Israeli occupation forces re-arrested former Palestinian prisoner Muhammad Allan today, 16 September, as he left Barzilai Hospital in Asqelan. Allan was allowed to leave the hospital by the hospital administration, and was immediately arrested; he had pledged to re-start his open hunger strike two days ago if he is not permitted to be transferred to Najah hospital in Nablus. A new administrative detention order without charge or trial has been imposed upon him by Israeli military occupation courts and he has been taken to Ramle prison clinic. Take action to demand his immediate release.

Allan waged a 65-day hunger strike in protest of his administrative detention without charge or trial, which ended in August after an Israeli Supreme Court decision which suspended his detention on the basis of the deterioration of his medical condition, but left intact the structure of administrative detention. There are currently 7 Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in the “Battle of Breaking the Chains,” demanding an end to the policy of administrative detention: Nidal Abu Aker, Ghassan Zawahreh, Shadi Ma’ali, Munir Abu Sharar, Badr al-Ruzza, Bilal Daoud Saifi and Suleiman Skafi. The five who initiated the strike have now been on hunger strike for 27 days. All have been isolated from their fellow prisoners, are being denied necessary medications, and there is a black-out imposed on their health situation.

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network urges the immediate release of Muhammad Allan, clearly an attempt to reverse the achievement of his hunger strike and re-impose the injustice of administrative detention just as a number of prisoners are deeply engaged in an open hunger strike to demand an end to the policy. This latest outrage only re-emphasizes the critical importance of the “Battle of Breaking the Chains” and Palestinian prisoners’ struggle to end administrative detention once and for all.

Take Action:

1. Sign on: Send a letter demanding Allan’s immediate release, and that of all administrative detainees, especially the hunger strikers. Israeli officials must hear the voice of the world demanding that the policy of administrative detention must come to an end.

2. Sign on to this statement in support of the prisoners’ demand to End Administrative Detention. Organizational and individual endorsements are welcome – and organizational endorsements particularly critical – in support of the prisoners’ demands and their actions. Click here to sign or sign below:http://bit.ly/EndAdministrativeDetention

3 Send a solidarity statement. The support of people around the world helps to inform people about the struggle of Palestinian prisoners. It is a morale booster and helps to build political solidarity. Please send your solidarity statements to samidoun@samidoun.net. They will be published and sent directly to the prisoners.

4. Hold a solidarity one-day hunger strike in your area. Gather in a tent or central area, bring materials about Palestinian prisoners and hold a one-day solidarity strike to raise awareness and provide support for the struggle of the prisoners and the Palestinian cause. Please email us at samidoun@samidoun.net to inform us of your action – we will publicize and share news with the prisoners.

5. Protest at the Israeli consulate or embassy in your area.  Bring posters and flyers about administrative detention and Palestinian hunger strikers and hold a protest, or join a protest with this important information. Hold a community event or discussion, or include this issue in your next event about Palestine and social justice. Please email us at samidoun@samidoun.net to inform us of your action – we will publicize and share news with the prisoners.

6. Contact political officials in your country – members of Parliament or Congress, or the Ministry/Department of Foreign Affairs or State – and demand that they cut aid and relations with Israel on the basis of its apartheid practices, its practice of colonialism, and its numerous violations of Palestinian rights including the systematic practice of administrative detention. Demand they pressure Israel to free the hunger strikers and end administrative detention.

7. Boycott, Divest and Sanction. Hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law. Don’t buy Israeli goods, and campaign to end investments in corporations that profit from the occupation. G4S, a global security corporation, is heavily involved in providing services to Israeli prisons that jail Palestinian political prisoners – there is a global call to boycott itPalestinian political prisoners have issued a specific call urging action on G4S. Learn more about BDS at bdsmovement.net.

Letter Text:
To Brigadier General Dani Afroni, Military Judge Advocate General and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu;

I write today to demand the immediate release of Palestinian hunger striker Muhammad Allan, arrested this morning as he left Barzilai Hospital after his detention was ended. His 65-day hunger strike achieved the end of his imprisonment without charge or trial. His unjustified imprisonment highlighted Israel’s unlawful and abusive detention policy before the world, and the international rejection of Israeli administrative detention cannot be silenced by rearresting this Palestinian lawyer.

I also demand the end of the use of administrative detention. There are currently 7 Palestinian prisoners in administrative detention without charge or trial – Nidal Abu Aker, Ghassan Zawahreh, Shadi Ma’ali, Munir Abu Sharar, Badr Al-Ruzza, Bilal Daoud Saifi and Suleiman Skafi – hunger striking since August 20 to demand an end to this illegal and unjust policy.

Dozens of Palestinian administrative detainees are boycotting the military courts that produce these arbitrary sentences with no charge and no trial. I join their call to end this detention.

The life and health of all of the hunger strikers – and of Allan, whose health was nearly destroyed at the behest of the Israeli military and its continued unjust imprisonment – is precious to me and to people around the world. The eyes of the world are on these case, and the government of Israel is fully responsible for the hunger strikers’ health and lives.

Administrative detention violates the right to a fair trial as recognized in the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights. It is a practice that is used to silence Palestinians without ever exposing the reality of such actions to the light of day – even in the rigged military court systems.

Allan must be released immediately and without condition and transferred to Najah hospital in Nablus, along with the release of Nidal Abu Aker, Ghassan Zawahreh, Shadi Ma’ali, Munir Abu Sharar, Badr Al-Ruzza, Bilal Daoud Saifi and Suleiman Skafi and all of their fellow administrative detainees.

Sincerely,

    Your Name (required)

    Your Email (required)

    Your City

    Your Country