around 20 percent of the total Palestinian population and 40 percent of all males have been held as prisoners in Israeli jails.
"Treating prisoners as numbers will not continue, especially under the conditions of suffering and injustice that they are going through" in Israeli prison, the statement said.
"We view prisoners from Jerusalem and 1948 occupied Palestine as our people and it is unacceptable religiously, ethically or nationally to abandon them," the statement said.
The statement added that the group refuses to deal with the issue of prisoners as a "game" for negotiations, in a jab at the Palestine Liberation Organization's inclusion of the release of long-held prisoners as a condition of ongoing peace negotiations with Israel.
The statement come as hundreds of Palestinians marked the annual Palestinian Prisoners Day across the country, with marches in major cities in solidarity with the thousands of Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli jails.
Over 800,000 Palestinians have been detained since 1967, with 5,224 currently being held in Israeli detention centers, according to the PLO.
Since 1967, around 20 percent of the total Palestinian population and 40 percent of all males have been held as prisoners in Israeli jails.
Israeli police said six Palestinian men were detained on suspicion of hurling rocks inside the Al-Aqsa compound on Thursday, amid mounting tensions as Jewish groups attempt to hold Passover rituals in the religious compound.
Groups of right-wing Jews were prevented from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by Palestinian worshipers for the second consecutive day on Thursday.
Groups of Palestinian Muslim youth have remained on watch around the clock in the flashpoint Islamic compound as Jewish groups have attempted to rally there and re-enact biblical scenes from the ongoing Passover holiday, most recently when five were detained on suspicion of bringing a goat to slaughter.
To avoid confrontations inside the compound, Israeli police shut down the Moroccan Gate on Thursday and denied the right-wing Jewish groups access to the compound.
Israeli officers stationed at all gates leading to the compound imposed also strict regulations on entry of Palestinians into the compound.
Visitors, meanwhile, had to leave their identity cards with Israeli officers at the gates before they were allowed in.
Separately, Israeli police officers stopped four Jewish women as they tried to access the compound on Wednesday evening through the Cotton Merchants' Gate. The women tried to break the locks before officers intervened and dispersed them.
About 100 Muslim worshipers have decided to stay inside the compound day and night after right-wing Jewish organizations urged Jews to flock to the compound which they believe is the site of a former Jewish temple and slaughter their Passover sacrifices inside.
Jewish fringe groups have vowed to rebuild a temple on the site, but Israeli political and religious authorities have repeatedly dismissed the idea.
Because of the sensitive nature of the Al-Aqsa compound, Israel maintains a compromise with the Islamic trust that controls it to not allow non-Muslim prayers in the area. Israeli forces regularly escort Jewish visitors to the site, leading to tension with Palestinian worshipers.
The compound, which sits just above the Western Wall plaza, houses both the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa mosque and is the third holiest site in Islam.
Al-Aqsa is located in East Jerusalem, a part of the internationally recognized Palestinian territories that have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
Groups of right-wing Jews were prevented from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by Palestinian worshipers for the second consecutive day on Thursday.
Groups of Palestinian Muslim youth have remained on watch around the clock in the flashpoint Islamic compound as Jewish groups have attempted to rally there and re-enact biblical scenes from the ongoing Passover holiday, most recently when five were detained on suspicion of bringing a goat to slaughter.
To avoid confrontations inside the compound, Israeli police shut down the Moroccan Gate on Thursday and denied the right-wing Jewish groups access to the compound.
Israeli officers stationed at all gates leading to the compound imposed also strict regulations on entry of Palestinians into the compound.
Visitors, meanwhile, had to leave their identity cards with Israeli officers at the gates before they were allowed in.
Separately, Israeli police officers stopped four Jewish women as they tried to access the compound on Wednesday evening through the Cotton Merchants' Gate. The women tried to break the locks before officers intervened and dispersed them.
About 100 Muslim worshipers have decided to stay inside the compound day and night after right-wing Jewish organizations urged Jews to flock to the compound which they believe is the site of a former Jewish temple and slaughter their Passover sacrifices inside.
Jewish fringe groups have vowed to rebuild a temple on the site, but Israeli political and religious authorities have repeatedly dismissed the idea.
Because of the sensitive nature of the Al-Aqsa compound, Israel maintains a compromise with the Islamic trust that controls it to not allow non-Muslim prayers in the area. Israeli forces regularly escort Jewish visitors to the site, leading to tension with Palestinian worshipers.
The compound, which sits just above the Western Wall plaza, houses both the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa mosque and is the third holiest site in Islam.
Al-Aqsa is located in East Jerusalem, a part of the internationally recognized Palestinian territories that have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
The Lebanese army said that Israeli forces crossed the border and detained five people near the occupied Shebaa Farms on Thursday.
The Lebanese army said in a statement that an Israeli foot patrol had violated the border and subsequently arrested brothers Hassan and Ismail Qassem Zahra, while Nouhad Awad, Wafa Moussa, and Woroud Moussa were detained while attempting to prevent the arrests.
The statement added that the three detained women were released after 20 minutes but the two brothers were kept in detention by Israeli forces.
It added that Lebanon was actively coordinating with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon which patrols the border to secure their release.
UNIFIL, meanwhile, said that they had been notified by the Lebanese army of the arrests near the town of Bastara and were in contact with both sides to secure their release.
An Israeli army spokeswoman said that the army had "identified suspects crossing the border into Israel," and after detaining them "two were transferred into Israel for questioning."
The Shebaa farms have been occupied by Israeli forces since 1967, when they occupied the Syrian Golan Heights.
Lebanese officials claim that the area is in fact Lebanese territory, as residents of the nearby Lebanese town of Shebaa own farmland in the area. They insist that it is the final strip of Lebanese territory still occupied by Israel after the end of it's 20-year occupation of southern Lebanon in 2000.
UNIFIL troops have been deployed along the border since the 34-day war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006 which killed some 1,200 people in Lebanon, mostly civilians, and 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.
Although the border is generally calm as a result of the ceasefire in effect since 2006, in recent months there has been an uptick in violent incidents.
In January an Israeli soldier was wounded in a blast on the border, while in December, an Israeli soldier was shot by his Lebanese counterpart on the border, though authorities claimed it was an "individual act."
The attack came four months after an Israeli incursion onto Lebanese territory near the border, which was repelled by an explosion claimed by Hezbollah that injured four Israeli soldiers. Israeli soldiers had penetrated 400 yards into Lebanese territory at the time of the blast.
The Lebanese army said in a statement that an Israeli foot patrol had violated the border and subsequently arrested brothers Hassan and Ismail Qassem Zahra, while Nouhad Awad, Wafa Moussa, and Woroud Moussa were detained while attempting to prevent the arrests.
The statement added that the three detained women were released after 20 minutes but the two brothers were kept in detention by Israeli forces.
It added that Lebanon was actively coordinating with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon which patrols the border to secure their release.
UNIFIL, meanwhile, said that they had been notified by the Lebanese army of the arrests near the town of Bastara and were in contact with both sides to secure their release.
An Israeli army spokeswoman said that the army had "identified suspects crossing the border into Israel," and after detaining them "two were transferred into Israel for questioning."
The Shebaa farms have been occupied by Israeli forces since 1967, when they occupied the Syrian Golan Heights.
Lebanese officials claim that the area is in fact Lebanese territory, as residents of the nearby Lebanese town of Shebaa own farmland in the area. They insist that it is the final strip of Lebanese territory still occupied by Israel after the end of it's 20-year occupation of southern Lebanon in 2000.
UNIFIL troops have been deployed along the border since the 34-day war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006 which killed some 1,200 people in Lebanon, mostly civilians, and 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.
Although the border is generally calm as a result of the ceasefire in effect since 2006, in recent months there has been an uptick in violent incidents.
In January an Israeli soldier was wounded in a blast on the border, while in December, an Israeli soldier was shot by his Lebanese counterpart on the border, though authorities claimed it was an "individual act."
The attack came four months after an Israeli incursion onto Lebanese territory near the border, which was repelled by an explosion claimed by Hezbollah that injured four Israeli soldiers. Israeli soldiers had penetrated 400 yards into Lebanese territory at the time of the blast.
The PLO Executive Committee Member Dr. Saeb Erekat issued a press statement marking the Palestinian Prisoner Day, as follows:
"For Palestinians, having loved ones in prison is not the exception: it is something which has affected every Palestinian family. In the context of prolonged occupation, Israel- a foreign military power- has unlawfully imposed itself on the land of another people and has oppressed millions, in many varying ways. The plight of the prisoners reflects the plight of the Palestinian people as a whole.
A staggering 800,000 Palestinians have been arrested by Israeli forces since 1967. 5224 remain incarcerated today, including administrative, sick, female and children detainees. These numbers reflect one of the worst experiences of imprisonment in contemporary history, designed to break the will of an entire nation seeking freedom.
Israel has criminalized all forms of resistance, both armed and peaceful, and even political and civic engagement. The Palestinian leadership has chosen to resist through diplomatic and peaceful means, in order to achieve the Palestinian people's inalienable rights, as enshrined in international law. We now need to demonstrate to our people that this path leads to freedom and justice in an independent and democratic State of Palestine. Exist so that we can coexist.
The release of the Palestinian prisoners will be the first signal that freedom is on the way.
Now, we await the release of the remaining 30 Pre-Oslo prisoners still captive in occupation prisons. These are people who have been incarcerated for over 20 years. Karim Younes, the longest serving of these prisoners, has spent over 32 years of his life in Israeli jails.
Israel committed to releasing these prisoners as part of the Oslo Agreement in 1993, again in 1999 through the Sharm el-Sheikh agreement, and a third time in July 2013. In July last year, we agreed to postpone our accession to multilateral treaties and conventions for nine months in order to finally release the 104 Pre-Oslo prisoners. We fulfilled our commitment. Israel, yet again, did not.
Where else in the world could a State imprison the elected representatives of another country with such impunity? The national leader Marwan Barghouthi was the first Member of Parliament to be detained. April 15th 2014 marked the 12th anniversary of his abduction. There has been a total of 50 Palestinian parliamentarians in Israeli jails at one time or another, equivalent to over one third of the Palestinian Parliament. Eleven remain detained today, including the Secretary General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine Ahmed Saadat.
The level of support gathered by the International campaign for the freedom of Marwan Barghouthi and all Palestinian prisoners, and the signing of the Robben Island Declaration by prominent international figures, including six Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, church leaders, artists, parliamentarians, human rights figures, trade unions, and thousands of citizens, sends a clear message that must be heard: freedom of the Palestinian prisoners and freedom of the Palestinian people will pave the way to peace.
Israel must choose between the pursuit of occupation and the pursuit of peace. Each settlement, each arrest, each violation, each refusal to abide by its commitments and obligations, shows that Israel is heading in the wrong direction. But history teaches us that justice prevails. We follow the example of Nelson Mandela and the people of South Africa. No oppression, no denial of rights can continue forever."
"For Palestinians, having loved ones in prison is not the exception: it is something which has affected every Palestinian family. In the context of prolonged occupation, Israel- a foreign military power- has unlawfully imposed itself on the land of another people and has oppressed millions, in many varying ways. The plight of the prisoners reflects the plight of the Palestinian people as a whole.
A staggering 800,000 Palestinians have been arrested by Israeli forces since 1967. 5224 remain incarcerated today, including administrative, sick, female and children detainees. These numbers reflect one of the worst experiences of imprisonment in contemporary history, designed to break the will of an entire nation seeking freedom.
Israel has criminalized all forms of resistance, both armed and peaceful, and even political and civic engagement. The Palestinian leadership has chosen to resist through diplomatic and peaceful means, in order to achieve the Palestinian people's inalienable rights, as enshrined in international law. We now need to demonstrate to our people that this path leads to freedom and justice in an independent and democratic State of Palestine. Exist so that we can coexist.
The release of the Palestinian prisoners will be the first signal that freedom is on the way.
Now, we await the release of the remaining 30 Pre-Oslo prisoners still captive in occupation prisons. These are people who have been incarcerated for over 20 years. Karim Younes, the longest serving of these prisoners, has spent over 32 years of his life in Israeli jails.
Israel committed to releasing these prisoners as part of the Oslo Agreement in 1993, again in 1999 through the Sharm el-Sheikh agreement, and a third time in July 2013. In July last year, we agreed to postpone our accession to multilateral treaties and conventions for nine months in order to finally release the 104 Pre-Oslo prisoners. We fulfilled our commitment. Israel, yet again, did not.
Where else in the world could a State imprison the elected representatives of another country with such impunity? The national leader Marwan Barghouthi was the first Member of Parliament to be detained. April 15th 2014 marked the 12th anniversary of his abduction. There has been a total of 50 Palestinian parliamentarians in Israeli jails at one time or another, equivalent to over one third of the Palestinian Parliament. Eleven remain detained today, including the Secretary General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine Ahmed Saadat.
The level of support gathered by the International campaign for the freedom of Marwan Barghouthi and all Palestinian prisoners, and the signing of the Robben Island Declaration by prominent international figures, including six Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, church leaders, artists, parliamentarians, human rights figures, trade unions, and thousands of citizens, sends a clear message that must be heard: freedom of the Palestinian prisoners and freedom of the Palestinian people will pave the way to peace.
Israel must choose between the pursuit of occupation and the pursuit of peace. Each settlement, each arrest, each violation, each refusal to abide by its commitments and obligations, shows that Israel is heading in the wrong direction. But history teaches us that justice prevails. We follow the example of Nelson Mandela and the people of South Africa. No oppression, no denial of rights can continue forever."
Palestinian detainees, held by Israeli under arbitrary Administrative Detention order, without charges or trial, said they intend to launch an open-ended hunger strike starting next Thursday April 24.
The 186 detainees issued a statement that was published by the Palestinian Ministry of detainees on Wednesday, stating they have decided to launch the “battle of empty bowels”, to protest the illegitimate administrative detention policy practiced by Israel against them.
They said they are launching a campaign titled “Administrative Detainees, Revolution, Freedom and the Resolve of Life”.
They said this battle, the revolution of freedom, will be comprehensive, and that every administrative detainee, regardless of political affiliation and wherever he is held, will be part of this hunger strike.
The detainees called on all legal groups, international human rights institutions, and all media outlets to highlight the cause of the detainees, and expose the ongoing Israeli violations and assaults against them.
They also called on the Palestinian people to march in every part of occupied Palestine, and participate in all events that will be held in support of the detainees and their legal cause.
The 186 detainees issued a statement that was published by the Palestinian Ministry of detainees on Wednesday, stating they have decided to launch the “battle of empty bowels”, to protest the illegitimate administrative detention policy practiced by Israel against them.
They said they are launching a campaign titled “Administrative Detainees, Revolution, Freedom and the Resolve of Life”.
They said this battle, the revolution of freedom, will be comprehensive, and that every administrative detainee, regardless of political affiliation and wherever he is held, will be part of this hunger strike.
The detainees called on all legal groups, international human rights institutions, and all media outlets to highlight the cause of the detainees, and expose the ongoing Israeli violations and assaults against them.
They also called on the Palestinian people to march in every part of occupied Palestine, and participate in all events that will be held in support of the detainees and their legal cause.
Israeli soldiers invaded various Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank, broke into homes and searched them, installed roadblocks, and kidnapped at least eight young Palestinian men. The army also attacked and detained teachers and students in a Hebron school.
Local sources in Beit Awwa town, southwest of Hebron, stated that dozens of soldiers invaded the town and kidnapped three Palestinians after violently searching their homes.
The three have been identified as Suleiman Salem Masalma, 20, Ezzeddeen Mohammad Masalma, 18, and Jihad Hasan Masalma, 24.
Soldiers also invaded Beit Einoun area, east of Hebron, broke into homes and used their rooftops as military towers, and restricted freedom of movement of the Palestinians as settlers marched into the city.
In addition, several military jeeps also invaded Ithna and Tarqoumia towns, and were heavily deployed on several main roads in the western area of Hebron city, while an Israeli drone hovered overhead.
Medical sources said sixteen Palestinians were shot and injured by Israeli army fire in the center of Hebron city, during clashes with the invading soldiers.
Also, eyewitnesses said dozens of soldiers invaded the Ibrahimiyya School in Hebron, attacked teachers and students, and detained its headmaster, Mohammad Kamel Ja’afra, three teachers, and at least one student.
Several Israeli military jeeps also invaded the al-Karmel village, near Hebron, occupied rooftops of a number of homes, especially homes overlooking roads leading to Susiya, Ma’oun and Havat Ma’oun illegal settlements.
Furthermore, soldiers invaded Borqa village, near the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and kidnapped one Palestinian.
Another Palestinian was also kidnapped in Arraba town, near the northern West Bank city of Jenin, while the army claimed locating two weapons.
A Palestinian was also kidnapped after the soldiers broke into his home in Yasouf village, southwest of Nablus city.
Israeli military sources claimed all kidnapped Palestinians are “wanted for security violations”, and that they will be moved to various interrogation facilities.
Israeli soldiers invade Palestinian communities on a daily basis, conduct invasions of homes, arrests, and install roadblocks in different parts of the occupied territories.
Local sources in Beit Awwa town, southwest of Hebron, stated that dozens of soldiers invaded the town and kidnapped three Palestinians after violently searching their homes.
The three have been identified as Suleiman Salem Masalma, 20, Ezzeddeen Mohammad Masalma, 18, and Jihad Hasan Masalma, 24.
Soldiers also invaded Beit Einoun area, east of Hebron, broke into homes and used their rooftops as military towers, and restricted freedom of movement of the Palestinians as settlers marched into the city.
In addition, several military jeeps also invaded Ithna and Tarqoumia towns, and were heavily deployed on several main roads in the western area of Hebron city, while an Israeli drone hovered overhead.
Medical sources said sixteen Palestinians were shot and injured by Israeli army fire in the center of Hebron city, during clashes with the invading soldiers.
Also, eyewitnesses said dozens of soldiers invaded the Ibrahimiyya School in Hebron, attacked teachers and students, and detained its headmaster, Mohammad Kamel Ja’afra, three teachers, and at least one student.
Several Israeli military jeeps also invaded the al-Karmel village, near Hebron, occupied rooftops of a number of homes, especially homes overlooking roads leading to Susiya, Ma’oun and Havat Ma’oun illegal settlements.
Furthermore, soldiers invaded Borqa village, near the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and kidnapped one Palestinian.
Another Palestinian was also kidnapped in Arraba town, near the northern West Bank city of Jenin, while the army claimed locating two weapons.
A Palestinian was also kidnapped after the soldiers broke into his home in Yasouf village, southwest of Nablus city.
Israeli military sources claimed all kidnapped Palestinians are “wanted for security violations”, and that they will be moved to various interrogation facilities.
Israeli soldiers invade Palestinian communities on a daily basis, conduct invasions of homes, arrests, and install roadblocks in different parts of the occupied territories.
Israeli forces detained a Palestinian farmer in Nablus on Wednesday on suspicion of attempting to stab a settler after a group assaulted him and cut down his olive trees.
Palestinian security officials told Ma'an that settlers from Maale Levona assaulted Khalid Samih Daraghmah and his son while they were tending their trees south of Nablus near al-Lubban ash-Sharqiyah.
Jalal Daraghmah, 19, was brutally beaten during the attack.
The farmers filed a complaint at the Palestinian liaison department, who referred it to the Israeli office.
After reporting the assault, Israeli forces arrested Samih Daraghmah after claiming he had tried to stab one of the settlers.
In 2013, there were 399 incidents of settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Over 90 percent of investigations into settler violence by Israeli police fail to lead to an indictment.
More than 500,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in contravention of international law.
Palestinian security officials told Ma'an that settlers from Maale Levona assaulted Khalid Samih Daraghmah and his son while they were tending their trees south of Nablus near al-Lubban ash-Sharqiyah.
Jalal Daraghmah, 19, was brutally beaten during the attack.
The farmers filed a complaint at the Palestinian liaison department, who referred it to the Israeli office.
After reporting the assault, Israeli forces arrested Samih Daraghmah after claiming he had tried to stab one of the settlers.
In 2013, there were 399 incidents of settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Over 90 percent of investigations into settler violence by Israeli police fail to lead to an indictment.
More than 500,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in contravention of international law.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Gaza said the number of the Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli prisons is up to 5200 prisoners, including 20 female prisoners and 235 children. On the anniversary of Palestinian Prisoner's Day, scheduled on April 17, the number of ill Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli prisons is about 1400. They suffer different diseases, including 170 are in need for necessary surgery operations.
The number of administrative prisoners is approximately 183, while they were about 30 ones before Oslo accords, and 476 prisoners are sentenced to life imprisonment, the ministry pointed out.
It assured that arrests, practiced routinely by Israeli occupation against prisoners, flatly contrast with the basic principles of the international law and human rights laws.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs appealed all the international community members, like the UN, OIC, AL, other human rights organizations, and foreign ministries all over the world to stick to their human, historical, and legal responsibilities towards the Palestinians prisoners in the Israeli prisons.
The ministry also called them to adopt prisoners' case and work rapidly to achieve the human justice toward them, by obligating the Israeli forces to release prisoners, mainly children, women, and ill ones.
The number of administrative prisoners is approximately 183, while they were about 30 ones before Oslo accords, and 476 prisoners are sentenced to life imprisonment, the ministry pointed out.
It assured that arrests, practiced routinely by Israeli occupation against prisoners, flatly contrast with the basic principles of the international law and human rights laws.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs appealed all the international community members, like the UN, OIC, AL, other human rights organizations, and foreign ministries all over the world to stick to their human, historical, and legal responsibilities towards the Palestinians prisoners in the Israeli prisons.
The ministry also called them to adopt prisoners' case and work rapidly to achieve the human justice toward them, by obligating the Israeli forces to release prisoners, mainly children, women, and ill ones.
By Fedaa al-Qedra
The Palestinian media have always been a tool to expose the real scenes of the Israeli occupation, its crimes against the Palestinian people and the violations, especially against prisoners in Israeli colonial prisons.
In the light of this, some questions emerge; Do Palestinian media give adequate coverage to the issue of prisoners?, And whether the Palestinian media are moving on with an organized plan or randomly?
Head of the Government Information Office Ihab al-Ghussein affirmed that the Palestinian media is delinquent in the prisoners' issue and do not have enough specialized outlets focusing on the prisoners. The already existed media do not allocate sufficient content for the way in which the prisoners' issues are presented.
Al-Ghussein told ALRAY that "it is necessary and very important to find specialized media at the Palestinian level and develop an integrated national media mechanism to support the prisoners in the Israeli occupation prisons."
Al-Ghussein called on Palestinian journalists and their media institutions to highlight the issue of prisoners extensively and in a specialized way through their different media outlets. "It is necessary to keep the issue present permanently in the media." He added.
He pointed out that "Palestinian media cover the prisoners' issue occasionally and only when something related to the prisoners breaks out. An issue of national consensus, Al-Ghussein urged everybody to take their responsibility toward the prisoners' issue.
Al-Ghussein stressed the need to hold workshops to identify a unified strategic plan among different media means to shed light on all aspects of this case, because the Palestinian media deal with the issue of prisoners as a reaction that vanishes at the end of the event, which might be the death of a prisoner, for instance.
"One hand doesn't clap"
For his part, the head of Palestinian Media Forum, Imad al-Efranji, said that the Palestinian media address the prisoners issue in various events despite the lack of its capabilities. However, he called for more efforts to highlight the issue.
In an interview with ALRAY, he explained that the media are able to shed more light on the issue of prisoners and make it a global issue, demanding the journalists to unify their efforts with politicians and decision-makers to support the prisoners' issue through a united, comprehensive national strategy. "one hand does not clap," he said.
He urged all media operating in Palestine to support the issue of prisoners and address their news mainly in their coverage.
A progress …but!
Mohammed Mardawi, a journalist and a former prisoner, said that the Palestinian media are dealing with the prisoners' issue better than the past. However, this way of coverage is unsouitable for the future
"Journalists must turn numbers and facts into visual media pieces to gain the solidarity of general and international opinion with Palestinian prisoners," Mardawi explained.
He noted that the Palestinian media don’t create an event. Instead, Palestinian news organizations allocate coverage for the prisoners only when one of them dies or when they go on hunger strike. "
"If Israel has these numbers or facts, it would show them on the form of many documentaries."
Making a breakthrough
Director of Al Mezan Center for Human Rights Issam Younis said that the issue of Palestinian prisoners is one of those phenomena that deserve to be considered and analyzed, and also require every Palestinian to show respect for their noble sacrifices, and do more efforts to support them.
In an interview with ALRAY, he said that media have an important role in serving the different issues. As the debate is focused on a conflict, says Younis, we, the Palestinians, "should rise in our tools to the level that allows us to present our issues in the way they deserve." He added that the tools the Palestinians use should be able to confront the tools that their enemies are using against them. He said that Israel deceives the world via lies that showcase the hangman as the victim.
He stressed on the need of having a specialized and skillful media to serve the prisoners' issue and send their voice to the international community and not just work on the Palestinian arena.
The Prisoners' issue witnesses a growing interaction by the Palestinian media, which aims at boosting Palestinian, Arab and international solidarity with the prisoners in Israeli jails.
The Palestinian media need to focus more on the prisoners' issue and their human suffering, particularly showing individual stories to highlight the humanitarian side of their cases, according to observers, who also think that there should be a qualitative and creative move in dealing with the prisoners' issues.
The Palestinian media have always been a tool to expose the real scenes of the Israeli occupation, its crimes against the Palestinian people and the violations, especially against prisoners in Israeli colonial prisons.
In the light of this, some questions emerge; Do Palestinian media give adequate coverage to the issue of prisoners?, And whether the Palestinian media are moving on with an organized plan or randomly?
Head of the Government Information Office Ihab al-Ghussein affirmed that the Palestinian media is delinquent in the prisoners' issue and do not have enough specialized outlets focusing on the prisoners. The already existed media do not allocate sufficient content for the way in which the prisoners' issues are presented.
Al-Ghussein told ALRAY that "it is necessary and very important to find specialized media at the Palestinian level and develop an integrated national media mechanism to support the prisoners in the Israeli occupation prisons."
Al-Ghussein called on Palestinian journalists and their media institutions to highlight the issue of prisoners extensively and in a specialized way through their different media outlets. "It is necessary to keep the issue present permanently in the media." He added.
He pointed out that "Palestinian media cover the prisoners' issue occasionally and only when something related to the prisoners breaks out. An issue of national consensus, Al-Ghussein urged everybody to take their responsibility toward the prisoners' issue.
Al-Ghussein stressed the need to hold workshops to identify a unified strategic plan among different media means to shed light on all aspects of this case, because the Palestinian media deal with the issue of prisoners as a reaction that vanishes at the end of the event, which might be the death of a prisoner, for instance.
"One hand doesn't clap"
For his part, the head of Palestinian Media Forum, Imad al-Efranji, said that the Palestinian media address the prisoners issue in various events despite the lack of its capabilities. However, he called for more efforts to highlight the issue.
In an interview with ALRAY, he explained that the media are able to shed more light on the issue of prisoners and make it a global issue, demanding the journalists to unify their efforts with politicians and decision-makers to support the prisoners' issue through a united, comprehensive national strategy. "one hand does not clap," he said.
He urged all media operating in Palestine to support the issue of prisoners and address their news mainly in their coverage.
A progress …but!
Mohammed Mardawi, a journalist and a former prisoner, said that the Palestinian media are dealing with the prisoners' issue better than the past. However, this way of coverage is unsouitable for the future
"Journalists must turn numbers and facts into visual media pieces to gain the solidarity of general and international opinion with Palestinian prisoners," Mardawi explained.
He noted that the Palestinian media don’t create an event. Instead, Palestinian news organizations allocate coverage for the prisoners only when one of them dies or when they go on hunger strike. "
"If Israel has these numbers or facts, it would show them on the form of many documentaries."
Making a breakthrough
Director of Al Mezan Center for Human Rights Issam Younis said that the issue of Palestinian prisoners is one of those phenomena that deserve to be considered and analyzed, and also require every Palestinian to show respect for their noble sacrifices, and do more efforts to support them.
In an interview with ALRAY, he said that media have an important role in serving the different issues. As the debate is focused on a conflict, says Younis, we, the Palestinians, "should rise in our tools to the level that allows us to present our issues in the way they deserve." He added that the tools the Palestinians use should be able to confront the tools that their enemies are using against them. He said that Israel deceives the world via lies that showcase the hangman as the victim.
He stressed on the need of having a specialized and skillful media to serve the prisoners' issue and send their voice to the international community and not just work on the Palestinian arena.
The Prisoners' issue witnesses a growing interaction by the Palestinian media, which aims at boosting Palestinian, Arab and international solidarity with the prisoners in Israeli jails.
The Palestinian media need to focus more on the prisoners' issue and their human suffering, particularly showing individual stories to highlight the humanitarian side of their cases, according to observers, who also think that there should be a qualitative and creative move in dealing with the prisoners' issues.
Ex-prisoners assured that prisoners' case is the central issue for the Palestinian people. They reclaimed all the national parties to unify their efforts in favor of their national case and to make their utmost efforts to liberate the prisoners from the Israeli prisons.
Hamas movement organized Tuesday evening a public festival, titled “Our Hero Prisoners, We Are Proud of You", in the northern Gaza Strip on the anniversary of Prisoners' Day.
In the festival, the representative of Palestinian prisoners and ex-prisoners said that the continued silence of the international associations and the Arab world about occupation crimes against our prisoners encourages Israel to continue its unlawful practices against them.
He appealed the Red Cross and international community to interfere immediately to save prisoners' lives from slow death in the Israeli prisons, especially those who are in hunger strike, solitary confinement, and administrative detention.
Hamas movement organized Tuesday evening a public festival, titled “Our Hero Prisoners, We Are Proud of You", in the northern Gaza Strip on the anniversary of Prisoners' Day.
In the festival, the representative of Palestinian prisoners and ex-prisoners said that the continued silence of the international associations and the Arab world about occupation crimes against our prisoners encourages Israel to continue its unlawful practices against them.
He appealed the Red Cross and international community to interfere immediately to save prisoners' lives from slow death in the Israeli prisons, especially those who are in hunger strike, solitary confinement, and administrative detention.
The Palestinian people commemorate Thursday on 17th April the Palestinian Prisoners' Day, under harsh and racial Israeli policies against Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons. Palestinians began commemorating this Day since 17th April in 1974, the day of releasing the first Palestinian prisoner, Mahmoud Hejazi.
The number of the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons is 5200, including 20 females and 235 children.
Prisoner national movement called for national unity and restarting the uprising until achieving victory, freedom, and independence.
It called for immediate and national locomotion to judge Israeli war criminals upon what they committed against the Palestinian prisoners and their families.
The movement assured that the Israeli prisons turned into tombs that human beings cannot live in and they lack the minimum human basics. Food is poorly and rotten there. Prisoners lack clothes and the basic needs. Dermatologists and insects spread all over the Israeli prisons.
The number of the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons is 5200, including 20 females and 235 children.
Prisoner national movement called for national unity and restarting the uprising until achieving victory, freedom, and independence.
It called for immediate and national locomotion to judge Israeli war criminals upon what they committed against the Palestinian prisoners and their families.
The movement assured that the Israeli prisons turned into tombs that human beings cannot live in and they lack the minimum human basics. Food is poorly and rotten there. Prisoners lack clothes and the basic needs. Dermatologists and insects spread all over the Israeli prisons.
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) declared Thursday Beita and Howara villages, south of Nablus closed military zones after turning over an Israeli settler's car. Local Palestinian sources said the IOF arrived the villages and carried out wide razing works, shooting sonic bombs.
They closed the shops and declared Howara and Beita closed military zones.
Sources explained that the vehicle was caught fire after turning over. Dozens of Israeli settlers then came and rioted the area near Yitzhar settlement.
In a separate context, the IOF arrested Thursday at dawn a youth from Beit Rima village in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah.
Local Sources said that the IOF arrested youth Mohammed Al- Remawi, 24, after raiding the village.
They closed the shops and declared Howara and Beita closed military zones.
Sources explained that the vehicle was caught fire after turning over. Dozens of Israeli settlers then came and rioted the area near Yitzhar settlement.
In a separate context, the IOF arrested Thursday at dawn a youth from Beit Rima village in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah.
Local Sources said that the IOF arrested youth Mohammed Al- Remawi, 24, after raiding the village.
Israeli policemen arrested a Jerusalemite youth near the gates of the Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday night.
The young man Amr Abu Arafa was taken near Bab El-Sahera and taken to a nearby detention center, Jerusalemite sources said.
Israeli police forces arrested seven Jerusalemites since Wednesday morning on the charge of defending the Aqsa Mosque.
The young man Amr Abu Arafa was taken near Bab El-Sahera and taken to a nearby detention center, Jerusalemite sources said.
Israeli police forces arrested seven Jerusalemites since Wednesday morning on the charge of defending the Aqsa Mosque.
