26 June, Athens: Greece – Call to Protest Against Bahrain Conference

21 June 2019

Wednesday, 26 June
6:00 pm
US Embassy Athens
Leof. Vasilissis Sofias 91
Athens, Greece
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1683194941824393/

The Palestinian Refugees community in Athens, along with Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network , Jafra foundation in Greece and Refugee Movement for Rights and Justice, call on all progressive forces and left social movements in Greece to protest on the 26th of June at 6pm in front of the U.S embassy in Athens as response to the Palestinian national forces and The Voice of Palestinian Students – صوت طلبة فلسطين call to protest against the so-called “deal of the century” proposed by the U.S administration and Arab Reactionary Regimes in their attempts to liquidate our national project for the liberation of our Palestine and our people from zionism and colonialism and against Bahrain Conference and in support with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions #BDS Movement

The Palestinian Students Voice statement:

To our resisting Arab Palestinian nation,
To our comrades, brother and sisters in the solidarity movement with Palestine and all oppressed communities around the world,
Student masses in the struggle,

Greetings of steadfastness and ongoing struggle

On the 25th and 26th of June, the US administration, the Zionist entity and a group of client puppet Arab states will meet in Bahrain economic summit. This will be the first public and direct step in the liquidation of the Palestinian cause eternally as a cute against Zionism, Racism and Colonialism.

As such attack is taking place on our people, we call on you for unity and to organize together direct action against the normalization and the so called Bahrain conference on the 25th of June to be the start of a general worldwide clarion call to Boycott Israel and against normalisation with the colonial and racist apartheid state of Israel.We call on you to unite and stand with us in rejecting such deals. These projects can only be confronted through a united Palestinian front that includes the student, trade union and party sectors. Along with the solidarity movement all around the world.

The learned through our history of struggle that all previous liquidation projects was nothing but fatal for our continuous and geographically widespread struggle. We are now facing a pivotal phase and a dangerous project that requires us to fight harder and sacrifice even more. This includes practical steps that can be implemented on the ground. We will not give up our full rights – even by blood.

Be involved. Join us through the following:
– Organize widespread demonstrations and protests on Monday June 25th.
– Use the upcoming days to hold talks and write articles that aim

تدعوكم الجالية الفلسطينية من اللاجئين في أثينا، جنبا إلى جنب مع شبكة صامدون للدفاع عن الاسرى الفلسطينيين، مؤسسة جفرا في اليونان وحراك اللاجئين من أجل الحقوق والعدالة \ RMRJ وجميع القوى التقدمية والحركات الاجتماعية في اليونان للاحتجاج في يوم 26 حزيران في تمام الساعة السادسة مساءً أمام السفارة الأمريكية في أثينا تلبية لنداء القوى الوطنية الفلسطينية وصوت الطلاب الفلسطينيين للاحتجاج على ما يسمى بصفقة القرن التي اقترحتها الإدارة الأمريكية والنظام العربي الرجعي في محاولاتهم الفاشلة لتصفية المشروع الوطني الفلسطيني ونضال شعبنا ضد الحركة الصهيونية والقوي الاستعمارية، ولرفع الصوت عاليا ضد مؤتمر البحرين التطبيعي ودور مملكة آل سعود. لنتجمع معا امام سفارة العدو الاميركي لنقول اننا مع حركة المقاطعة وسحب الاستثمارات والعقوبات # BDS ومع حق الشعب الفلسطيني بممارسة المقاومة بكافة اشكالها حتى التحرير وعودة اللاجئين.

جماهير شعبنا العربي الفلسطيني المقاوم
جماهير الطلبة المناضلين
تحية الصمود والنضال المستمر

في الخامس والعشرين والسادس والعشرين من شهر يونيو، تلتقي الإدارة الامريكية والكيان الصهيوني ومجموعة من الأطراف العربية العميلة، في مؤتمر البحرين الاقتصادي، ليشكّل أولى الخطوات العلنية والصريحة في سبيل تصفية القضية الفلسطينية بشكل نهائي.

وعليه ندعوكم أبناء شعبنا الفلسطيني للمشاركة الموحّدة، ليكون يوم الثلاثاء -25 يونيو- إعلاناً للنفير العام في كافة أماكن تواجد الشعب الفلسطيني، توحيداً للقرار الفلسطيني الرافض لمشاريع التصفية. فصفقة تستهدف الكل الفلسطيني، لا يمكن مواجهتها الا عبر وحدة نضال الكل الفلسطيني بما فيها الأطر الطُلابية والنقابية والحزبية.

أيها الأحرار، لم تكن مشاريع التصفية السابقة لتجهض إلا بنضالاتنا وكفاحنا المستمر والممتد جغرافياً في كل انحاء العالم. ونحن الآن أمام مرحلة مفصلية ومشروعٍ خطر يحتاج الى نضالات وتضحيات مضاعفة وخطواتٍ عملية على أرض الواقع مؤكدين أننا لن نتنازل عن حقوقنا كاملة حتى بالدم.

شاركوا من خلال تنظيم الوقفات والمسيرات الحاشدة يوم الثلاثاء -25 يونيو- وفي الأيام القادمة من خلال عقد الندوات وكتابة المقالات التي تصب جميعها في التحشيد والتحريض ضد مؤتمر البحرين.
سيتم نشر بيان موحّد شارك في صياغته طلبة من كافة اماكن تواجد الشعب الفلسطيني.

نرحب دائماً مبادراتكم وأفكاركم لتطوير العمل.
صوت طلبة فلسطين

Για το Αντιστεκόμενο Αραβικό Έθνος της Παλαιστίνης.

Για τους συντρόφους μας, αδελφούς κ αδελφές στο Αλληλέγγυο Κίνημα με την Παλαιστίνη κ όλους τους καταπιεσμένους λαούς κ κοινότητες σε όλο τον κόσμο. Για τις φοιτιτικές κ σπουδαστικές μάζες που αγωνίζονται.

Χαιρετισμούς σταθερότητας κ συνεχιζόμενου αγώνα.

Στις 25 και 26 Ιουνίου, η Σιωνιστική Διαχείριση Οντότητα των ΗΠΑ κ μια ομάδα μαριονετών πελατών των Αραβικών χωρών θα συναντηθούν στο Μπαχρέιν σε Διάσκεψη Οικονομικής Κορυφής. Αυτό θα είναι το πρώτο δημόσιο και ευθές βήμα στην εκκαθάριση του Παλαιστινιακού θέματος οριστικά κ η λήξη του απέναντι στον Σιωνισμό, Ρατσιμό κ την Αποικιοκρατία.

Από την στιγμή που τέτοια επίθεση γίνεται ενάντια στους ανθρώπους μας, σας προσκαλούμε για ενώτητα κ να οργανώσουμε μαζί ευθεία πράξη απέναντι στην ομαλοποίηση και στην αποκαλούμενη Μπαχρέιν Συνάντηση στις 25 Ιουνίου να είναι η αρχή παγκόσμιας σάλπιγγας πρόσκλησης για Μποϋκοτάζ στο Ισραήλ, και ενάντια στην ομαλοποίηση με το αποικιοκρατικό κ ρατσιστικό απαρχάιντ κράτος του Ισραήλ. Σας προσκαλούμε να ενωθείτε κ να σταθείτε μαζί μας απορρίπτοντας τέτοιες συμφωνίες. Αυτές οι συμφωνίες μπορούν μόνο να συντάσονται, μέσω μιας Ενωμένης Παλαιστήνιας αρχής που συμπεριλαμβάνει την φοιτητική ένωση κ τα διάφορα κόμματα. Μαζί με το Κίνημα Αλληλεγγύης σε όλο τον κόσμο.
Έχουμε μάθει μέσω της ιστορίας αγώνα μας σε προηγούμενα εκκαθαριστικά σχέδια τίποτα δεν έγινε μόνο μοιραία για τους συνεχιζόμενους παγκόσμια γεωγραφικά διασκορπισμένους αγώνες μας. Τώρα αντιμετωπίζουμε μια Κεντρική φάση και ένα επικίνδυνο επιχείρημα που απαιτεί από εμάς να παλέψουμε περισσότερο κ να θυσιάσουμε ακόμα περισσότερο. Αυτό συμπεριλαμβάνει πρακτικά βήματα τα οποία μπορούν να εφαρμοστούν στην πράξη. Δεν θα αφήσουμε τους δίκαιους αγώνες μας, ακόμα κ με αίμα.

Να είστε συμμέτοχοι. Μπορείτε με τα παρακάτω:- Διοργανώστε κ συμμετέχετε σε συγκεντρώσεις κ διαμαρτυρίες την Δευτέρα 25 Ιουνίου.- Χρησιμοποιήστε τις επόμενες μέρες για διοργάνωση ομιλιών κ εγγραφή άρθρων τα οποία στοχεύουν στην αύξηση ενημέρωσης, ενάντια στην Διάσκεψη Κορυφής του Μπαχρέι

International campaign to #BoycottPuma speaks out in cities around the world

17 June 2019

BDS organizers and activists for justice in Palestine organized dozens of international actions calling for a boycott of Puma on Saturday, 15 June. After Adidas dropped its sponsorship of the Israeli Football Association in 2018 after being presented with over 16,000 signatures of protest, Puma took up the sponsorship. This means that the global German athletic manufacturer is a partner in apartheid, supporting teams in Israeli illegal settlements on occupied Palestinian land.

*Photo: Demonsration to #BoycottPuma in Strasbourg*

Over 200 Palestinian sports clubs have called on Puma to end the sponsorship. On 15 June, organizers around the world – including in Germany, France, Portugal, Malaysia, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Denmark, Egypt, Nigeria, the Spanish State, Belgium, Hong Kong, Argentina, New Zealand, Jordan, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary and the United States – organized actions to support the Palestinian athletes’ call to #BoycottPuma.

In the German capital, BDS Berlin organized a protest outside the Puma Concept Store at Hackescher Markt. Organizers delivered leaflets and information about the boycott call to staff at the Puma store to be forwarded to corporate headquarters. The response from passers-by was overwhelmingly positive, and participants distributed hundreds of flyers to nearby people. The demonstration included loud chants to “Boycott Puma! Boycott Apartheid!” as well as social justice songs and music. After the rally, a falafel vendor from the nearby market donated a round of sandwiches to the activists involved.

Watch the BDS Berlin video:

In Toulouse, the Collectif Palestine Vaincra, a member of the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, held an information stand for over 2 hours at Olivier Place in Toulouse. Despite being displaced from their original location by the prefecture to a less heavily-trafficked location at the last minute, activists distributed 800 flyers and had hundreds of positive conversations. Dozens of people took selfies in solidarity with the campaign.

Watch the video here:

Actions took place throughout France, including in Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Strasbourg, Paris and a few days earlier in Clermont-Ferrand, Foix, Tours and elsewhere.

In Paris, the violent provocateurs of the Jewish Defense League (JDL) attempted to physically attack activists from the BDS France campaign in order to attempt to force them to end their boycott action outside the Puma store.

However, their attempt failed and over 20 activists participated in the action, receiving strong support from the public for their anti-apartheid campaign.

*Photo: Plate-forme Charleroi-Palestine*

In Charleroi, Belgium, the Plate-forme Charleroi-Palestine distributed information about Puma’s involvement with sponsoring Israeli apartheid and the call for boycott from Palestinian athletes and collected support photos for the campaign.

In Vienna, BDS Austria held an information table outside the Puma store, posting informative displays and distributing flyers to hundreds of passers-by about the athletic gear company’s complicity with Israeli occupation and apartheid.

In Amsterdam, docP activists took to the streets for the international day of action, delivering a petition to the management of the Puma store and distributing flyers on the Koningsplein and in the Vondelpark.

Manchester Palestine Action kicked off the international day of action with a direct action inside Puma’s Manchester office, protesting and delivering the message that sponsoring apartheid is not acceptable:

Organizers followed up the action with a day of protest from Piccadilly gardens and through Manchester City Center, targeting corporate complicity in Israeli occupation, specifically by Puma, Barclays and HSBC.

*Photo: Ryan Ashcroft, Palestine Solidarity Campaign*

There were almost 30 actions throughout the UK for the #BoycottPuma day of action. In addition to a protest in London, grassroots “counter-advertisements” for the Boycott Puma campaign appeared at bus stations throughout the city.

In Rome, BDS Roma secured the support of 14 rugby teams in the city to join the call of the Palestinian athletes to #BoycottPuma:

They organized an action on 15 June outside the Puma store in the city center to highlight the company’s complicity.

In Belfast, the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign protested Puma’s involvement in supporting Israeli apartheid teams.

*Photo: Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign*

The campaign against Puma is not stopping. Palestinian football players themselves struggle to play, practice and improve their skills when they face Israeli violence, including arrests and imprisonment by occupation forces. Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network urges people and organizations to join the ongoing actions to put pressure on Puma to end its sponsorship of Israeli apartheid, including taking the #BoycottPuma pledge and organizing events and actions at Puma stores and corporate offices.

May 2019 report: 421 Palestinians seized by Israeli occupation forces, including 78 children and 6 women

17 June 2019

Palestinian prisoners’ institutions, including the Prisoners’ Affairs Commission, Palestinian Prisoners’ Society, Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association and Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights, issued the following report for May 2019 on 16 June. English translation by Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network:

*Photo for illustrative purposes. Credit: ActiveStills.org/Oren Ziv*

In May 2019, Israeli occupation forces arrested 421 Palestinians, including 78 children and 6 women. The Israeli occupation authorities seized 145 Palestinians from the city of Jerusalem, 59 from Ramallah governorate, 60 from al-Khalil governorate, 30 from Jenin governorate, 21 from Bethlehem governorate, 32 from Nablus governorate, 13 from Tulkarem governorate, 19 from Qalqilya governorate, 8 from Tubas governorate, 8 from Salfit governorate, 14 from Jericho governorate and 12 from the Gaza Strip.

The number of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails reached 5500 at the end of May, including 43 women. The number of imprisoned children in Israeli jails reached approximately 220.

The following summary highlights the realities faced by the detainees in prisons and detention centers and the most prominent actions by the occupation authorities during the month of May:

Hunger Strikes During May 2019

Several prisoners continued their hunger strikes against administrative detention during May 2019, including the prisoner Hassan al-Aweiwi, who began his strike in April and experienced significant deterioration of his health. He faced clear intransigence by the occupation authorities in refusing to meet his demands and end his administrative detention.

Palestinian prisoners’ institutions documented the retaliation by the Israeli occupation prison administration against al-Aweiwi since he launched his strike, including isolation, denial of family visits and frequent transfer from one detention center to another as well as to civilian hospitals.

Al-Aweiwi is 35 years old, married wth three children. He was previously arrested several times, most recently on 15 January 2019.

Bassam Abu Akkar, from Aida camp in Bethlehem, went on hunger strike on 21 May, rejecting his administrative detention after two consecutive years. He ended his strike after reaching an agreement to limit his administrative detention

Abu Akkar, a leader of the prisoners’ movement, spent a total of 24 and one-half years in Israeli prison, between sentences and administrative detention. He has been detained without charge or trial since 27 July 2017; he is married with seven children.

Among the prisoners who took part in hunger strikes during the month of may were Ahmed Hroub from al-Khalil governorate, Thaer Badr from Beit Liqya, the wounded Moataz Abidu from al-Khalil and Murad Malisha from Jenin.

Medical Neglect

Over 750 prisoners continue to suffer from a policy of medical neglect by the Israeli prison administration, which is systematically used as a means of retaliation and pressure.

The medical situation for the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails is becoming more serious with every wave of escalation by the prison administration, the latest of which was the series of restrictive measures that followed the publication of the recommendations of the committee formed by the occupation minister Gilad Erdan to exert increased pressure on the prisoners in September 2018.

These restrictions included an escalation of the policy of medical neglect against sick and wounded prisoners, which has led to increased suffering from the effects of their illnesses, even after their release.

The occupation uses medical neglect as a means of torture and pressure on detainees to extract confessions from them or attempt to break their morale and increase their suffering in prisons. This medical neglect is institutionalized in the prison system and the detention centers. For example, prison clinics lack specialized medical staff or equipment to perform necessary tests to address problems raised by the prisoners. In the event a prisoner’s health worsens, he or she is transferred to the Ramle prison clinic, which is not significantly different from the prison clinics in terms of the level of medical care available. However, the Ramle clinic focuses on prisoners with permanent disabilities, severe medical deterioration or terminal illnesses.

There are currently 15 sick prisoners being held at the Ramle prison clinic in inhumane and inappropriate conditions. In particularly difficult cases, prisoners are transferred to Israeli civilian hospitals especially for required tests.

The occupation delays the treatment of ill prisoners, whether in the provision of medication or tests required to diagnose a patient’s condition, which can exacerbate their conditions and lead to the emergence of new health problems.

Summer is a season of suffering for imprisoned Palestinians

The Israeli occupation authorities make all of the details of the lives of the Palestinian detainees; even changes in the seasons bring more suffering. As the temperature increases, so too does the humidity and the lack of ventilation in Israeli prisons and detention centers. The suffering of the prisoners is doubled, especially in the desert or near the coast. Some prisons suffer from insect infestations or unpleasant odors and the prison administration often refuses to install air conditioners or other cooling equipment in the prisons. Sometimes, cold water is deliberately cut or prisoners in isolation are denied cold water.

According to the monitoring of the prisoners’ associations, the prisoners’ complaints are continuing to rise along with the temperature and humidity, especially at Saba, Nafha, Ramon and the Negev desert prison (especially the tent sections), in Damon prison (where the women prisoners are held), in Ramle-Nitsan in the underground sections and in Shata and Gilboa, where humidity is high.

60,000 NIS ($16,627 USD) in fines imposed on Palestinian child prisoners in Ofer

In May, Israeli occupation courts imposed prison sentences on a number of child prisoners held in the Ofer military prisons, in addition to large fines amounting to more than 60,000 NIS ($16,627 USD). In May 2019, 43 child prisoners were transferred to Ofer prison; 22 were seized from their homes, 12 taken from the streets, seven arrested for lack of permits and two after being summoned to interrogation.

Of these children, four were arrested after being shot by Israeli occupation soldiers and nine more were beaten during their detention and taken to Israeli interrogation centers. There were 31 children sentenced in May 2019, with actual terms ranging from 31 days to 10 months.

Ghassan Zawahreh boycotts Israeli occupation court at administrative detention hearing

17 June 2019

Palestinian prisoner Ghassan Zawahreh announced his boycott of the Israeli occupation courts after he was ordered to another six months in administrative detention, imprisoned without charge or trial. Zawahreh is a former long-term hunger striker and a prominent leftist activist in Dheisheh refugee camp; he was seized from his home in the pre-dawn hours of 10 December 2018, only months after he was released in July 2018 after over a year in administrative detention and a seven-month prison sentence.

He declared on 14 July that he would not appear before the occupation court to confirm his administrative detention order. Instead, he sent a letter to the court through his lawyer, declaring:

“Administrative detention is a heinous crime for the ages. What is even more criminal is the occupation’s attempts to mislead through mock courts and charades where the executioner and the ruler, dressed up in military suits, represent the Occupation and its crimes.

I will not be a part of this charade until administrative detention is ended once and and for all. I reject this court and refuse to be represented by anyone in it”.

He has spent over 14 years in total in Israeli prisons; his brother Moataz Zawahreh was murdered by Israeli occupation forces as he participated in a popular protest in Bethlehem in 2015. Moataz had actually returned home to Palestine from where he was studying in France to support Ghassan, who was engaged in a long-term hunger strike against his imprisonment without charge or trial.

Administrative detention orders are issued for up to six months at a time on the basis of secret evidence and are indefinitely renewable. There are currently approximately 500 Palestinians – out of over 5,200 total Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails – held in administrative detention, and Palestinians have been jailed for years at a time without charge or trial under these repeated orders.

The Israeli occupation also turns to administrative detention to keep Palestinians jailed even after sentences imposed upon them by the military courts expire. For example, on Sunday, 16 June, Jafar Ezzedine, 47, from Jenin, was suddenly transferred to administrative detention under a three-month order, immediately following his planned release from Megiddo prison after serving a five-month sentence. While his family, including his wife and eight children, was waiting for his return home, he was instead once again thrown behind bars – with no charge and no trial.

Ezzedine has spent a total of five years in Israeli prison in the past, including several periods of administrative detention. He has engaged in multiple long-term hunger strikes while detained without charge or trial, including a 55-day strike in 2012 and a 93-day strike in 2013.

Ezzedine is not alone; Palestinian prisoner Malik Mohammed Abu Eisha, 34, from al-Khalil, was also ordered to four months in administrative detention after the end of his one-year sentence. Detained since May 2018, Abu Eisha was supposed to be released at the end of May 2019. Instead, his wife and three children were left waiting for him as he remains imprisoned without charge or trial. Two of his brothers are detained as well; his brother Abdel-Qader is serving an 11 year sentence that will end in 2019, while his brother Abdel-Hadi has been detained without charge or trial in administrative detention since May 2019.

In addition, Fidaa Mohammed Damas, 25, from Beit Ummar, currently the only Palestinian woman prisoner held without charge or trial under administrative detention, was once again ordered to two more months of arbitrary imprisonment on 12 June, only two days before her detention was to expire. Her detention was renewed for the fourth time in a row by the Israeli military court; she has now been imprisoned for over a year, since 29 May 2018. She was originally sentenced to 90 days in Israeli prison; on the day of her release, the university student in business administration was ordered to remain jailed without charge or trial under administrative detention for six months. Her detention was renewed in February and again on 12 June.

Damas was previously seized by Israeli occupation forces on 28 January 2015 and sentenced to six months in prison; she was released in July 2015. She is currently held in Damon prison with the other women prisoners preparing for an open hunger strike on 1 July.

Ashkelon prisoners suspend hunger strike

17 June 2019

On Sunday, 16 June, 45 Palestinian prisoners in Ashkelon prison – as well as Nasser Abu Hmaid, the prisoners’ representative who had been transferred away – launched a hunger strike in protest of a series of repressive actions, conditions and invasion at the hands of Israeli occupation forces. They launched the strike after months of demanding changes, but after a few hours, the prisoners announced that the strike had been suspended as the Israeli occupation prison administration had agreed to several key issues.

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society said that the prison administration had responded positively “in principle” to the demands to end night invasions by armed Israeli occupation guards, opening a kitchen room in the section, lifting fines, following up on the treatment of sick prisoners and returning Abu Hmaid to Ashkelon before 1 July.

On Monday morning, 17 June, repressive attacks on Palestinian prisoners by Israeli forces continued, this time at Ramon prison. Repressive forces closed the sections, ransacked the prisoners’ rooms and confiscated their belongings; Palestinian prisoners’ organizations reported that tension and unrest has risen inside the prison.

Palestinian women prisoners in Damon prison have announced their demands and a plan to launch a collective hunger strike on 1 July; among other issues, the women prisoners are demanding the removal of intrusive security cameras, extended recreation and exercise time, opening of a library, classroom and kitchen, the return of confiscated books and improved conditions for visiting family members.

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network congratulates the Palestinian prisoners in Ashkelon prison on their achievements and urges all supporters of justice in Palestine to give their full support to the struggle of the Palestinian women prisoners.

Palestinian women prisoners announce demands, plan for collective strike 1 July

14 June 2019

*Palestinian women protest for Palestinian prisoners’ freedom, Ramallah. Photo: UPWC*

Palestinian women prisoners in Damon prison delivered an official letter to the Israeli prison administration, informing them of their intention to launch an open hunger strike on 1 July if their demands are not addressed. In a statement, former prisoner Mona Qa’adan said that 13 prisoners would launch the strike, led by Damon prisoners’ representative Yasmin Shaaban. Others who have announced their participation in the strike include women serving long sentences such as Shorouq Dwayyat, Amal Taqatqa, Nurhan Awad and Malak Salman. She noted that all of the women prisoners are prepared to join the strike as it progresses.

The “Strike of the Free Women,” the name given the struggle by the women prisoners, will focus on a number of demands, including:

Removal of intrusive surveillance cameras from the prison yard
Extension of exercise time to eight hours between 4 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Restoration of the exercise yard to eliminate hazards
Opening of a library for female prisoners and a classroom for girls
A private room near the “canteen” (prison store) for the preparation of food
Improved conditions for visiting family members
Return of confiscated books and family photos

Qa’adan noted that these are simple demands, yet very important for the imprisoned Palestinian women, emphasizing their right to human dignity and a decent life. She urged all to stand with the women prisoners in this struggle to extract their rights. They have issued demands repeatedly and have found no relief but further repression; she said that they have no option but to strike to extract their legitimate rights.

The prisoners’ message is a call to the people and the masses, not simply to officials and institutions, to take an urgent stand on this issue in order to reach a solution so that it is not necessary to repeat this strike in order to defend the gains achieved by the prisoners through struggle, Qa’adan said.

The announcement comes after imprisoned writer Lama Khater, 43, was sentenced to 13 months in Israeli prison by the Ofer military court. Khater was seized from her home in al-Khalil on 24 July 2018. She was subjected to harsh and abusive interrogation in Ashkelon detention center and denied sleep for days. Khater was accused of “incitement” for her publications on social media and in the press; she was also accused of support for a prohibited organization. All major Palestinian political parties are banned by the Israeli occupation.

On 11 June, Nurhan Awad’s sentence was reduced to 10 years when she was successful in her appeal at the Jerusalem high court, Asra Media reported. Awad, 19, was only 17 when she was sentenced to 13 years in Israeli prison. She was one of several Palestinian children targeted for extreme sentencing, especially Jerusalemite children. Nurhan was accused of attempting with her 14-year-old cousin Hadeel to stab a man with scissors: a 70-year-old Palestinian man was lightly injured. Hadeel was shot dead by Israeli occupation soldiers and Nurhan was shot with two bullets. After her cousin was extrajudicially executed, Nurhan was imprisoned.

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network calls on all supporters of Palestine and the Palestinian people to join the campaign to support the women prisoners. Palestinian women prisoners have been in the forefront of the prisoners’ movement over the years, including organizing multiple hunger strikes that played a significant role in securing key rights for the prisoners – the very rights now once again under attack. We urge supporters to organize events and actions, issue statements and build the campaign for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against the Israeli occupation state. Palestinian women prisoners are struggling for basic rights, dignity and justice – it is critical that we support their efforts.

3 years, 119 court hearings: Mohammed Halabi continues to fight back against Israeli imprisonment

14 June 2019

Palestinian charity worker Mohammed Halabi has been brought 119 times to Israeli court during the three years of detention. Halabi, a manager in Gaza for World Vision, was seized by Israeli occupation forces on 15 June 2016. After being secretly detained for nearly two months, he was then the subject of a massive international propaganda campaign, largely spearheaded by Gilad Erdan, in August of that year. Erdan is a member of the Netanyahu government as both Minister of Public Security and Minister of Strategic Affairs, responsible for directing global campaigns of incitement against organizations that defend Palestinian rights.

Benjamin Netanyahu himself contributed a video accusing Palestinians of not caring about their people on the basis of allegations that Halabi had diverted $43 million in funds for charity work in Gaza to instead support Palestinian resistance. This figure far exceeded any reasonable amount of World Vision’s budget; over seven years, World Vision’s entire budget in Gaza amounted to no more than $22 million.

Despite the factual impossibility of the Israeli state’s claims, however, both the Australian and German governments initially suspended funding to the global Christian charity. Over 100 workers in Gaza lost their jobs amid an already extreme unemployment crisis in the besieged Strip. In line with his ongoing official attacks on Palestinian and international organizations that provide any support to Palestinian rights, Erdan even accused World Vision of “turning a blind eye” because it is “very anti-Israeli.”

Anthony Loewenstein published an extensive report in 972mag reporting on the three years of the prosecution of Mohammed Halabi. By 2017, an official investigation carried out by the Australian government concluded that there was no basis to support the Israeli claim. Funding to World Vision was apparently restored, although none of these international funds are used to support Halabi’s defense.

Upon his arrest, he was denied access to a lawyer for 50 days. Israeli officials issued statements claiming that he confessed. In 972mag, Halabi and his lawyer Maher Hanna both affirm that, like many other Palestinians seized by the Israeli occupation – including children – Halabi was subjected to torture by Shin Bet forces.

Three years and 119 separate court hearings later, no evidence has been asserted to prove the Israeli state’s claims. All that the Israeli prosecution has submitted to the court is testimony by Shin Bet officials and interrogators. When Halabi has sought to bring witnesses from Gaza to speak in his defense in the nominally civilian trial, permission has been denied, one after the other, on “security grounds.” Halabi’s lawyer has himself been denied permission to visit Gaza and interview witnesses himself.

Throughout the process, Halabi has refused to sign a plea agreement. Over 90 percent of all Palestinian political cases in Israeli military or civil courts are resolved through plea agreements. The endless hearings and lengthy procedures are themselves a form of intense pressure to force Palestinians to agree to a plea – which is often later then used against them as an “admission of guilt.” The judge in the case pressured Halabi to accept a plea agreement, saying “you know how these issues are handled.”

The Halabi case makes clear that the “civil” guise of Israeli courts is often a sham in cases labeled “security matters” – that is, political prosecutions of Palestinians from occupied Palestine ’48 who hold Israeli citizenship, Jerusalemites or even some Palestinians from Gaza, like Halabi. There is very little difference from the Israeli military courts used for Palestinians from the occupied West Bank.

Halabi’s father issued a call to all international institutions, urging them to pressure Israel to release Halabi and drop the baseless charges. He noted that his son’s health had declined substantially in Israeli prison.

Three years later, Mohammed Halabi remains imprisoned; the Gaza Strip and millions of Palestinians remain under siege. While World Vision has consistently supported Halabi’s defense, each new round of allegations against Palestinian rights defenders by Erdan and his ministry seems to lead to new repressive actions, closures of accounts, intensified surveillance and widespread media coverage, with few questions asked about the authenticity of these assertions.

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network urges the broadest possible support for Mohammed Halabi and all Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. Like Halabi himself, we note that his imprisonment is part and parcel of the political repression of Palestinians and of the siege on Gaza. It is an attempt to continue the siege on Palestinians by all means, including the smearing, torture and imprisonment of charity workers, the targeting of farmers and fishermen and the weekly shooting of popular protesters participating in the Great March of Return.

We also note the complicity of the “international community” not only in the persecution of Mohammed Halabi but, more fundamentally, in the siege of Gaza and the ongoing Nakba targeting the Palestinian people for over 71 years. This case, and those of all over 5,200 Palestinian prisoners, also highlights the critical necessity of escalating the international boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign and the isolation of the Israeli occupation state, confronting official complicity with popular solidarity.

Freedom for Mohammed Halabi and all Palestinian prisoners! Freedom for Palestine, from the river to the sea!

Struggle in Ashkelon Prison: At least 45 Palestinian prisoners announce plans for hunger strike

14 June 2019

At least 45 Palestinian prisoners held in Ashkelon prison by the Israeli occupation have announced plans to launch an open hunger strike on Sunday, 16 June. Repressive measures by the prison administration have escalated since the end of April, and prisoners have reported frequent night raids and invasive searches. Prisoners have been hit repeatedly with costly fines and multiple prisoners have been arbitrarily transferred from one prison to another.

In particular, Nasser Abu Hmaid, a prisoners’ movement leader, was transferred to Nafha prison. He announced that he would join the strike along with his fellow imprisoned Palestinians in Ashkelon prison. The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society said that the announcement reflected the escalating tension inside the prison as Israeli authorities ramp up repression in the months after hundreds of prisoners went on hunger strike against harsh conditions of confinement.

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society also said that the Israeli prison administration announced plans to arbitrarily transfer of a number of Palestinian prisoners. Since the mass hunger strike ended in April 2019, 24 prisoners in Ashkelon have been denied access to the “canteen” or prison store, denied family visits and fined.

The Ashkelon prisoners’ demands include the following:

Ending the invasions and attacks on the prisoners’ rooms
Cancellation of the unjust sanctions on prisoners
Proper healthcare and medical treatment for ill prisoners (Basil al-Na’asan, Yaser Rubayat, Haytham Halas, Mohammad Barash), including dental care and specialist doctors
Introduction of cooling devices in the prison hall
Installation of large fans in the section yard
Change to TV channels
Return of the detainees’ representative (Nasser Abu Hmaid)
Introduction of clothes and books from family members
Separate room for processing and cooking food
Increased recreation time
Photography with wives and parents
Access to hot water during the day
Updating visitor telephones in the family visit rooms
Allowing the purchase of fruits and vegetables from the “canteen” without restriction

This reports comes as Palestinian prisoners in various detention centers have announced that they will return to open hunger strike if the Israeli prison administration continues to violate the agreement that ended the strike. Dozens of prisoners associated with Hamas were suddenly transferred to other wings, many with cell phone jammers installed. Meanwhile, Israeli officials have taken no action to install public telephones in the prisons, a major demand of the strikers which they agreed to in order to end the strike.

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network expresses full solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners in Ashkelon and all prisoners struggling to uphold their dignity and win their freedom from Israeli occupation prisons.

25 June, Berlin: Protest against the “Deal of the Century” and the Manama Normalization Conference

14 June 2019

Tuesday, 25 June
6:00 pm
Brandenburger Tor
Berlin, Germany

The Palestinian committee against the Manama Conference in coordination with the Arab organizations in Berlin calls on all freedom-loving people to protest against the Manama (Bahrain) economic conference and Trump’s so-called “Deal of the Century”.

قفة جماهيرية في برلين.. يوم الثلاثاء الموافق 25.06.2019 إستنكاراً للتطبيع مع الإحتلال ورفضا لمؤتمر البحرين الإقتصادي وصفقة القرن

تدعوكم اللجنة الوطنية الفلسطينية في برلين .. بالتنسيق وبالتعاون مع الجاليات العربية في برلين للمشاركة في وقفة جماهيرية ..مناهضة للتطبيع واستنكاراً لمؤتمر المنامة(البحرين) الإقتصادي ولإسقاط صفقة القرن

المكان: بوابة برلين التاريخية Brandenburger Tor

الزمان: يوم الثلاثاء الموافق 25.06.2019 الساعة السادسة مساءاً 18:00 Uhr ..

وسيبقى شعبنا متمسكاً بثوابته حتى ينال كافة حقوقه.

15 June, London and UK-wide: Boycott Puma Day of Action

14 June 2019

Saturday, 15 June
All Day
See cities and locations below
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/315703645807204/

Take creative action in your town or city on the #BoycottPuma international day of action, calling on Puma to end their complicity with Israeli apartheid!

This is part of an ongoing response to the call from the Palestinian civil society in 2005 for a campaign of Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions (BDS) against Israel until it respects human rights and international law.

Puma is the main sponsor of the Israel Football Association (IFA), which includes football clubs based in illegal Israeli settlements on stolen Palestinian land. All Israeli settlements are considered war crimes under international law.

As one of the world’s top athletic apparel makers, Puma’s sponsorship brings international legitimacy to the IFA and helps maintain its direct involvement with violations of human rights and international law off the field.

Take action and support the call from more than 200 Palestinian teams for Puma to end its support for Israel’s military occupation by terminating its sponsorship deal with the IFA.

Register your action today and bring the #BoycottPUMA campaign to your town or city!

REGISTER: bit.ly/BoycottPuma

Join your local action on the international day of action:

Belfast:
Protest at 2pm, outside Sports Direct, High street, Belfast City centre

Birmingham:
Birmingham Demonstration to Boycott Puma – Global Day of Action, 12 pm, The Puma Store, 40 New Street, Birmingham

Brighton:
Demonstration at 11-1.30pm, outside Sports Direct, 134-138 North St, Brighton BN1 1RG

Cardiff:
Protest at 12pm outside Sports Direct, 9-12 Commercial Street, Newport. NP20 1SJ

Chester:
Demonstration at 11am-1pm, outside Puma, Unit 51 Cheshire Oaks Way, Blacon, Ellesmere Port CH65 9JJ

Halifax:
Picket outside Sports Direct, Green Mount Retail Park, Halifax HX1 5QN

Hastings:
Picket at 12.00 until 14.00 outside Sports Direct, Wellington Place, Give Puma the Boot! Action in Hastings Town Centre

Jersey:
Flyering at 11am at St Helier

London Carnaby Street:
Boycott Puma | London action, 1 pm, Puma Store, 52-55 Carnaby Street, London

London Clapham Junction:
Picket at 1pm outside JD sports

Manchester:
Demonstration to Boycott Puma – International Day of Action, 12 pm, Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester

Plymouth:
Demonstration/ stall at 11am-1pm, outside Sports Direct, New George St, Plymouth City Centre

Sheffield:
Demonstration from 12pm at Meers Brook Park

Slough:
Demonstration at 11am-2pm
90-93 Broad Street, Reading

Southampton:
Stall at 11am-1pm outside Sports Direct, 40-50 Above Bar St, Southampton SO14 7GW

#BoycottPuma

Follow us on Instagram @samidounnetwork