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Saturday, June 21, 2025
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Liberation through the Freedom Tunnel: Stand with Palestinian Prisoners’ Uprising – Take Action!

Six Palestinians jailed by the Israeli occupation liberated themselves through a tunnel dug beneath Gilboa prison in the early morning hours of Monday, 6 September. The six liberated prisoners – Mahmoud Abdullah Ardah, Mohammed Qasim Ardah, Ayham Fouad Kamamji, Yaqoub Mahmoud Qadri, Zakaria al-Zubaidi and Munadil Yaqoub Infaat – have remained free despite the desperate attempts of Israeli occupation jailers to pursue them. However, occupation guards have been forcibly transferring, attacking and invading prisoners’ cells throughout Palestine while dragging the freed men’s family members to interrogation. There is an uprising inside the prisons that requires the support of all people around the world who stand with the Palestinian people and the Palestinian struggle for freedom and liberation – join us in taking action!

In Megiddo prison, Ramon prison, and the Negev desert prison, Palestinian political prisoners burned their rooms in resistance to the prison administration’s attempt to transfer the prisoners affiliated with Islamic Jihad. The Handala Center for Prisoners and Former Prisoners in occupied Palestine reported that 7 rooms in Megiddo prison, 4 rooms in the Negev prison and 4 rooms in sections 4 and 5 of Ramon prison have been burned, and that the prisoners’ movement leadership has affirmed that any section that is invaded to transfer detainees will be met with fire.

Palestinians throughout occupied Palestine are rallying in support of the six self-liberated prisoners, whose “Freedom Tunnel,” dug through lengthy months of perseverance with only kitchen utensils for tools, has become a symbol of hope for freedom as well as an example that the technological and military might of the Israeli colonial power has been unable to suppress Palestinian resistance. The tunnel, stretching for tens of meters below Gilboa prison, represents the unquenchable thirst for liberation of imprisoned Palestinians, and the hope of an undying love of freedom. In Ramallah, Jenin, Nablus, al-Khalil, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Tulkarem, Gaza City, Jabalya camp and elsewhere, organizers are taking to the streets to stand with the liberated prisoners and those resisting behind the walls.

The uprising inside prisons was launched after an attack on the Palestinians detained in the Negev desert prison. Occupation special units stormed Section 6 with weaponry and police dogs, including military forces from a nearby base, prompting the prisoners to burn 7 rooms and resist the invasion. As all of this continues, there are six administrative detainees, jailed without charge or trial, who are continuing their hunger strikes for freedom: Kayed al-Fasfous (for 56 days), Miqdad Qawasmeh (49 days), Alaa al-Araj (31 days), Hisham Abu Hawash (23 days), Raik Sadeq Bisharat (18 days) and Shadi Abu Aker (15 days).

Palestinian political parties and resistance organizations have emphasized the urgent need for action to defend the prisoners and demand their liberation. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine urged Palestinians and their allies everywhere to respond to the call of the prisoners with actions, demonstrations and protests of support.

There are currently 4,650 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, including 520 jailed without charge or trial under administrative detention, 40 women prisoners and 200 child prisoners. Political imprisonment affects all sectors of Palestinian society, and nearly 40% of Palestinian men in the West Bank and Jerusalem have spent time in Israeli detention.

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network emphasizes and amplifies the call of the Palestinian prisoners’ movement to stand with the Palestinian prisoners and the Palestinian people today to demand justice and liberation for Palestine, from the river to the sea. The six liberated detainees of Gilboa prison represent the irrepressible hope of and commitment to liberation that no amount of militarized repression and Zionist colonization has suppressed, for over 73 years. The actions of this “Freedom Brigade” are not only a symbol of hope for Palestinians but also for everyone in the world who seeks justice and freedom. Inside the prison walls, Palestinian prisoners continue to defend themselves against ongoing invasions and attacks.

Western imperialist governments are not innocent in the ongoing attacks against Palestinian prisoners and the colonization of Palestine. From the U.S.’ over $3.8 billion annually in weaponry provided to the Israeli regime to the ongoing economic, political and diplomatic support provided by the European Union, Canada, the United Kingdom and others, all of these states are directly involved in the ongoing crimes perpetuated against the Palestinian people. Everywhere in the world, we can and must act now to stand with the Palestinian prisoners and their uprising, and for the liberation of Palestine!

Join us in action:

1. Demonstrations, rallies and street actions – including actions to boycott Israel!

Have a protest or action to free Palestinian prisoners, support the Palestinian struggle for liberation, stand with the Palestinian resistance and boycott Israel and its complicit corporations. Join the many protests taking place around the world — confront, isolate and besiege the Israeli embassy or consulate in your city or country of residence. Make it clear that the people are with Palestine and the liberated prisoners! Send us your events at samidoun@samidoun.net.

2. Creative Actions

Creative actions are a wonderful way to spread the word and highlight the struggle of the Palestinian prisoners. The banner hung by Samidoun España in Madrid at the University metro station highlighted the struggle of Palestinian students, while the campaign to symbolically rename streets after Georges Abdallah internationally commemorated his birthday and amplified the demand for his liberation.

These actions only require one, two or a few people. You can even simply poster and sticker around your neighbourhood. Contact us via email at samidoun@samidoun.net or via WhatsApp at +32466904397 if you are looking for image ideas or resources! 

3. Demand Your Government Sanction Israel!

The racist, settler colonial state of Israel and its war crimes against the Palestinian people are enabled and backed extensively by the over $3.8 billion each year given to Israel by the United States — targeted directly to support the Israeli occupation military killing children, women, men and elders throughout occupied Palestine. From Canada to Australia to the European Union, Western governments and imperialist powers provide ongoing diplomatic, political and economic support to Israel as well as selling billions of dollars of weaponry to the settler-colonial state. Meanwhile, they also purchase billions of dollars in weaponry from the Israeli state. Governments in league with imperialist powers, such as in the Philippines, Brazil, India and elsewhere, also buy weapons and “security” services — all “battle-tested” on the Palestinian population. Call your representatives, MPs, political officials and demand your government sanction Israel now, cut off all aid, expel its ambassadors, and stop buying and selling weapons!

Please note: Samidoun has speakers that can participate in your events (in-person and virtual) in Arabic, English, French, German, Dutch, Spanish and other languages. Contact us via email at samidoun@samidoun.net or via WhatsApp at +32466904397 to inquire about a Samidoun speaker! 

Submit Your Action

Please contact us via email at samidoun@samidoun.net or via WhatsApp at +32466904397 or over social media to send us your events and actions!

Download these signs for your action:

Developing news: Six Palestinian political prisoners liberate themselves from colonial Israeli prison

Six Palestinian political prisoners reportedly escaped the Israeli occupation Gilboa prison overnight on Monday, 6 September, liberating themselves. Israeli occupation forces reported that six Palestinian political prisoners were absent at the 4 am roll call and found a tunnel dug by hand with an exit outside the prison.

According to Palestinian media, the six liberated prisoners are Zakaria Al-Zubaidi, Munadil Yaqoub Naf’at, Muhammad Qasim Ardah, Yaqoub Mahmoud Qadri, Ayham Fouad Kamamji, and Mahmoud Abdullah Ardah. Occupation forces are searching for the six liberated prisoners and they have so far remained free.

This is breaking news and we will provide further updates.

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network sends its salutes to these six liberated Palestinian prisoners seeking justice and liberation and their fellow 4,750 Palestinians jailed by the Israeli colonial occupation. Palestinian detainees are routinely subjected to torture, abuse, and lengthy imprisonment for their commitment to a free Palestine. Freedom now for all Palestinian prisoners and for all of Palestine, from the river to the sea!

Palestinian mother Anhar al-Deek to be released today following global outcry

Palestinian mother Anhar al-Deek will be released today, Thursday, 2 September, from Damon prison to house arrest in her family home in Kafr Nima, near Ramallah in occupied Palestine, Palestinian lawyers announced. Anhar, 25, is in her ninth month of pregnancy and due to give birth at any time, for which she requires a Caesarean section. A widespread Palestinian, Arab and international outcry preceded the decision for her release, which still imposes significant conditions and unjust penalties upon her, indicating the power of massive pressure on the Israeli occupation to release Palestinian detainees. The Israeli military and civil courts provide no justice for Palestinians — it is only through action and mobilization that Palestinian prisoners may obtain their liberation.

Palestinian lawyer Akram Samara, who represents al-Deek, said that she was ordered released by the Ofer military court. Her family must pay a financial bail of 40,000 NIS ($12,500 USD) and she will be held under house arrest in her family home. Thousands of Palestinians, Arabs and international supporters of Palestine protested and raised her case on social media and to government officials, especially after her letter was released from Israeli prison. In her letter, al-Deek wrote about the conditions she would face after birth, isolated and imprisoned with her newborn son, without her husband and her mother:

I miss Julia, my beloved daughter, so deeply. My heart cries for her, wishing I can hug her and hold her in my heart. The pain in my heart cannot be expressed.

What can I do if I have to give birth away from you, shackled? You know what it is like to go through a Caesarean delivery outside of prison. How will it be to go through it chained inside the prison?

I am so tired and have severe pain…I do not know how I will take my first steps after the surgery, when the jailer holds my arm with disgust…How can I protect the baby from the terrifying jailers?

I ask all free and honorable people of conscience to act, even by raising a word!…

Al-Deek was seized by Israeli occupation forces on 8 March 2021 — International Women’s Day — when she was four months pregnant. With only a small fruit knife in her possession, she was accused of attempting to stab an Israeli illegal settler.

Throughout her imprisonment and her pregnancy, she has experienced severe physical and mental health symptoms and was diagnosed with bipolar depression. Rather than receiving the support and medical care that she needs and the presence of her loved ones, she was thrown into the Israeli military legal system. During her imprisonment, the Israeli occupation did not permit al-Deek family visits with her husband and baby daughter, Julia. Her husband was able to see her three months ago during the military court, and her brother said that he saw his sister five months ago in another military court hearing.

Anhar is currently among 40 fellow Palestinian women prisoners held in Israeli jails, out of a total of 4,750 Palestinian political prisoners. Eleven of the detained women are mothers separated from their children by the Israeli occupation; just last month, Palestinian political leader and feminist Khalida Jarrar was denied early release or even the opportunity to see her daughter’s body after the untimely death of her daughter, Palestinian activist and human rights defender Suha Jarrar.

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network joins Anhar al-Deek’s family, loved ones, the Palestinian people and people of conscience around the world in welcoming her and her beloved child home. At the same time, we warn of the need to continue to monitor her case closely, especially given that she has not yet arrived home with her loved ones. She has experienced an extremely traumatic pregnancy, while the Israeli occupation continues to impose unjust and onerous conditions upon her. 

Her case also highlights the importance of Palestinian, Arab and international mobilization to highlight the daily injustices of Israeli political imprisonment and the steadfastness and resistance of Palestinian political prisoners. Freedom for all Palestinian prisoners, and all of Palestine, from the river to the sea!

Over 100 organizations issue call for arms embargo on Israel

Photo: Labour Against the Arms Trade

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network is an endorser of the following open letter, calling for a comprehensive two-way arms embargo on the Israeli occupation — prohibiting the sale of arms to Israel or the purchase of arms from Israel, often “battle-tested” on Palestinians and Arabs throughout occupied Palestine and in Lebanon and Syria. Read the full letter below: 

Open Letter to the States Parties to the Arms Trade Treaty on the Need to Impose a Comprehensive Two-Way Arms Embargo on Israel

We, the undersigned global coalition of leaders –from civil society to academia, art, media, business, politics, indigenous and faith communities, and people of conscience around the world– call upon the States Parties to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) to act decisively to put an end to Israel’s notorious use of arms and military equipment for the commission of serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights against Palestinian civilians by immediately imposing a comprehensive two-way arms embargo on Israel.

In the spring of 2021, the world once again watched in horror as Israeli occupying forces attacked defenceless Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and inside Israel. Palestinian civilians peacefully protesting against colonisation of their land were assaulted with live fire, rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs, tear gas and skunk water. Israel’s deadly military aggression against the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip was the fourth in a decade. Over 11 days, 248 Palestinians were killed, including 66 children. Thousands were wounded, and the reverberating effects of the use of explosive weapons on hospitals, schools, food security, water, electricity and shelter continue to affect millions.

This systematic brutality, perpetrated throughout the past seven decades of Israel’s colonialism, apartheid, pro-longed illegal belligerent occupation, persecution, and closure, is only possible because of the complicity of some governments and corporations around the world.

Symbolic statements of condemnation alone will not put an end to this suffering. In accordance with the relevant rules of the ATT, States Parties have legal obligations to put an end to irresponsible and often complicit trade of conventional arms that undermines international peace and security, facilitates commission of egregious crimes, and threatens the international legal order.

Under Article 6(3) of the ATT, States Parties undertook not to authorise any transfer of conventional arms if they have knowledge at the time of authorisation that arms or items would be used in the commission of genocide, crimes against humanity, grave breaches of the Geneva conventions of 1949, attacks directed against civilian objects or civilians protected as such, or other war crimes as defined by international agreements to which they are a Party.

Under Articles 7 and 11, they undertook not to authorise any export of conventional arms, munitions, parts and components that would, inter alia, undermine peace and security or be used to commit serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law.

It is clear that arms exports to Israel are inconsistent with these obligations. Invariably, Israel has shown that it uses arms to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity, as documented by countless United Nations bodies and civil society organisations worldwide. Military exports to Israel also clearly enabled, facilitated and maintained Israel’s decades-long settler-colonial and apartheid regime imposed over the Palestinian people as a whole.

Similarly, arms imports from Israel are wholly inconsistent with obligations under the ATT. Israeli military and industry sources openly boast that their weapons and technologies are “combat proven” – in other words, field-tested on Palestinian civilians “human test subjects”. When States import Israeli arms, they are encouraging it to keep bombing Palestinian civilians and persist in its unlawful practices. No one –neither Israel, nor arms manufacturers in ATT States parties– should be allowed to profit from the killing or maiming of Palestinian civilians.

It is thus abundantly clear that imposing a two-way arms embargo on Israel is both a legal and a moral obligation. ATT States Parties must immediately terminate any current, and prohibit any future transfers of conventional arms, munitions, parts and components referred to in Article 2(1), Article 3 or Article 4 of the ATT to Israel, until it ends its illegal belligerent occupation of the occupied Palestinian territory and complies fully with its obligations under international law. Pending such an embargo, all States must immediately suspend all transfers of military equipment, assistance and munitions to Israel.

A failure to take these actions entails a heavy responsibility for the grave suffering of civilians – more deaths, more suffering, as thousands of Palestinian men, women and children continue to bear the brutality of a colonial belligerent occupying force– which would result in discrediting the ATT itself. It also renders States parties complicit in internationally wrongful acts through the aiding or abetting of international crimes.  A failure in taking action could also result in invoking the individual criminal responsibility of individuals of these States for aiding and abetting the commission of war crimes and crimes against humanity in accordance with Article 25(3)(c) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Justice will remain elusive so long as Israel’s unlawful occupation, settler-colonialism, apartheid regime, and persecution and institutionalised oppression of the Palestinian people are allowed to continue, and so long as States continue to be complicit in the occupying Power’s crimes by trading weapons with it.

In conclusion, we believe that the ATT can make a difference in the Palestinian civilians’ lives. It has the potential, if implemented in good faith, to spare countless protected persons from suffering. If our call to stop leaving the Palestinian people behind when it comes to implementation of the ATT is ignored, the raison d’être of the ATT will be shattered.

Joining organisations:

  1. Action Sécurité Ethique Républicaines
  2. Adalah Justice Project
  3. Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association
  4. AFPS 63
  5. Al Mezan Center for Human Rights
  6. Aldameer Association for Human Rights
  7. Al-Haq, Law in the Service of Man
  8. Alrowwad Cultural and Arts Society
  9. American Muslims for Palestine
  10. Anglican Pacifist Fellowship
  11. Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem (ARIJ)
  12. Arab Canadian Lawyers Association
  13. Arab Organization for Human Rights
  14. Argenteuil Solidarité Palestine
  15. Asociación Americana de Juristas
  16. Association Belgo-Palestinienne WB
  17. Association femmes plurielles
  18. Association France Palestine Solidarité (AFPS)
  19. AssoPacePalestina
  20. Australia Palestine Advocacy Network
  21. Australian Centre for International Justice
  22. Australians For Palestine
  23. Badayl
  24. BDS Australia
  25. Begian Campaign for Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel
  26. Campagne BDS France
  27. Canadian BDS Coalition
  28. Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME)
  29. Center for Constitutional Rights
  30. Center for International Policy
  31. Centro Interdisciplinario de Estudios Estratégicos para la Seguridad y el Desarrollo Social CIESED A.C.
  32. CNAPD – Coordination Nationale d’Action pour la Paix et la Démocratie
  33. Coalition for Justice and Peace in Palestine
  34. Collectif 69 de Soutien au Peuple Palestinien
  35. Collectif BDS 57
  36. Collectif Judéo Arabe et Citoyen pour la Palestine
  37. Colombian Campaign to Ban Landmines
  38. Columban missionaries Britain
  39. Columbia Law Students for Palestine
  40. Combatants for Peace
  41. Comitato BDS Campania
  42. Comité de Solidaridad con la Causa Árabe
  43. Comité pour une Paix Juste au Proche-Orient asbl
  44. Community Action Center – Al-Quds University
  45. Confederación Intersindical Gallega (CIG)
  46. Cultura è Libertà, una campagna per la Palestina
  47. Dagropass
  48. De Palestijnse gemeenschap in Nederland
  49. Defense for Children -Palestine (DCI-Palestine)
  50. Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN)
  51. docP – BDS Netherlands
  52. Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights
  53. European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine (ECCP)
  54. European Legal Support Center
  55. Femmes Unies pour la Paix dans la région des Grands Lacs
  56. FILEF Sydney Federation of Italian Migrant Workers
  57. Finnish-Arab Friendship Society
  58. Friends of Palestine Tasmania Inc
  59. Gaza Action Ireland
  60. Gesellschaft Schweiz Palästina GSP/ASP
  61. Global Kairos Asia Pacific Solidarity For Palestine (GKAPS)
  62. Good Shepherd Collective
  63. Housing and Land Rights Network
  64. Human Rights and Democratic Participation Center “SHAMS”
  65. Human Rights Network Nigeria
  66. ICAHD Finland
  67. ICAHD UK
  68. Independent Jewish Voices Canada
  69. Indian Writers Forum
  70. Indo Palestine Solidarity Forum
  71. International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (EAFORD)
  72. International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific
  73. Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign
  74. Jewish Voice For Peace
  75. Jews for Palestinian Right of Return
  76. Just Peace Advocates/Mouvement Pour Une Paix Juste
  77. Karapatan
  78. Kenya Human Rights Commission
  79. Labor for Palestine
  80. Manushya Foundation
  81. National Association of Democratic Lawyers (South Africa)
  82. National Justice & Peace Network (NJPN)
  83. National Lawyers Guild, Palestine Subcommittee
  84. Nederlands Palestina Komitee
  85. Newweapons research group
  86. Niagara Movement for Justice in Palestine-Israel (NMJPI)
  87. North Notts Unite Community
  88. NOVACT
  89. Oakville Palestinian Rights Association
  90. Palestine Solidarity Committee – Stuttgart, Germany
  91. Palestine Solidarity Network – Edmonton
  92. Palestinian and Jewish Unity
  93. Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)
  94. Palestinian Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign (Stop the Wall)
  95. Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (PNGO)
  96. Pax Christi International
  97. Pax Christi, England and Wales
  98. Paz con Dignidad
  99. Platform of French NGOs for Palestine
  100. Salaam ragazzi dell’Olivo, comitato di Trieste
  101. Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network
  102. SODePAZ
  103. Solutions Not Punishment Collaborative
  104. The Civic Coalition for Palestinians Right in Jérusalem
  105. The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD)
  106. The Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center (JLAC)
  107. The National Association of Human Rights Defenders
  108. The Oakville Palestinian Rights Association
  109. The Palestinian Human Rights Organizations Council (PHROC)
  110. The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy-MIFTAH
  111. UJFP French Jewish union for peace
  112. Union syndicale Solidaires
  113. US Campaign for Palestinian Rights
  114. US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel
  115. Visualizing Palestine
  116. Vrede vzw
  117. Vredesactie
  118. War on Want
  119. Women for Palestine
  120. Women in Black Vienna
  121. Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling

Joining individuals:

  1. Ahmed Ben
  2. Ahmed Reda Tolba
  3. Alaa Shalaby
  4. Alaaeddine Tatak
  5. Aline Shaban
  6. Amin Abbas
  7. Andrea Balduzzi
  8. Angie Mindel
  9. Ann McNicholas
  10. Anne Peacey
  11. Ashley Tellis
  12. Atamjit Singh
  13. Attia Rajab
  14. Audrey J Bomse
  15. Badee M.T. Aldwaik
  16. Baruti Likoyi
  17. Bernadette McPhee
  18. Chirag Shah
  19. Claudia Karas
  20. Claudia Schiavelli
  21. Denise Peillon
  22. Denotter JJ
  23. Devaki Khanna
  24. Ibrahim Lada’a
  25. Nerina Cecchin
  26. Egbert Harmsen
  27. Marc Fayard
  28. Firoz Ahmad
  29. Flavia Lepre
  30. Françoise Abadie
  31. Frstot Marie-Paule
  32. Gabriel Mondragón Toledo
  33. Geeta Kapur
  34. Geeta Kapur
  35. Georges Franco
  36. Gillard Francois
  37. Gina Cardosi
  38. Githa Hariharan
  39. Gregory Kotoy
  40. Gyan Prakash
  41. Haidi Ali Muhammad Eltayeb
  42. Hélène Le Cacheux
  43. Herman De Ley
  44. Huwaida Arraf
  45. Ian Ampleford
  46. Ian Mc Cabe
  47. Indu Chandrasekhar
  48. Jake Javanshir
  49. James Dickins
  50. James Lafferty
  51. Jamie Jackson, Co-host, Understanding Israel Palestine Beyond the Walls, KKFI radio
  52. John King
  53. Joop Hoekstra
  54. Julia Auf Dem Brinke
  55. Julie Hart
  56. Kalyani Chaudhuri
  57. Karel Arnaut
  58. Karin Brothers
  59. Karin Verelst
  60. Kathryn Kelly
  61. Kellie Tranter
  62. Lauren Speiser
  63. Laurent De Wangen
  64. Lee Rhiannon
  65. Luisa Morgantini
  66. N. Harakeh
  67. Madeline Lutjeharms
  68. Maha Abdallah
  69. Maha Alami
  70. Malini Bhattacharya
  71. Mani Shankar Aiyar
  72. Marcy Newman
  73. Maria Bartolacci
  74. Marjorie Cohn
  75. Martin Mavenjina
  76. Massimiliano Masini
  77. Maxime Florentin
  78. Maya Devi
  79. Michael Letwin
  80. Michel Gevers
  81. Mohamad Arouki
  82. Mohamed Aboelazm
  83. Mohammad Al Nabulsi
  84. Mohan Rao
  85. Monique Vincent
  86. Muralidharan K
  87. Nalini Nayak
  88. Nandini Sundar
  89. Naresh Dadhich
  90. Nasir Tyabji
  91. Navdeep Mathur
  92. Nick Deane
  93. Nozomi Takahashi
  94. Oishik Sircar
  95. P A Azeez
  96. Pamela Blakelock
  97. Pamela Philipose
  98. Paola Manduca
  99. Patrick Lechopier
  100. Persis Ginwalla
  101. Pierre Bordone
  102. Pushpa Achanta
  103. Pushpamala N
  104. Raffaele Spiga
  105. Rajni Palriwala
  106. Rev Joseph Ryan
  107. Rey Asis
  108. Rudolf Knutti
  109. Raghunandana
  110. Salim Yusufji
  111. Sellin Jean-Christophe
  112. Shafey Kidwai
  113. Sharib Aqleem Ali
  114. Sigour Brigitte
  115. Sonia Fayman
  116. Stephen Flaherty
  117. Sue Ingham
  118. Sumanta Banerjee
  119. Terri Ginsberg
  120. Valter Mutt
  121. Verena Rajab
  122. Vinay Bharadwaj
  123. Vincent Basabé
  124. Winfried Belz
  125. Yousuf Saeed
  126. YVes Goaer
  127. Yves Jardin

Six Palestinian detainees continue hunger strikes against administrative detention

Six Palestinian political prisoners are continuing their hunger strikes against their imprisonment without charge or trial in Israeli occupation prisons. Akram al-Fasfous suspended his hunger strike on 27 August, while Raik Sadeq Bisharat launched a hunger strike on 22 August, demanding his liberation from administrative detention. Kayed al-Fasfous, Miqdad al-Qawasmeh, Ahmad Hamamra, Alaa al-Araj and Hisham Abu Hawash are all continuing their strikes for freedom.

Akram al-Fasfous concluded his strike with an agreement for his release on 14 December as well as to fix the date of release for his brother, Mahmoud al-Fasfous, who had earlier been on hunger strike until the serious deterioration of his medical condition prevented him from continuing. Kayed al-Fasfous, also the brother of Akram and Mahmoud, is continuing his strike.

All of the hunger striking detainees face ongoing repression in an attempt to break their strikes. They are held in solitary confinement or isolation, denied family visits and often denied access to their lawyers. Alaa al-Araj, currently on his 23rd day of hunger strike, is experiencing a sharp deterioration in his medical condition. He has lost a significant amount of weight and is suffering from weakness throughout his body, Palestinian lawyers reported. Meanwhile, lawyers for detained university student Miqdad Qawasmeh have submitted another appeal on his behalf, seeking his freedom from detention without charge or trial. Qawasmeh has been on hunger strike for 40 days.

What Is Administrative Detention?

Administrative detention was first used in Palestine by the British colonial mandate and then adopted by the Zionist regime; it is now used routinely to target Palestinians, especially community leaders, activists, and influential people in their towns, camps and villages.

There are currently approximately 550 Palestinians jailed without charge or trial under administrative detention, out of 4,750 Palestinian political prisoners. These orders are issued by the military and approved by military courts on the basis of “secret evidence”, denied to both Palestinian detainees and their attorneys. Issued for up to six months at a time, they are indefinitely renewable, and Palestinians — including minor children — can spend years jailed without charge or trial under administrative detention.

Who Are the Hunger Strikers?

  1. Kayed Fasfous: from Dura – Hebron, started the strike 47 days ago. He is 36 years old, detained without charge or trial since October 2020, and held in Ramon prison.

2. Miqdad Qawasmeh: from Hebron, started 40 days ago. Miqdad Qawasmeh is a Palestinian university student, 24 years old. He has been jailed without charge or trial since January 2021 and is held in Ofer prison.

3. Ahmad Hamamra: from Beit Sahour, started the strike 31 days ago. He has been imprisoned without charge or trial since 17 August 2020 and previously participated in the 2017 collective hunger strike while detained. His administrative detention order was renewed while on hunger strike.

4. Alaa al-Araj: from Tulkarem, launched his strike 23 days ago. He has been jailed since 30 June without charge or trial under administrative detention and is held in Megiddo prison. He is 34 years old.

5. Hisham Ismail Abu Hawash, 39, from Dura, al-Khalil, has been on hunger strike for 9 days. He has been jailed without charge or trial since October 2020 under Israeli administrative detention. Over multiple arrests, he has spent eight years in Israeli prisons. He is married and the father of four children; his youngest child suffers from kidney failure.

6. Raik Sadeq Bisharat, 44, from Tubas, has been jailed without charge or trial under administrative detention since July 2021. He is an injured former prisoner and has spent 9 years in Israeli prison. His hand was amputated and his wife was martyred by the Israeli occupation.

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network urges all supporters of Palestine to take action to support these Palestinian hunger strikers and all Palestinian prisoners struggling for freedom, for their own lives and for the Palestinian people. They are confronting the system of Israeli oppression on the front lines, with their bodies and their lives, to bring the system of administrative detention to an end. Take these actions below to stand with the hunger strikers and the struggle for liberation of Palestine, from the river to the sea!

Download these signs for use in your campaigns:

TAKE ACTION: 

Sign the petition!

Independent grassroots international activists have launched a petition in support of the hunger strikers and to end administrative detention. Show your support by signing on – in addition to taking action in person! Sign here: change.org/NoChargeNoTrialNoJail

Protest at the Israeli Embassy or Consulate in Your Country!

Join the many protests taking place around the world — confront, isolate and besiege the Israeli embassy or consulate in your city or country of residence. Make it clear that the people are with Palestine! Send us your events at samidoun@samidoun.net.

Take to the streets: Organize a protest in solidarity with Palestine!

Take to the streets and join the actions on our full list of events, which is constantly being updated as new actions are announced! Organize your own if there is none in your area, and send us your events at samidoun@samidoun.net.

Boycott Israel!

The international, Arab and Palestinian campaign to boycott Israel can play an important role at this critical time. Local boycott groups can protest and label Israeli produce and groceries, while many complicit corporations – including HP, G4S, Puma, Teva and others, profit from their role in support Zionist colonialism throughout occupied Palestine. By participating in the boycott of Israel, you can directly help to throw a wrench in the economy of settler colonialism.

Demand Your Government Sanction Israel!

The racist, settler colonial state of Israel and its war crimes against the Palestinian people are enabled and backed extensively by the over $3.8 billion each year given to Israel by the United States — targeted directly to support the Israeli occupation military killing children, women, men and elders throughout occupied Palestine. From Canada to Australia to the European Union, Western governments and imperialist powers provide ongoing diplomatic, political and economic support to Israel as well as selling billions of dollars of weaponry to the settler-colonial state. Meanwhile, they also purchase billions of dollars in weaponry from the Israeli state. Governments in league with imperialist powers, such as in the Philippines, Brazil, India and elsewhere, also buy weapons and “security” services — all “battle-tested” on the Palestinian population. Call your representatives, MPs, political officials and demand your government sanction Israel now, cut off all aid, expel its ambassadors, and stop buying and selling weapons!

Frankfurt Palestine stand highlights struggles of imprisoned Palestinian women


Samidoun Deutschland organized a Palestine Stand in central Frankfurt on Sunday, 29 August 2021. The action, organized at Hauptwache, highlighted the cases of several Palestinian women prisoners, including Israa Jaabis, Anhar al-Deek, Fadwa Hamadeh and Yasmin Jaber.

Organizers set up a display of photos and calls to action highlighting imprisoned Palestinian students and calling for their liberation. There are hundreds of Palestinian university students imprisoned in Israeli jails, and students are routinely and specifically targeted for Israeli colonial imprisonment and repression for their student activism, organizing student events and participation in student elections and other political and social activities on campus.

Passers-by were invited to write letters to Palestinian prisoners to express their support and solidarity. The letters collected by Samidoun Deutschland will be sent directly to the prisoners as well as to Samidoun Palestine for sharing with the family members and lawyers of the detainees.

People who came to the stand were encouraged to write letters to Anhar al-Deek, the Palestinian pregnant mother imprisoned in Israeli jails, and to Israa Jaabis, the imprisoned Palestinian woman who is being denied appropriate medical care for her serious injuries, including the amputation of eight of her fingers. Large posters calling for freedom for all Palestinian prisoners, Palestinian flags and Samidoun banners adorned the area, drawing attention to the stand and the situation of detained Palestinians.

The displays also highlighted the hunger strikes of six Palestinians jailed without charge or trial by Israel. There are currently approximately 550 Palestinians jailed without charge or trial under administrative detention, out of 4,750 Palestinian political prisoners. These orders are issued by the military and approved by military courts on the basis of “secret evidence”, denied to both Palestinian detainees and their attorneys. Issued for up to six months at a time, they are indefinitely renewable, and Palestinians — including minor children — can spend years jailed without charge or trial under administrative detention.

Visitors to the stand expressed their solidarity with Palestine and called for freedom for Palestinian political prisoners. Samidoun Deutschland organizes actions and events for a liberated Palestine, from the river to the sea, in Frankfurt, Berlin, Hamburg, and elsewhere in Germany. Contact the Samidoun Network to find out more about how you can get involved.

7 September, Copenhagen: Give Israel the Red Card! Protest Denmark-Israel Football Match

Tuesday, 7 September
7 pm
Vibenshus Runddel Metrostation (Jagtvej 180), 2100
Copenhagen, Denmark
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1198291027315448

Give Israel the Red Card! Boycott the World Cup football qualifier between Denmark and Israel on Tuesday, 7 September at 8:45 pm!

Demonstration at 7 pm with music, speeches, flyers and banners

Speakers:

Dalia – Stop Annexation of Palestine/Internationalt Forum Copenhagen
Jan Mathisen – 3F Palestine Network
Maher Khatib – Palestinian Democratic Union in Denmark
Irene and Johnna – Boykot Israel Campaign

Music:

Nassim – CHIEF, Fri Galaxe

MCs:

Tove Jensen, Demos
Maher Khatib, Palestinian Democratic Union in Denmark

We only carry Palestinian flags.

Israel is an occupying power that colonizes Palestinian land. Israel exposes Palestinians to daily racism and apartheid reminiscent of South African apartheid. Playing against the Israeli national football team in the Park legitimizes Israel’s occupation and apartheid policies.

Israel violates FIFA’s rules banning racism and apartheid. Israel is harassing Palestinian football players and restricting their freedom of movement. They are denied access to training and tournaments. The Israeli state has destroyed several stadiums and is preventing spectators and supporters from watching matches.

Israel is deliberately using sports and culture to cover up and launder its crimes against the Palestinian people.

Cancel the football match!

Boycott Israel – Free Palestine!

Organizers: Boykot Israel Kampagnen, Internationalt Forum København, Stop Annekteringen af Palæstina, Internationalt Forum Nordsjælland, Palæstinensisk Demokratisk Forbund i Danmark, Palæstinensisk Nationalforsamling i Danmark, Global Aktion, Demos.

GIV ISRAEL DET RØDE KORT!
NB DEMONSTRATIONEN ER FLYTTET TIL: VIBENSHUS RUNDDEL METROSTATION!
JAGTVEJ 180, 2100 KØBENHAVN Ø
Boykot fodbold VM kvalifikationskampen Danmark-Israel i Parken tirsdag den 7. september kl. 20.45

Demonstration kl. 19.00 med musik, taler, flyers og bannere
Sted: Vibenshus Runddel Metrostation (Jagtvej 180, 2100 København Ø)
Talere:
Dalia – Stop Annekteringen af Palæstina/IF København; Jan Mathisen – 3 F Palæstina Netværk;
Maher Khatib – Palæstinensisk Demokratisk Forbund i Danmark; Johnna & Irene, Boykot Israel Kampagnen

Musik:
Nassim, CHIEF, Fri Galaxe..,

Dirigenter:
Tove Jensen, Demos
Maher Khatib, Palæstinensisk Demokratisk Forbund i Danmark

Vi medbringer kun palæstinensiske flag.
Israel er en besættelsesmagt der koloniserer palæstinensernes jord. Israel udsætter palæstinenserne for daglig racisme og apartheid, der minder om den sydafrikanske apartheid. At spille kamp imod det israelske fodboldlandshold i Parken vil være at legitimere Israels besættelses- og apartheidpolitik.

Israel bryder FIFA’s regler der forbyder racisme og apartheid. Israel chikanerer palæstinensiske fodboldspillere og begrænser deres bevægelsesfrihed. De nægtes adgang til træning og turneringer. Den israelske stat har ødelagt flere stadions og forhindrer tilskuere og tilhængere i at overvære kampe.

Israel bruger bevidst sport og kultur til at dække over og hvidvaske sine forbrydelser mod palæstinenserne.

Drop fodboldkampen!

Boykot Israel – Frit Palæstina!

Arrangører:
Boykot Israel Kampagnen, Internationalt Forum København, Stop Annekteringen af Palæstina, Internationalt Forum Nordsjælland, Palæstinensisk Demokratisk Forbund i Danmark, Palæstinensisk Nationalforsamling i Danmark, Global Aktion, Demos.
Anbefalere:
Autonom

Infoservice, Fredsvagten v. Christiansborg, APK-Arbejderpartiet Kommunisterne, BJMFs (Bygge-, Jord-og Miljøarbejdernes Fagforening) Internationale Udvalg, Konfront, KP-Kommunistisk Parti, Dansk Cubansk Forening, FMN-Folkebevægelsen Mod Nazisme, Revolutionære Antifascister, KPID-Kommunistisk Parti i Danmark, Migrante, TID TIL FRED – aktiv mod krig,,…
(Opdateres)
Boykot PUMA, som er sponsor for det israelske fodboldforbund IF

29 August, NYC: Free our Martyrs – Die-In and Speak Out for Palestine

ALL OUT THIS SUNDAY IN GRAND CENTRAL: FREE OUR MARTYRS: DIE-IN & SPEAK OUT FOR PALESTINE

When: Sunday August 29th @ 4:30 pm
Where: Grand Central Terminal (New York, NY 10017). Meet inside by the clock.
Dress respectfully. Wear a keffiyeh.

As the numbers of martyrs continues to rise by the day, including 15 year old Emad Hashash from Balata Camp in the West Bank who was shot and killed by occupation forces on August 24th and 32 year old Osama Deaih from Jabalia in Gaza who died on August 25th after being shot four days earlier, we must stand against this genocide, honor our martyrs and demand the return of Palestinian martyrs bodies who are being held hostage by the zionist entity.

Between August 27-29 Palestinians will be mobilizing to demand the right to bury our children and to practice one of the most fundamental aspects of the human condition: the right to mourn. 254 Palestinian martyrs are buried in israeli military patrolled grave sites, 81 are in police morgues and 68 are disappeared. Denying dignity to the dead is one of the gravest violations of human rights, and yet israel continues to act with impunity.

We will not forget, we will not forgive, and we will never stop fighting for Palestine until all of the land is liberated from the river to the sea.

Organized by Within Our Lifetime – United for Palestine

 

Toulouse Palestine Stand demands end to siege on Gaza

Photo credit: Corine Janeau

This report is largely translated from the original French at Collectif Palestine Vaincra. 

On Friday, 27 August, activists and supporters of the Collectif Palestine Vaincra, a member organization of the Samidoun Network, organized a Palestine Stand near the Bagatelle market in Toulouse, France. The stand denounced the unjust and inhumane siege imposed upon the Gaza Strip, occupied Palestine, by the Israeli occupation with the active collusion of the Egyptian regime and Western imperialist powers.

Photo credit: Corine Janeau

Today, the 2 million Palestinian inhabitants of Gaza face a catastrophic humanitarian situation, which was further exacerbated by the last Zionist military assault in May 2021. However, the Palestinian people continue to confront the siege and resist for the liberation of Palestine, from the river to the sea, despite the colonial violence that once again targeted the recent protests against the siege in southern Gaza for violent repression.

https://twitter.com/CollectifPV/status/1431180968245747713

The stand, position at the exit of the Bagatelle metro station, was decorated with Palestinian flags as well as a large banner, stating: “From Gaza to Jerusalem: Resistance.” For over two hours, participants distributed over 1,000 flyers on the history of Zionist colonization in Palestine and the importance of supporting the Palestinian resistance.

Photo credit: Corine Janeau

An information table offered a wide range of information on the campaigns organized by the Collectif, especially for the liberation of Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, Arab struggler for Palestine imprisoned in France for over 37 years, and for the boycott of Israel. Many passers-by collected free flyers and stickers to raise awareness about Palestine.

Photo credit: Corine Janeau

Showing solidarity, visitors to the stand displayed Palestinian flags as they drove past, donated to the work of the Collectif Palestine Vaincra, or offered bottles of water in the summer heat.

Photo credit: Corine Janeau

During many discussions, people expressed their solidarity and admiration for Gaza’s steadfastness and resistance. To show their support, many people joined in a photo campaign to demand an immediate lifting of the siege and an end to the blockade.

The Collectif Palestine Vaincra organizes actions and initiatives in Toulouse every month to support the Palestinian people and their resistance for the liberation of Palestine from the river to the sea. Contact the Collectif to get involved, or reach out to Samidoun Network to get involved in your local area outside of France.

Photo credit: Corine Janeau

Layan Nasir is free: Escalate the campaign to #FreePalestinianStudents

Palestinian student Layan Nasir was released from Israeli prison on Thursday, 26 August, welcomed home by her family, comrades and loved ones.

A 21-year-old fourth-year nutrition student at Bir Zeit University, Nasir has been detained by the Israeli occupation since 7 July 2021, when occupation forces stormed and invaded her family home. Just two days earlier, on 24 August, her military court hearing was postponed until 5 October, but she was ordered released. Her release comes after a surge in worldwide and Palestinian support for her case, with organizations from the Anglican church to French trade unions calling for her freedom.

Nasir is continuing to face charges before an Israeli military court that accuse her of participating in student events and activities on her campus, including events like book fairs and group meals. Specifically, Layan Nasir is being accused of supporting an “unlawful organization,” namely the Progressive Democratic Student Pole, the leftist student bloc at Bir Zeit University. These arbitrary designations of Palestinian organizations as “unlawful” may be issued at any time by an Israeli military commander of occupation forces in the West Bank, and are used as a pretext to round up, detain and violently attack Palestinian organizations and movements.

As a condition of her release, Nasir was required to pay bail and to complete the unjust military trial outside detention. Israeli military courts convict over 99% of the Palestinians brought before them.

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network salutes Layan Nasir upon her release. Her case indicates why it is so urgent for people around the world to support Palestinian students — and all Palestinian prisoners — struggling for freedom.

At Bir Zeit University alone, Nasir’s university, approximately 74 students were detained by occupation soldiers during the 2019-2020 academic year. Students are routinely and specifically targeted for Israeli colonial imprisonment and repression for their student activism, organizing student events and participation in student elections and other political and social activities on campus.  In July, a UN panel declared that the imprisonment of Palestinian students Layan Kayed, Ruba Assi and Elia Abu Hijleh was unlawful and arbitrary, calling for their release.

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network demands the immediate release of Layan Nasir and urges all friends of justice in Palestine to join the #FreePalestinianStudents campaign. 

We join together to call for action and support for Palestinian students behind bars, including:

  • Boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel, including Israeli academic institutions, which are fully complicit in the systematic deprivation of Palestinian rights.
  • Ending all military and economic aid, military transactions, joint projects and direct funding to the Israeli occupation regime by governments around the world.
  • Challenging “normalization” programs that aim to legitimize Israeli occupation — this is an attempt to legitimize the criminalization and targeting of Palestinian students.
  • Organizing to build direct links of solidarity with Palestinian students and the Palestinian student movement, to ensure that they will not be isolated from their global community of support despite all attempts by the Israeli occupation.

For the full campaign statement, resources, posters, photos and more, including translations in eight languages, please visit: https://freepalestinianstudents.org/ Add your organization’s name to this statement: http://bit.ly/palstudentsignon

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