Palestinian prisoner Khalil Awawdeh has continued his hunger strike for the 172nd day. Since his detention was “suspended” on Friday, 19 August, he has been held in Assaf Harofeh hospital, where he has been interviewed by journalists and visited by his family members and loved ones. He has repeatedly affirmed that he will only end his strike with a real agreement for his release, and he and his supporters have denounced the attempt of the occupation to evade its responsibility for Awawdeh’s life and health through the fig leaf of “suspended” detention.
On Sunday, 21 August, the Israeli occupation high court rejected Awawdeh’s appeal against his administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial. Awawdeh is among approximately 650 administrative detainees out of nearly 5,000 Palestinian political prisoners in total; two brothers, Ahmad and Adel Musa, have now joined Awawdeh on hunger strike against their administrative detention for the past 15 days. Administrative detention orders are issued for up to six months at a time on the basis of alleged “secret evidence,” and they are indefinitely renewable. Originally introduced to Palestine by the British colonial mandate before being adopted by the Zionist regime, administrative detention orders are frequently used against community leaders and organizers, and there is a growing campaign to force an end to this policy.
While the court affirmed that Awawdeh “may receive visitors without discrimination” according to his lawyer Ahlam Haddad, the Israeli occupation simultaneously withdrew the permits of his family to enter occupied Palestine ’48, essentially blocking them from visiting their loved one and imposing a new form of collective punishment on the Awawdeh family.
As Awawdeh has continued to put his body and life on the line for justice and liberation, people around the world are mobilizing to demand his freedom, from social media storms and online campaigns to the streets of global cities. Here are just some of the actions that have already taken place:
Paris
Samidoun Region Parisienne has taken to the streets throughout the Paris region, in neighborhoods from Belleville to Ménilmontant to Couronnes and beyond, with massive murals calling for freedom for Awawdeh posted alongside poster campaigns to free Palestinian prisoners and support Palestinian health care in Gaza.
https://twitter.com/SamidounRP/status/1560234001339764738
https://twitter.com/SamidounRP/status/1559599295975792640
Toulouse
In Toulouse, the Collectif Palestine Vaincra posted a massive mural of Khalil Awawdeh in the Bagatelle area of Toulouse.
https://twitter.com/Collectif_PV/status/1561050058442817537
This followed several Palestine Stands in various Toulouse neighborhoods, highlighting the case of Awawdeh as well as support for the Palestinian resistance in Gaza and throughout occupied Palestine:
Berlin
Samidoun Deutschland launched a postering campaign throughout Berlin neighborhoods, highlighting the case of Khalil Awawdeh, including with a large mural posted on 21 August on Sonnenallee.
This followed a series of demonstrations in Germany, including in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Koblenz, Hamburg nd Munster, organized by multiple organizations, where Awawdeh’s case was raised and marchers demanded his immediate release.
https://twitter.com/Kuffiya3/status/1560009059562029056
Amsterdam
In Amsterdam, Samidoun Netherlands took to the streets for a Palestine Stand to campaign for the liberation of Khalil Awawdeh and in support of the Palestinian resistance on 13 August. Enthusiastic participants and passers-by took solidarity photos to demand the liberation of the hunger striker.
Utrecht
In Utrecht, activists from Samidoun Netherlands joined a demonstration organized by Palestine Solidarity Utrecht, Plant Een Olijfboom, Free Palestine Maastricht and BDS Nederland on 13 August, with banners in support of the Palestinian resistance and Khalil Awawdeh, receiving wide support from participants.
Toronto
The Greater Toronto Area Palestine Movement came out on 7 August for a visibility action and demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza resisting Israeli bombardment as well as Khalil Awawdeh and Palestinian prisoners struggling for liberation.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Chayk7zO5KV/
Vancouver
In Vancouver, Samidoun activists campaigned on 6 August for the liberation of Khalil Awawdeh and in support of the Palestinian people and their resistance in Gaza with a public stand and emergency demonstration denouncing Canada’s complicity in Israeli war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Organizers with Samidoun, Canada Palestine Association and BDS Vancouver put up posters and took social media photos in support of Awawdeh’s hunger strike, and Samidoun activists joined the demonstration organized on 11 August by the Palestinian Youth Movement. Participants carried signs and posters highlighting Awawdeh’s case and speakers focused on the struggle of the prisoners as a key part of the Palestinian resistance.
On Wednesday, 17 August, Samidoun organized an outreach table at a central transit station, distributing hundreds of leaflets about Awawdeh’s case and calling for his immediate release.
Manchester
The Youth Front for Palestine in Manchester, Britain, brought activists together for a collective declaration of support for Awawdeh, calling for his immediate freedom. The action came following multiple mobilizations in Manchester in support of Palestine Action activists being prosecuted for direct actions against Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit and standing with Palestinians in Gaza.
https://www.instagram.com/p/ChNea5pKYah/
Madrid
On 13 August, Samidoun Spain joined with the Masar Badil (Palestinian Alternative Revolutionary Path), Alkarama Palestinian Women’s Mobilization, AlYudur Palestinian Youth and more to protest outside the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs against the Zionist attack on Gaza and in support of the Palestinian people and their resistance. The liberation of all Palestinian prisoners, especially Khalil Awawdeh, was a central call for the demonstration.
These are only a few of the actions mobilized for the liberation of Khalil Awawdeh, all Palestinian prisoners and Palestine, from the river to the sea. Demonstrations in Brussels, Gothenburg, Stockholm, New York City, Sao Paulo and many other locations carried slogans, speeches and signs demanding Awawdeb’s liberation, saluting his courage and steadfastness in confronting the occupation and resisting despite his dire health condition.
Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network urges all to organize, speak out, protest and demand the immediate release of Khalil Awawdeh, Bassam al-Saadi and all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli occupation prisons.
Khalil Awawdeh is confronting the Zionist occupation forces with his body and life on the line. We urge action to free Awawdeh and all Palestinian prisoners struggling for freedom, for themselves and for Palestine and its people, from the river to the sea.
A note on the strike dates of Khalil Awawdeh: Some media sites report that this is the 172nd day of Khalil Awawdeh’s strike while others report it as the 162nd day. By saying 172 days, we are following the lead of Awawdeh’s family and loved ones, who do not recognize and cannot confirm the interruption in his hunger strike when he was told an agreement had been reached for his release on 21 June. Both of these are valid dates and both emphasize the importance of urging his freedom. Notably, his family never confirmed a suspension or end of his hunger strike at that time. Instead, his administrative detention was extended and he officially reported resuming his strike to his lawyer on 2 July.
Download these distributable flyers and posters to highlight the case of Khalil Awawdeh and the struggle to free Palestinian prisoners:
- Double-sided Flyer: Free Khalil Awawdeh
- Poster: Free Khalil Awawdeh (new)
- Poster/Sign: Free Khalil Awawdeh
- Poster/Sign: End Administrative Detention
- Poster/Sign: Free Hunger Strikers and All Prisoners
- Poster/Sign – End Administrative Detention (with Palestinian Flag)
1. Mobilize actions, demonstrations and creative interventions – Take to the streets to defend the Palestinian people and their resistance! As was made clear during the Unity Intifada/Seif al-Quds in May 2021, there is a vast depth of support for the Palestinian people everywhere around the world, including inside the imperialist powers. It is our responsibility to act and make it impossible to continue their support for the crimes against the Palestinian people.
2. Build the boycott of Israel – This is a critical moment to escalate the campaign to isolate the Israeli regime at all levels, including through boycott campaigns that target the occupation’s economic exploitation of the Palestinian land, people and resources as well as those international corporations, like HP and G4S, that profit from the ongoing colonization of Palestine.
3. Support the steadfastness of the Palestinian people – This aggression was an extension of the siege on Gaza that has been imposed on the resisting and steadfast Strip for over 15 years. The Palestinian people need economic, political and all forms of support to help sustain their steadfastness. To contribute to Samidoun’s drive in support of children’s health care in Gaza, make a donation at https://samidoun.net/gaza
