South African Deputy President, dozens of officials and anti-apartheid veterans join solidarity strike for Palestinian prisoners

13 May 2017

Dozens of prominent South African figures, including a number of government ministers and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, will participate in a 24-hour fast and day of action for hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners that begins on Sunday evening, 14 May. The solidarity strike has been organized by a broad coalition of organizations, including the National Coalition for Palestine and BDS South Africa, to support the 1500 Palestinian political prisoners who launched a hunger strike on 17 April, Palestinian Prisoners’ Day.

Participants in the strike will begin fasting at 6:00 pm on 14 May and will only drink salt and water until 6:00 pm on 15 May. As the campaigners noted, “May 15 was symbolically selected for the #DignityStrikeSA campaign to mark the Nakba (Catastrophe) that saw Palestinians being forced to flee their homeland in 1948, and the establishment of Israeli occupation.”

Some of Ramaphosa’s fellow government officials participating in the strike include Dr Aaron Motsoaledi (Minister of Health), Ayanda Dlodlo (Minister of Communications), Naledi Pandor (Minister of Science & Technology), Rob Davies (Minister of Trade & Industry), Ebrahim Patel (Minister for Economic Development), Mmamoloko Kubayi (Minister of Energy), Nomaindia Mfeketo (Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation), Buti Manamela (Deputy Minister in the Presidency), Enver Surty (Deputy Minister of Basic Education), Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams (Deputy Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services), Fatima Chohan (Deputy Minister of Home Affairs), John Jeffery (Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development) and Bongani Mkgoni (Deputy Minister of Police), noted the organizers.

Palestinian prisoners are demanding basic human rights in the ongoing hunger strike: the right to receive family visits, the right to pursue distance higher education, proper health care and medical treatment and an end to solitary confinement and administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial. They have been met with harsh repression, including repeated abusive transfers, confiscation of salt – on which prisoners are dependent to preserve their health – denial of legal and family visits, isolation and solitary confinement of leaders and repeated raids by repressive units inside the prisons.

Multiple former South African political prisoners and anti-apartheid veterans are also joining in the one-day strike, including Ebrahim Ebrahim, a 79-year-old former Robben Island prisoner, Laloo Chiba, an 86-year-old former prisoner, Kehla Subane, a fellow former Robben Island prisoner, Bongani Mbindwane and Trish Hanekom, former anti-apartheid detainees, and Mpho Masemola, Chairperson of the Ex Political Prisoners Association of South Africa, who was denied entry to Palestine by the Israeli occupation earlier this year as he sought to attend a conference on political prisoners.

Well known personalities, liberation icons, activists and political leaders who have also pledged to participate include: Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (Former African Union Chairperson), Gwede Mantashe (ANC Secretary General), Jessie Duarte (ANC Deputy Secretary-General), Faiez Jacobs (ANC Provincial Secretary), Derek Hanekom (Ahmed Kathrada Foundation Chairperson), Sidumo Dlamini (President of the Congress of South African Trade Unions), Mluleki Dlelanga (YCL National Secretary), Khulekani Skosana (Secretary-General of the Congress of South African Students), Sifiso Mtsweni (NYDA Chairperson), Reverend Edwin Arrison (Chairperson of the National Coalition 4 Palestine), Frans Baleni (Deputy Chair of the Development Bank of Southern Africa and former NUM GS), Allan Kolski Horwitz (SA Jews for a Free Palestine), Charles Setsubi (SACP CC member) and Parks Tau (President of the United Cities and Local Government, Chairperson of SA Local Government Association and former Mayor of Johannesburg). They will be joined by South African media celebrities, including radio and television presenters such as Eben Jansen, Hajra Omarjee, Nina Hastie, Kuli Roberts, Shaka Sisulu and media personalities Kay Sexwale, Janet Smith, Jimi Matthews and Yusuf Abramjee.

The demands of the South African solidarity actions include:

a) Israel’s release of all #PalestinianPoliticalPrisoners and an end to its use of “administrative detention” (Apartheid SA’s “detention without trial”).
b) A South African government led solidarity delegation to #PalestinianPoliticalPrisoners.
c) The South African government to support the demands outlined by the Palestinian political prisoners (click here).
d) The South African government to commit to not using any international companies involved in the Israeli prison system as outlined by the BDS Movement such as G4S, HP etc.
e) The South African Parliament and all 9 provincial legislatures to have special sittings in solidarity with the plight of Palestinian political prisoners.

South Africans can register to participate in the strike by emailing palestinianpoliticalprisoners@gmail.com. “We have been receiving tremendous support from a range of individuals, as can be seen from the growing list of ministers, deputy ministers and others. We’re encouraging ordinary South Africans to also make their pledges of support public by emailing us their names and bios, and sharing photos of themselves on social media with the words” ‘I support #DignityStrikeSA,’” said Kwara Kekana of BDS South Africa.

A wide range of South African organizations, including the following, have endorsed the growing campaign in South Africa to support the Palestinian political prisoners. The day of action on 15 May will also include pickets, protests and other street actions in solidarity. A full list of endorsers is available online.

African National Congress (ANC)
Ahmed Kathrada Foundation
Al Jama-ah Political Party
Al Quds Foundation
Amnesty International (Wits)
BDS South Africa
Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)
Equal Education (EE)
Embassy of the State of Palestine
Ex Political Prisoners Association of South Africa
Gandhi Remembrance Organisation
Institute of Palestine South Africa
Jewish Voices for a Just Peace
Kairos Palestine Study Group – South Africa
KZN Palestine Solidarity Forum
MSA (University of Pretoria)
Muslim Judicial Council of South Africa
National Coalition 4 Palestine (which includes more than 40 organizations, trade unions and political parties)
Palestine Museum (South Africa)
Palestine Solidarity Alliance
Palestine Solidarity Alliance Youth League
Palestine Solidarity Campaign Cape Town
Palestine Solidarity Committee
PMB4Palestine Action Group
South African Human Rights Commission
South African Jews for a Free Palestine
South African Municipal Workers Union
South African Prison Organization
#TheWorkZone Radio Talkshow
UCT Palestine Solidarity Forum
UKZN Theology and Development
United Democratic Movement
UP Palestine Solidarity Committee
Wits PSC

Palestinian refugees in Mersin, Turkey commemorate the Nakba and support Palestinian prisoners

13 May 2017

*Photo: Palestinian Refugees Displaced in Mersin*

On the 69th anniversary of the Nakba and in support of the prisoners’ struggle in Israeli occupation prisons, the Palestinian Refugees Displaced in Mersin, Turkey, working together with Turkish parties, institutions and advocacy organizations, rallied on 13 May 2017. The rally emphasized the hunger strike of Palestinian prisoners, launched on 17 April by 1500 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

The rally was introduced in Turkish and Arabic by Salim Zubairi and Mahmoud Salem Abu Abed, before the first speaker, Furat Gedek, representing the Turkish organizations in support of Palestine. He emphasized solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, noting that comrades in Turkey are standing with them in struggle. He denounced Israeli racism and injustice and saluted imprisoned leaders, including Marwan Barghouthi and Ahmad Sa’adat, the General Secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and concluded by urging all people in Turkey and around the world to stand with the Palestinian struggle for liberation.

Bana Mahmoud Salem read a poem in support of the prisoners and their ongoing struggle for freedom and dignity. Her presentation was followed by a talk by Palestinian activist Izzat Ibrahim, in which he emphasized “solidarity with the brave, steadfast prisoners who are fighting the battle of freedom and dignity with an open hunger strike until their just demands are met.” Ibrahim reviewed the demands of the prisoners, including an end to solitary confinement, the end of administrative detention (imprisonment without charge or trial), the provision of appropriate health care and an end to medical neglect, the right to family visits, the right to pursue higher education and the right to have telephone calls with family members on a public pay telephone.

Ibrahim also urged international institutions to uphold their responsibilities to the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, noting that “we are confident in the heroic victory of the Palestinian prisoners.” He also highlighted the 69th anniversary of the Nakba – the 1948 occupation of Palestine and the displacement of over 700,000 Palestinians from their homes, lands and villages. “After 69 years of expulsion, displacement and dispersion of the Palestinian people from their towns and villages in Palestine, we as Palestinian refugees reaffirm our commitment to the right of return to our homeland, Palestine. There is no alternative to the right of return, affirmed in international law,” said Ibrahim.

The event closed with a speech by Sheikh Abu Bakr al-Awawda, who spoke about the struggle of the prisoners and the Palestinian people and saluted the Turkish people for their support of Palestine.

Portuguese parliament declares support for Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike

13 May 2017

The following statement is republished from the Movimento pelos Direitos do Povo Palestino e Pela Paz no Medio Oriente (MPPM). Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network salutes the Portuguese parliament and the movement in Portugal in solidarity with the Palestinian people for this important declaration that emphasizes that Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are far from isolated and silenced – instead, they have the solidarity and support of justice-minded people around the world.

On 11 May, the Assembly of the Republic (Portuguese parliament) approved a text of solidarity with the 1,500 Palestinian political prisoners who have been on hunger strike since 17 April. The text was proposed by MPs Bruno Dias and António Filipe (PCP, Portuguese Communist Party), Joana Mortágua and Pedro Filipe Soares (BE, Left Bloc) and Heloisa Apolónia (PEV, Ecologist Party Greens).

The MPPM welcomes this important manifestation of solidarity by an organ of the Portuguese State.

We hereby publish the full text of the declaration of solidarity.

«DECLARATION OF SOLIDARITY

Towards Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli prisons

A hunger strike involving about 1,500 Palestinian political prisoners has been under way since April 17 in Israeli prisons. They protest against the degrading conditions to which they are subjected, arbitrary arrests, torture and solitary confinement, medical negligence, humiliation, denial of basic rights such as family visits or education.

The response of the State of Israel to the struggle of Palestinian political prisoners was to put some of the most prominent Palestinian leaders in solitary confinement or transfer them to other detention centers, the threat of forced feeding, a practice considered by humanitarian law and medical ethics as a form of torture. More than 6,500 Palestinians are held in Israeli prisons, in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, of which 300 are children and 500 are under administrative detention. Thirteen Members of the Palestinian Parliament remain imprisoned in Israeli prisons.

The struggle of these political prisoners is an expression of the long struggle of the whole people for freedom, against occupation and for their national existence. This form of struggle, now adopted by prisoners of all Palestinian political organizations, underlines once again the importance of solidarity with the Palestinian patriots imprisoned by the Israeli authorities.

Seventy years after the adoption of the Palestine partition plan and fifty years after the occupation of the West Bank of the Jordan River, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights in Syria, it is time for the Palestinian people to realise their inalienable right to the establishment of a free, viable and sovereign State.

Thus, the Assembly of the Republic, meeting in Plenary Session,

1. Expresses its solidarity with the Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli prisons;

2. Calls for the compliance with international law, in particular the Geneva Conventions on the obligations and restrictions of the occupying power, and the respect for the rights and the release of the political prisoners;

3. Reaffirms the position taken by the Portuguese State on the principle of the coexistence of two States, Palestine and Israel, in accordance with the principles established by international law.

Assembly of the Republic, May 10, 2017 »

The voting was as follows. Section 1 approved (in favour: PS – Socialist Party, BE – Left Bloc, PCP – Portuguese Communist Party, PEV – Ecologist Party Greens and PAN – Persons Animals Nature party; against: PSD – Social-Democratic Party, CDS-PP – Democratic-Social Center, and 1 MP of the PS). Section 3 approved (in favour: PSD, PS, BE, CDS-PP, PCP, PEV and PAN; abstention: 2 PS MPs). Section 2 rejected (in favor: BE, PCP, , CDS-PP and 1 MP of the PS, abstention: 2 MPs of the PS).

14 May, Vancouver: Vancouver Protest for Palestinian Political Prisoners

13 May 2017

Sunday, 14 May
4:00 pm
Vancouver Art Gallery
750 Hornby Street
Vancouver, Unceded Coast Salish Territories
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1919935464950812/

This event is taking place on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples.

More than 1,700 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons began a mass hunger strike on April 17th. Their primary demands include:
-Allowing more frequent and lengthy family visits and allowing prisoners to take photographs with their loved ones
-An end to solitary confinement
-An end to administrative detention- prolonged detention without trial or charge. (currently there are more than 500 administrative detainees in Israeli jails)
-An end to medical negligence. More than 50 have died due to medical neglect and another 70 as a result of torture.
-Reduce restrictions on the entry of books, clothing, food, and other items from family members
-Improvements of prison conditions, which include installing public telephones in every prison and providing air conditioners

Currently Israel holds 6,500 Palestinian political prisoners in their jails, from which 500 are admistrative detainees, 57 are females, and 300 are children. Most prisoners have reported being: chained from their arms, beaten, placed in solitary confinement, deprived of sleep, and routinely threatened with harm of family members.

Join us in Vancouver to stand in solidarity, to chant and rally together and shed light on the plight of Palestinian prisoners instead of the silence that is being put forward by mainstream media!
#DignityStrike #Vancouver #Palestine #HungerStrike

Organizations endorsing this event:

1. ILPS Canada- International League of Peoples Struggle
2. Samidoun Palestinian Prisoners Solidarity Network
3. Canada Palestine Association
4. Plan Peace
5. SPHR UBC

Schedule:
[4:00pm – 4:30pm]
————————–——————–
Meet up and chants: While we wait for everyone to gather come and get to know your fellow activists. Bring your best chants or come up with some with your friends and get involved. This time will also include performance art where children will represent the children held in Israeli detention.

[4:30pm – 5:00pm]
————————–——————–
Guest Speakers: Gather around to hear speeches from our supporters who have so graciously endorsed us.

Hanna Kawas – Chairman of the Canada Palestine Association

Maria Atherton – A pro-Palestinian activist, writer, freelance journalist, and member of the Canada Palestine Association

Tarek Ramadan – Head of the Outreach Committee of the Muslim Association of Canada, Human Rights Activist, Writer, and Poet

Carl Rosenberg – Executive Member of Independent Jewish Voices Vancouver

Yousef Barakat – President of the Canadian Arab Forum

Haroun Khan – President of the Pakistan Canada Association

Musa Ismael – Former president of British Columbia Muslim Association

Abubaker Khan – Director of Governmental Relations, Pakistan Canada Association

[5:00pm – 5:30pm]
————————–——————–
Audience Participation: Have something to say about the plight of Palestinian political prisoners? Here is your chance to get engaged and tell us how you feel and take part in the Saltwater Challenge!

[5:30pm – 6:00pm]
————————–——————–
Wrap up: Join us for some last minute chanting and networking before the end of the event.

13 May, Tucson: Tucson Stands with Palestinian prisoners on Hunger Strike!

13 May 2017

Saturday, 13 May
4:00 pm
Speedway and Campbell
Tucson, AZ, USA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1762936984036865/

Join fellow Palestinian solidarity activists as we demonstrate our support for the prisoners on their 4th week of hunger strike to protest the horrific and brutal treatment in Israeli prisons.

We call on the Israelis to meet the demands of the prisoners NOW!

Some signs will be provided and all are welcome to bring their own as we show Tucson and the world we stand in solidarity with Palestine and all Palestinians in prison and especially those on hunger strike!

13 May, Los Angeles: Rally for Palestinian Prisoners on Hunger Strike

13 May 2017

Saturday, 13 May
1:00 pm
Federal Building
11000 Wilshire Blvd
Westwood, Los Angeles, CA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1857581691148713/

Support the Palestinian Prisoners on Hunger Strike! Special Guest Speaker: Aarab Marwan Barghouthi, the son of Palestinian political prisoner, leader Marwan Barghouti. Aarab is credited with launching the #SaltWaterChallenge in support of fasting Palestinian political prisoners.

13 May, NYC: Nakba Day March for Resistance and Return

13 May 2017

Saturday, 13 May
1:00 pm
67th St, 4th Ave
Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1454145594658964/

Rally at 1:00; march at 2:00!

On the 69th anniversary of the occupation of Palestine, and as the Palestinian people near their 70th year of dispossession and exile, we call on all Palestinians, friends of Palestine and supporters of justice and liberation to come together to march and rally, commemorate the Nakba, stand against the continuing Nakba, and call for the right of return for Palestinian refugees and freedom for Palestine.

69 years after the Nakba – the ethnic cleansing of 1948 in which over 800,000 Palestinians were driven from their homes and land, and the state of Israel created on that land – Palestinians continue to struggle for their right to return, for freedom from occupation, for justice, and against the Nakba that continues today.

انضموا الى ائتلاف نيويورك ل فلسطين يوم السبت الموافق ال الثالث عشر من مايو – الساعة الواحدة مساءا في بي ريدج … ليف ايريكسون بارك
Leif Erikson park (67th St and 4th ave(
حيث سيتم احياء الذكرى التاسعة والستين من ذكرى النكبة الفلسطينية عام 1948 حيث تم التطهير العرقي لاكثر من 500 قريبة فلسطينية و تهجير ما يقارب ال مليون فلسطيني وتحويلهم الى لاجئين في الشتات من خلال دولة الاحتلال الصهيوني. انضم الينا انت وأصدقائك وجيرانك وعائلتك . حيث سيكون الحدث عائلي . ننتظر الى لقائكم هناك .
تعيش فلسطين من النهر الى البحر

Sponsored by the NY4Palestine coalition:
Al-Awda -NY
American Muslims for Palestine (NJ Chapter)
American Muslims for Palestine – NY
AMP UPPER NYAmerican Muslims for Palestine.
Committee to Stop FBI Repression NYC
Jews for Palestinian Right of Return
International Action Center
Muslim American Society
NYC Students for Justice in Palestine
Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network

To cosponsor email newyorkcitysjp@gmail.com

13 May, Ottawa: Rally in Solidarity with Palestinian Political Prisoners

13 May 2017

Saturday, 13 May
4:00 pm
Human Rights Monument
Elgin St
Ottawa, Canada
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/895474010593086/

More than 1,500 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails launched a hunger strike on April 17 for their basic human rights.

Join us at the Canadian Human Rights Monument to support their demands and to urge the Canadian government to pressure the Israeli government to stop violating prisoners’ rights!

Demands of the strike include:
* End to denials of family visits
* Access to a public pay telephone to communicate with family members
* Appropriate medical care and treatment for sick prisoners
* Right to access higher education at a distance
* End to solitary confinement
* End to administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial.

The Israeli Prison Service (IPS) has unleashed a wave of repressive tactics, including the denial of family visits, the denial of legal visits, confiscation of clothing (even toothbrushes and underwear), conducting violent prison raids and reportedly confiscating salt from the prisoners; the viral#SaltWaterChallenge campaign on social media has highlighted the way strikers have consumed only a mixture of salt and water to prolong their survival.

Since 1967, more than 800,000 Palestinians have been detained under Israeli military orders. Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International have called on Israel to end “unlawful and cruel” policies towards Palestinian prisoners.

The Canadian Labour Congress passed an emergency resolution at its convention in solidarity with the Palesitnian prisoners’ hunger strike.

For more info:
https://samidoun.net/
http://addameer.org/
#PalHunger #FreedomAndDignity

13 May, Toronto: Protest for Palestinian Political Prisoners

13 May 2017

Saturday, 13 May
2:00 pm
180 Bloor Street W
Toronto, ON
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1326423874115469/

Please send organizational endorsements and media enquiries to palhunger@mail.com.

More than 1,500 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails launched a hunger strike on April 17 for their basic human rights.

Join us at the Israeli Consulate to support their demands and to urge the Canadian government to pressure the Israeli government to stop violating prisoners’ rights!

Demands of the strike include:
* End to denials of family visits
* Access to a public pay telephone to communicate with family members
* Appropriate medical care and treatment for sick prisoners
* Right to access higher education at a distance
* End to solitary confinement
* End to administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial.

The Israeli Prison Service (IPS) has unleashed a wave of repressive tactics, including the denial of family visits, the denial of legal visits, confiscation of clothing (even toothbrushes and underwear), conducting violent prison raids and reportedly confiscating salt from the prisoners; the viral#SaltWaterChallenge campaign on social media has highlighted the way strikers have consumed only a mixture of salt and water to prolong their survival.

Since 1967, more than 800,000 Palestinians have been detained under Israeli military orders. Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International have called on Israel to end “unlawful and cruel” policies towards Palestinian prisoners.

For more info:
https://samidoun.net/
http://addameer.org/
#PalHunger #FreedomAndDignity

Contact us at palhunger@mail.com
Please contact us for accessibility needs as well.

Endorsers
Aboriginal Students’ Association at York University
Actions4Palestine
Afghans Against Extremism – YorkU
Afghans Against Israeli Apartheid
Afghans United for Justice
Barnard-Boecker Centre Foundation – Victoria
Canada Palestine Association
Canadian BDS Coalition
Canadian Federation of Students – Ontario
Canadian Peace Alliance
Christian Peacemaker Teams – Ontario
Communist Party of Canada – Parkdale Club
Faculty for Palestine
Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid
CUPE Ontario
Fightback
Friends of Ghassan Kanafani Foundation
Independent Jewish Voices – Canada
International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network
Justice for Palestinians – Calgary
Kurdish Students’ Association at York University
McMaster Womanists
Organizing Committee Against Islamophobia
Palestinian and Jewish Unity
Palestinian Solidarity Network – Edmonton
Quebec BDS Coalition
Socialist Action
Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights – Concordia
Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights – McMaster
Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights – Western
Stop the JNF – Canada
Students Against Israeli Apartheid at York University
Students for Justice in Palestine at UOIT/DC
Students for Justice in Palestine at Ryerson
Tamil Freedom Coalition
Toronto New Socialists
Toronto Students for Justice in Palestine
United Network for Justice and Peace in Palestine and Israel – Toronto
University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union
United South Asians at York
Women in Solidarity with Palestine
York Federation of Students

13 May, Montpellier: Rally in Solidarity with Hunger Striking Palestinian prisoners

13 May 2017

Saturday, 13 May
4:00 pm
Place de la Comedie
Montpellier, France
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/346323612432613/

Join BDS France 34 to stand with over 1500 Palestinian political prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli jails!

Follow us on Instagram @samidounnetwork