Imprisoned Palestinian political leader Marwan Barghouthi, a member of the Fateh Central Committee and leader of the current Strike for Freedom and Dignity, is reportedly suffering serious deterioration to his health on his eighth day on hunger strike, as reported in multiple Palestinian media outlets.
Barghouthi launched the strike with 1500 fellow Palestinians on 17 April, Palestinian Prisoners’ Day, with a list of demands including an end to the denial of family visits, appropriate medical care for Palestinian prisoners and an end to solitary confinement and administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society and the Prisoners Affairs Commission reported that the director of Jalameh prison, where Barghouthi is held in solitary confinement along with other leaders of the strike, including Karim Younis, Kamil Abu Hanish, Anas Jaradat and Wajdi Jawdat, called for him to be taken to treatment immediately. However, Barghouthi reportedly refused any form of medical treatment.
Fellow hunger-striking prisoner Nasser Abu Hamid, also held in Jalameh prison, was asked by the director of the prison to convince Barghouthi to receive treatment; however, he refused to do so, after which Abu Hamid was transferred from Jalameh to Eshel prison.
The organizations noted that the Israeli occupation prison administration continues to bar lawyers from visiting prisoners since the beginning of the strike on 17 April, except for several visits in Ofer prison. Therefore, Palestinian and international organizations have limited ability to follow up or confirm these reports.
Qaddoura Fares of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society said in Ma’an News that Barghouthi is suffering from a sudden sharp drop in his blood sugar and blood pressure and has refused any treatment.
Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network urges all supporters of Palestine and friends of justice to come together and stand with Palestinian prisoners striking for freedom and dignity, including participating in the Days of Action, 27-30 April 2017.
TAKE ACTION
Materials to support your events and organizing are available for download here: https://samidoun.net/2017/03/call-to-organize-palestinian-prisoners-week-of-action-14-to-24-april-2017/ Please contact [email protected] or reach out to us on Facebook for questions or to share your actions.
1) Organize or join an event in support of the hunger strikers. Protest outside your local Israeli embassy, consulate or mission, or at a public square or government building. You can drop a banner or put up a table to support the prisoners and their strike. See the list of current international events here, and add your own: send your events and actions to us at [email protected], on Facebook, or use the form to tell us about your actions.
2) Hunger Strike for Justice! Join the Palestinian hunger strikers to support their demands with a symbolic one-day hunger strike in your community or on your campus. Tell us about your solidarity strike at [email protected], on Facebook, or use the form.
3) Call your government officials and demand action. Call your foreign affairs officials – and members of parliament – and urge action for the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike.
Call your country’s officials urgently:
- Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop: + 61 2 6277 7500
- Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland: +1-613-992-5234
- European Union Commissioner Federica Mogherini: +32 (0) 2 29 53516
- New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully: +64 4 439 8000
- United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson: +44 20 7008 1500
- United States President Donald Trump: 1-202-456-1111
Tell your government: Palestinian prisoners are on hunger strike for their basic human rights – for family visits, medical care, and freedom from imprisonment without charge or trial. Governments must pressure Israel to recognize the prisoners’ demands!
4) Take action on social media! Support the hunger strike on social media. Post a picture of yourself with a sign saying you support the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike! Include the hashtag #DignityStrike when posting your photo to Facebook or Twitter. Share and re-share information about the strike with the #DignityStrike hashtag.
5) Build the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Campaign! Join the BDS Movement to highlight the complicity of corporations like Hewlett-Packard and the continuing involvement of G4S in Israeli policing and prisons. Build a campaign to boycott Israeli goods, impose a military embargo on Israel, or organize around the academic and cultural boycott of Israel.
