Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network endorses the new campaign, Dismantle Damon: Free the ReSisters! We urge all to follow the campaign at https://instagram.com/dismantle_damon, join in campaign activities and share news and materials widely!
DISMANTLE DAMON : FREE THE RESISTERS!
August 3, the International Day in Solidarity with Gaza and the Prisoners, marks 300 days since the start of the US-Europe backed Zionist genocide on Gaza. In answer to the calls from Palestine to mobilize for Gaza and the prisoners we launch a new campaign:
Dismantle Damon: Free the ReSisters.
In this campaign, our demands are simple: we call for the destruction of Damon prison, we call for the freedom of all the Palestinian women* prisoners held there. While in this campaign we focus on Damon prison and its detainees, we also call for every colonial prison to be destroyed and for every Palestinian prisoner to be free.
The Zionist practice of imprisonment has intensified since October 7. Mass kidnappings have been occurring across the West Bank and 48 Palestine, with the number of prisoners in the Zionist prisons currently at over 9,300 and many more thousands of prisoners in concentration camps in Gaza. The systematic use of torture, isolation and sexual assault (regardless of gender) is a normalised practice by the IOF.
Just last week when Zionist media itself reported of use of rape as weapon of war used by their military, and in response to this we saw crowds of settlers take to the streets in support of this criminal practice. The regime of imprisonment of Palestinians and their mistreatment is an attempt to undermine the Palestinian resistance, to rob it of its leadership and to deter others from continuing the struggle. But this will never succeed, the resistance will continue until every prisoner is free, until every inch of Palestine is liberated from Zionism and return becomes a lived reality.
Currently in Damon, which has historically being used as a central prison for Palestinainian women* and girls there are 88 prisoners, including Khalida Jarrar, Hadeel Shatara, Hanan Barghouti and Layan Kayed to name a few. The prisoners are from all sectors of society, they are teachers, students, journalists, mothers, community leaders, lawyers, healthcare workers and so on.
The oppressive practices inside the prison have become even more harsh and inhumane, the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs has been reporting on the worsening conditions inside the Zionist occupation jails. Many rights the prisoners have fought for, such as cooking their own meals, conducting education, and family visitation, have been banned and lawyers barely have access to their clients. The prisoners are isolated from the outside world with cell phones, radios and televisions confiscated. They are being kept hungry, subjected to isolation and solitary confinement, beatings from the prison guards, threats of abuse and threats to their families.
Upon her release, Baraa Odeh reflected with us on the harsh treatment, torture and humiliation the prisoners are subjected to, yet she assured us that they remain steadfast, in the spirit of Palestinian resistance.
A similar reflection was shared by former prisoner and long time resistor Etaf Alayan – in June , the International Women’s Alliance (IWA) honoured Etaf at with their Women of Valour Award for her steadfast resistance both inside and outside of Zionist prison. In her acceptance message she greeted all the women prisoners “the free women of Palestine, who are still being tortured but remain unsilenced”.
As activists, organizers, as people of conscience in solidarity with Palestine it is our task to uplift and advocate for our prisoners, our leadership, and our compass in the Palestinian liberation struggle.
In this campaign we strive to highlight every prisoner in Damon prison, to share their stories and to amplify their struggle. We do not seek justice or their liberation through illegitimate Zionist courts, we know the freedom of the prisoners and the end of Zionist colonial prisons can only come with the complete liberation of Palestine, from the river to the sea. We call on all those who stand for justice and liberation to join the campaign.
In the coming weeks we will release publish more extensively on the campaign, prisoner profiles, resources, calls to action and how you can become involved.
Free our reSisters!
Free all Palestinian prisoners!
Free Palestine from the river to the sea!
Long live the Palestinian Resistance!
