Palestinian writer and intellectual Ahmed Qatamesh seized by Israeli occupation forces

Palestinian writer and intellectual Dr. Ahmed Qatamesh, 63, was seized from his home in El-Bireh by Israeli occupation forces, who invaded and ransacked his home before dawn on Sunday, 14 May.

Qatamesh was last released from Israeli prison nearly 4 years ago after being held in administrative detention without charge or trial for 2 and one-half years.  He has previously spent many years inside Israeli prison, and his memoir about prison, I Will Not Wear Your Tarbush, is a well-known contribution to Palestinian prison literature. Haneen Qatamesh, Ahmed’s daughter, wrote about the experience of his last arrest in 2011 for his family.

Photo: Raid on Ahmed Qatamesh’s home. Via Quds News

He had been detained for six years, between 1993 and 1998, under administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial – at that time the longest-serving prisoner held under administrative detention.

He was one of 14 Palestinians seized overnight in violent raids by Israeli occupation forces.

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network demands the immediate release of Ahmed Qatamesh and all Palestinian prisoners. We will follow up on this case as soon as information becomes available.