28 April, London: Victory to the Hunger Strike

27 April 2017

Friday, 28 April
3:30 pm
St. Martins-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square
London
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/415527582163715/

Organized by www.inminds.com

On Friday 28th April 2017, Inminds human right group will hold a vigil in central London in solidarity with the largest hunger strike of Palestinian political prisoners in 5 years. Over 1500 Palestinian prisoners from all Palestinian factions united to go on hunger strike six days ago on 17th April 2017. Since then the strike has gained momentum with hundreds more joining everyday.

Inminds chair Abbas Ali said “The occupation has already expressed fear that the security conditions in prisons, and with it their entire prison complex, will collapse due to the hunger strike. To quash the hunger strike they have brutally attacked prisoners in their cells, destroying their belongings and separated the leaders of the hunger strike by forcefully transferring them to other prisons and into solidarity confinement. Prison visits have been banned. They are setting up military field hospitals, out of sight, in the Negev desert to force feed hunger strikers on mass, in contravention of international humanitarian law. It is vital at this critical time that we show our support and solidarity for this hunger strike for freedom and dignity.”

The hunger strikers are demanding basic human rights which Israel as a signatory to the Geneva Conventions should already be providing.

These include:

1) Proper health treatment for sick prisoners . Ramla prison hospital where they are currently taken is unfit for medical care. It has been described as “a slaughterhouse, not a hospital, with jailers wearing doctors’ uniforms.”

2) That prisoners not be charged for their medical care.

3) An end to the denial and cutbacks on family visits. A return to a second monthly visit that was suspended by the Red Cross, and extending the visit duration from 45 mins to 90 mins. Allowing children to visit their mothers in prisoner without barriers so they can hug and kiss them.

4) Humanitarian treatment of prisoners during transportation and transfer, returning the prisoners promptly to prison from clinic and courts. At present prisoner are held shackled in an iron box on the transportation vehicle, the journey of a few miles from the prison to the court can take a full day with no access to a toilet and sometimes no food. One woman prisoner, Dunia Waked, explained that “the journey can begin at 1 a.m. and end at 10 p.m. – 21 hours and during this harsh journey you are subject to ongoing harassment.” Israeli criminal prisoners are let loose on Palestinian political prisoners during the transport.

5) An end to administrative detention and solitary confinement. The United Nations has denounced Israel’s practice of administrative detention where by Palestinians are caged without charge or trial indefinitely on the whim of the Israeli military.

If you support this activity please share this alert widely, thank you.

JazakAllah,

Abbas Ali

Inminds Palestinian Prisoners Campaign
www.inminds.com/caged

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30 April, Padua: Discussion on Palestinian Prisoners

27 April 2017

5:00 pm
Piazetta Padua
(Part of a three-day event, Chinatown Resiste)
Padua, Italy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1664636347088720/photos/gm.641441536063358/1904139093138443/?type=3&theater

The authors Marco Puppini and Anna Digianantonio will present the book, “Against Fascism Across Every Border.” Following the book presentation, Fronte Palestina will present a discussion with Myassar Atyani, director of the cultural committee of the General Union of Palestinian Women in Nablus, on Palestinian prisoners and Palestinian struggle.

General strike in Palestine marks eleventh day of hunger strike

27 April 2017

As Palestinian prisoners entered their 11th day of hunger strike in the Strike for Freedom and Dignity, they were joined by a mass general strike for commerce, labor, governmental and educational sectors throughout the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Palestinian streets were almost empty of cars and passers-by, reported Ma’an News, throughout cities, towns, villages and refugee camps.

Shops, banks, factories, government institutions, universities are all closed; the only exceptions to the strike are high schools and emergency medical services and hospitals.

Over 1,500 Palestinian prisoners launched the hunger strike on 17 April, Palestinian Prisoners’ Day, to achieve a series of demands, including an end to the denial of family visits, the right to education, appropriate medical care for Palestinian prisoners and an end to solitary confinement and “administrative detention,” imprisonment without charge or trial.

Additional prisoners continued to join the strike on Thursday, as former long-term hunger striker Samer Issawi and six of his comrades from the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine joined the strike in the Negev desert prison.

The strikers have been met with significant repression from the Israeli prison administration, including the denial of legal visits from Palestinian lawyers. Of all the hunger striking prisoners, only three prisoners in Ofer prison have successfully received legal visits – all others have been denied. This ongoing practice has sparked a boycott of Israeli military courts by Palestinian lawyers from the Prisoners’ Society and the Prisoners’ Affairs Commission, in protest of the ongoing denial of visits.

Adalah has highlighted the illegality of this measure, representing seven lawyers in a letter to the director of the Supreme Court Department in the Israeli State Attorney’s office, demanding that the Israel Prison Service allow hunger strikers to meet with their lawyers.

In addition, several prisoner support organizations, including the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society and the Prisoners’ Affairs Commission, have advanced a preliminary motion to seek visits with their hunger-striking clients. A motion has also been filed to allow visits for Karim Younes, the longest consecutively-held Palestinian prisoner, who has served 34 years in Israeli prison.

Younes, a Palestinian citizen of Israel, is a leader of the strike and is held in solitary confinement in Jalameh prison, with other strike leaders including Marwan Barghouthi, the jailed Fateh leader, Kamil Abu Hanish of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Anas Jaradat, Wajdi Jawdat, and other leading hunger strikers. A large demonstration gathered outside Jalameh prison organized by Palestinian organizations in occupied Palestine ’48, in support of the hunger strikers on Wednesday, 26 April.

In addition to the transfer and isolation of hunger strike leaders, hunger strikers have been repeatedly transferred and moved in arduous journeys from prison to prison, often moved into isolation sections. Their personal belongings have been confiscated as well as most of their clothing; many have been denied recreation, access to the “canteen” (prison store) and group prayer on Fridays. The transfers have continued; on Thursday, Asra Voice reported that the prison administration has transferred around 40 striking and non-striking prisoners from Nafha, Ramon and Negev prisons to Ohli Kedar prison. There, the prison administration emptied section 8 and transferred the prisoners there into a section without necessary basic supplies or furnishings.

Hunger-striking prisoners are consuming salt and water; in various prisons, there are reports of Israeli prison guards and repressive forces seizing salt supplies, refusing to provide the standard drinking water, and engaging in violent nighttime raids on strikers’ sections.

For the first time since the beginning of the strike, the International Committee of the Red Cross visited striking prisoners in Nafha prison on Wednesday, 26 April. They collected verbal message from the prisoners there to deliver to their families. The ICRC has stated that it has elevated its alert level since the launch of the strike; it should be noted that one of the prisoners’ demands actually addresses the ICRC, demanding it restore twice-monthly prison visits coordinated by the ICRC for prisoners’ families.

A series of solidarity hunger strikes are also taking place today in conjunction with the Palestinian general strike. In Beita municipality, the municipality is organizing a one-day strike; in Gaza, 400 cadres with Islamic Jihad announced that they would engage in a one-day strike on Thursday, 27 April.

In al-Khalil, an open solidarity strike was announced by a number of activists involved in the #DismantleTheGhetto campaign, including the recently-released #AlKhalil4, Badee Dwaik, Anan Dana, Ishaq al-Khateeb and Younes Arar, along with Hisham Sharabati and Bassam Shwaiki.

Internationally, the National Lawyers Guild is organizing a one-day hunger strike of lawyers, legal workers and law students in cities across the United States in support of Palestinian prisoners. In the city of Tampa, Florida, activists are organizing a one-day strike, while student organizers at the University of Manchester in the UK are launching an ongoing hunger strike in solidarity with the prisoners and for a series of demands from their own university.

In support of the actions in Palestine and the hunger strikers’ ongoing struggle, Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network has called for organizing actions from 27-30 April 2017 internationally. Events and actions are scheduled in Vancouver, New York, Gothenburg, London, Berlin, Tampa, Donegal, Armagh, Manchester, Dublin, Belfast, Siena, Brussels, Girona, Parma, Paris, Padua, Athens, Liege, Turin, Stuttgart and more cities.

We urge all supporters of Palestine and friends of justice to come together to take action from 27 April to 30 April and stand with Palestinian prisoners striking for freedom and dignity!

TAKE ACTION

Materials to support your events and organizing are available for download here: https://samidoun.net/2017/03/call-to-organize-palestinian-prisoners-week-of-action-14-to-24-april-2017/ Please contact samidoun@samidoun.net or reach out to us on Facebook for questions or to share your actions.

1) Organize or join an event in support of the hunger strikers. Protest outside your local Israeli embassy, consulate or mission, or at a public square or government building. You can drop a banner or put up a table to support the prisoners and their strike. See the list of current international events here, and add your own: send your events and actions to us at samidoun@samidoun.net, on Facebook, or use the form to tell us about your actions.

2) Hunger Strike for Justice! Join the Palestinian hunger strikers to support their demands with a symbolic one-day hunger strike in your community or on your campus. Tell us about your solidarity strike at samidoun@samidoun.net, on Facebook, or use the form.

3) Call your government officials and demand action. Call your foreign affairs officials – and members of parliament – and urge action for the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike.

Call your country’s officials urgently:

Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop: + 61 2 6277 7500
Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland: +1-613-992-5234
European Union Commissioner Federica Mogherini: +32 (0) 2 29 53516
New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully: +64 4 439 8000
United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson: +44 20 7008 1500
United States President Donald Trump: 1-202-456-1111

Tell your government: Palestinian prisoners are on hunger strike for their basic human rights – for family visits, medical care, and freedom from imprisonment without charge or trial. Governments must pressure Israel to recognize the prisoners’ demands!

4) Take action on social media! Support the hunger strike on social media. Post a picture of yourself with a sign saying you support the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike! Include the hashtag #DignityStrike when posting your photo to Facebook or Twitter. Share and re-share information about the strike with the #DignityStrike hashtag.

5) Build the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Campaign! Join the BDS Movement to highlight the complicity of corporations like Hewlett-Packard and the continuing involvement of G4S in Israeli policing and prisons. Build a campaign to boycott Israeli goods, impose a military embargo on Israel, or organize around the academic and cultural boycott of Israel.

Artists organize to support striking Palestinian prisoners

26 April 2017

Decolonize This Place, an artist/activist initiative in New York City that organizes around indigenous struggle, Black liberation, Free Palestine, workers and de-gentrification, launched a new artistic initiative to support over 1,500 Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike.

The Dignity Strike solidarity initiative, “Visibility Sustains the Struggle,” brings together artists, writers and other cultural workers in support of the strike. “Their strike for dignity and freedom calls on all of us–including cultural workers–to amplify their struggle in confronting the tyranny of jailers. Today, we begin the work of supporting them through art and action in all their forms,” said the call.

Art magazine Hyperallergic posted an article by Decolonize This Place, situating their activism in the BDS movement. “The campaign that launches today is in the spirit of BDS. It answers a call from Palestinians, and it is aimed directly at the forces underpinning the Occupation. The hunger strike reminds us of the life-or-death stakes (now visibly unfolding in real time, hour-by-hour) of the institutional politics of BDS movement.”

Artworks included in the initiative so far include “My Mind Cannot Fathom a Hunger Strike,” by Sneha Ganguly; “Happy Birthday Mumia!” by Kyle Goen; “Free All Palestinian Political Prisoners” by Vaimoana Niumeitolu; “Dignity Strike Banner: Day 9” by Decolonize This Place; “I Remember Bobby Sands” by Nicolas Mirzoeff; “Our Chains Will Be Broken Before We Are,” a quote by Marwan Barghouti, found in graffiti; “From the River to the Sea” by Myriam Vanneschi; and “Gaza, Palestine: June 30, 2014” by Joe Catron.

The initiative welcomes submission from cultural workers in a call for participation. “Since time is of the essence, a rapid-response solidarity initiative of artists and organizers is now being launched to amplify the hunger strike with daily contributions in the form of images, words, voices, and actions of all kinds. As coordinators, we are inviting contributions to be sent to decolonizethisplace@gmail.com; they will be posted here.”

27 April: Lawyers, law students and legal workers plan one-day hunger strike to support Palestinian prisoners

26 April 2017

The National Lawyers Guild in the United States is organizing a one-day hunger strike on Thursday, 27 April in support of Palestinian prisoners as they enter their eleventh day of hunger strike and as Palestinians engage in a general strike for labor, commerce and official business.

The strike will include groups in the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, Detroit and Miami. In San Francisco, the NLG chapter President, Vice President and Director are all participating in the strike, while in New York City, participants include the NLG national President and the International Committee’s co-chair. Individual law students, legal workers and lawyers from across the United States are participating as well. Members of the legal community are invited and encouraged to participate. The call for the strike is below, and at the NLG International Committee website:

On April 27, 2017, join the National Lawyers Guild for a day of legal solidarity with Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails.

Over 1,500 Palestinian political prisoners have launched a hunger strike for their basic human rights. Their demands include the right to receive family visits without denial; appropriate medical care and treatment; and an end to solitary confinement and to administrative detention — imprisonment without charge or trial on the basis of secret evidence.

Join the one-day strike: Add your name on the Google Form: https://goo.gl/forms/crFABBJ63iMk0CqF2

Sign the NLG Statement of Solidarity https://goo.gl/forms/vjTp4HsimALKhnMs1

Palestinian prisoners launched their strike on April 17, Palestinian Prisoners Day. Since then, they have been subjected to harsh and punitive penalties. Strike leaders have been thrown in solitary confinement while striking prisoners have had their clothing and extra blankets confiscated, been kept from recreation and group prayers, and denied family and legal visits. Only three of the 1,500 striking prisoners have been able to receive visits from lawyers since the strike began; this has sparked a boycott of Israeli military courts by Palestinian lawyers and legal organizations.

In response to the hunger strike, Palestinian organizations in Palestine have called for a general strike of both work and commerce on Thursday, April 27. As lawyers, legal workers and law students in the United States, we are urging people in the legal community and profession across the country to join our one-day solidarity hunger strike on April 27.

To connect with local groups organizing in a city or to start a city group, email Charlotte at international@nlg.org.

To sign up and register your individual participation – anywhere across the country – use our Google Form: https://goo.gl/forms/crFABBJ63iMk0CqF2

Resources on Palestinian Prisoners’ Hunger Strike:
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/04/16/opinion/palestinian-hunger-strik-prisoners-call-for-justice.html
https://samidoun.net/2017/04/call-for-action-27-30-april-2017-support-palestinian-hunger-strikers/
http://addameer.org/news/seventh-day-mass-hunger-strike-continues-despite-escalation
https://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=776610

New statement from the Palestinian prisoners’ movement reaffirms urgent call for support

26 April 2017

The Palestinian prisoners’ movement participating in the hunger strike in Israeli prisons issued a new statement on 26 April, the 10th day of the hunger strike which began 17 April 2017, Palestinian Prisoners’ Day.

The over 1500 hunger strikers have a series of demands, including an end to the denial of family visits, the right to appropriate health care, the right to education in prison and an end to solitary confinement and “administrative detention,” imprisonment without charge or trial.

The following statement was released today in Arabic by the Palestinian Prisoners Movement on behalf of the strikers and is translated to English in full below:

In the name of God, the most merciful

“Those to whom hypocrites said, ‘Indeed, the people have gathered against you, so fear them.’ But it merely increased them in faith, and they said, ‘God alone is sufficient for us and he is the best disposer of affairs.'” – the Holy Qur’an

Statement issued by the Palestinian Prisoners’ National Movement
Follow-Up Committee for the Hunger Strike

As the battle of empty stomachs (the battle of freedom and dignity) continues in its tenth day, a wide-scale targeting of activists and strugglers on hunger strike is taking place at the hands of the forces of the occupation prison administration, fully supported by the government of the Zionist enemy. Its prime minister and officials daily declare their refusal to deal with the just demands of the prisoners as they raise the ceiling of racist incitement against the prisoners while promising further oppression and abuse. They do not take advantage of the lessons of the past, where the prisoners have trurned the tables of the prison officials, the intelligence agencies and the occupation state through their steadfastness, determination and struggle. This is another battle in a series of battles fought by the prisoners’ movement throughout its history. It is a landmark of steadfastness and struggle, emphasizing the course of resistance, unity, liberation and victory.

In this context, we are sending a series of messages through this statement to the striking prisoners and those ready to fight in this battle, to the Palestinian people everywhere, to the national and Islamic forces, and to all forces of freedom in the world, in which we affirm our need for support, solidarity, participation and unity as prisoners to confront the challenges imposed by the government of occupation. In this context, we emphasize the following:

First, to the heroic striking prisoners carrying out the battle of empty stomachs for the tenth consecutive day, we are all with you in support and not only with words. The occupation prison administration will be subject to the free will of the captives. We speak with insistence that we will proceed until the achievement of our goals. We are now at the stage of biting our fingers; we are together as brothers, mujahideen and comrades from the first cry. Support is on the way and the coming days will carry new actions to escalate the pace of the strike and achieve its goals. The message now is first to stand up, first to insist and first to adhere to the demands, all of us, and we will stand united to confront the executioner.

Second, all dialogue will be with the striking prisoners and we will not allow any interference whatsoever. We also warn against rumors circulating about the strike that aim to suppress the morale of the strugglers and attempt to limit the popular support for the strike and create a climate of confusion and hesitation. We call for refusing to circulate the news items that the occupation is attempting to broadcast and promote.

Third, we call upon the masses of the Palestinian people for even more support and solidarity through the daily struggle and clashes with the occupation in all locations. Every serious action and movement shortens the duration of the strike and makes it clear to the occupation that the prisoners are not alone. In occupied Palestine ’48 and in Jerusalem, it is possible to be in front of the prisons, and in the West Bank, in the places of engagement with the occupation forces, and in Gaza, which is steadfast every day, your support is critical, and outside Palestine, you are the call of the campaign and the voice of freedom, so that the Palestinian cause will prevail.

Fourth, we call upon the national and Islamic forces to unite under a comprehensive program for Palestinian, Arab and international support and to exert all efforts to support this strike of freedom.

In conclusion, we affirm that the coming days bear the promise of victory, “and those who do wrong will come to know by what overturning they will be overturned.”

Your brothers, mujahideen and comrades
Palestinian Prisoners’ National Movement
26 April 2017
The tenth day of the strike of freedom and dignity

Tenth day of hunger strike: Palestinian prisoners face worsening health as strike grows

26 April 2017

On the tenth day of the Strike of Freedom and Dignity, over 1,500 Palestinian political prisoners are continuing their hunger strike in Israeli jails. On Monday, 24 April, Hadarim prison, which had held approximately 120 Palestinian political prisoners, was nearly emptied by the Israel Prison Service. 100 Palestinian prisoners have previously been transferred into isolation in other prisons and 8 prisoners were slated for transfer to Eshel prison on Monday. However, Hamas leader Ibrahim Hamed was kept inside Hadarim prison, with only a small number of other prisoners, reported Asra Media.

This is particularly notable, as Hadarim prison was the first to join unanimously, with prisoners from all Palestinian political organizations participating in the hunger strike; in fact, the strike itself was announced in a statement from imprisoned Fateh leader Marwan Barghouthi in Hadarim prison. Barghouthi is now held in solitary confinement with other leaders of the strike, including Kamil Abu Hanish, Wajdi Jawdat, Anas Jaradat and Karim Younes.

Palestinian prisoners in Ramon prison who have not yet joined the strike begain to escalate protest actions, reported the Handala Center for Prisoners and Former Prisoners, noting that a number of prisoners had begun to return meals as part of escalating protests. In addition, 11 prisoners of the leftist Populr Front for the Liberation of Palestine in Megiddo prison, led by Nidal Daghlas and Sami Subuh, entered the hunger strike.

Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike continue to be subject to denials of legal visits; only three prisoners in Ofer prison have received visits so far and new denials of visit requests were received from Megiddo and Ashkelon prisons. Hunger strikers are calling for the implementation of a series of demands, including an end to the denials of family visits, appropriate medical care for Palestinian prisoners and an end to solitary confinement and “administrative detention,” imprisonment without charge or trial.

Addameer lawyers Mona Naddaf, Samer Samaan and Farah Bayadsi visited non-striking prisoners in Nafha, Hadarim and Ashkelon prisons on Tuesday, 25 April, after being denied visitation with striking prisoners. The non-striking prisoners relayed information about the conditions of the strikers, including that in Hadarim, sick prisoners were taken to Section 5, a civilian detention center with no television or electrical devices and only bare sleeping mats. In all of the prisons, strikers are isolated, denied family visits, legal visits and group prayers; there are multiple reports of confiscation of salt, and prisoners must drink from the tap rather than the usually-provided drinking water.

Following the launch of the strike on 17 April, Palestinian Prisoners’ Day, strikers have been hit with an array of repressive sanctions, including blocking family visits, group prayer and recreation and confiscation of clothing, blankets and other materials. Many strikers have been moved into isolation while many others have been repeatedly transferred from prison to prison. These transfers continued on Tuesday as the prison administration transferred Mohammed Musleh, Basil Aref, Naim Misran, Zia al-Agha, Rami al-Aila and Hussein al-Zuraie were taken from Gilboa to Nafha prison. Basil al-Asmar and Ahmed Obeidat were transferred on Tuesday from Nafha to Ramle prison; the Handala Center noted that “these moves are an attempt to create a state of instability and stress on the strike leaders as part of a pressure campaign against them.”

On Tuesday, 25 April, several striking prisoners, including Musallam Thabet, Mohammed Abed Rabbo and Amjad al-Namoura, experienced deterioration of their health, one day after isolated imprisoned Fateh leader Marwan Barghouthi experienced a deterioration in his health, refusing treatment or examination. Several seriously ill prisoners are participating in the hunger strike, including heart patients Said Musallam, Nazih Othman and Riad Amour, who is so ill that he is permanently held in the Ramle prison clinic. Also participating on the strike are Ibrahim Abu Mustafa, ill with serious heart and kidney disease, and Kamal Abu ‘Ar, who suffers from liver cancer.

Popular support for the strike continued throughout Palestine as prisoner support tents filled with families and supporters of the strikers and marchers took to the streets. On Tuesday, 25 April, the national committee to support the strike urged the boycott of Israeli goods, calling on merchants and traders not to sell these goods in order to support the prisoners in their strike.

Outside Gilboa prison, where hundreds of prisoners are participating in the hunger strike, the families of Palestinian prisoners from Jerusalem and Palestine ’48 gathered in support of their hunger-striking loved ones. Participants in the protest include Amjad Abu Assab, the chair of the association of families of prisoners in Jerusalem and Osama Saadi, member of the Knesset. The participants raised pictures of their children and the Palestinian flag. This protest joined actions in Haifa, Yafa, Nablus, Salfit, Ramallah, al-Khalil, Gaza City and throughout Palestine.

Thursday, 27 April will mark a general strike for all commercial, educational, governmental, university and labor sectors in occupied Palestine in support of the prisoners’ strike. Also on Thursday, new prisoners will join the strike in Ofer, Megiddo, Negev and Ramon prisons, reported Ma’an News, including former long-term hunger striker Samer Issawi, who has had his original sentence reimposed by an Israeli military commission on the basis of secret evidence; he was freed in the 2011 Wafa al-Ahrar prisoner exchange.

International support for the prisoners has also continued to grow. On Thursday, in conjunction with the general strike, lawyers, legal workers and law students in the United States working with the National Lawyers Guild will engage in a one-day hunger strike, while an artists’ mobilization for the hunger strike is being organized by Decolonize This Place. Neoklis Sylikiotis, the chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Relations with Palestine, issued a statement on Monday, 24 April following its meeting in Brussels in support of the hunger strikers’ demands for rights and dignity.

South African activists, including former prisoners of the anti-apartheid movement, also came together for a press conference in Johannesburg on Monday to announce a series of nationally coordinated actions in support of the Palestinian prisoners’ strike. Omar Barghouti, a prominent leader and of the Palestinian Boycott National Commission (BNC), was awarded the Gandhi Peace Prize in New Haven, Connecticut on 24 April, where he dedicated the prize to the strikers:

“As I humbly accept the Gandhi Peace Award for 2017, I dedicate it to the heroic Palestinian political prisoners on hunger strike in Israel’s apartheid dungeons and to every Palestinian refugee yearning to return home to Palestine to reunite with the land and the homeland.”

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network urges all supporters of Palestine and friends of justice to come together to take action from 27 April to 30 April and stand with Palestinian prisoners striking for freedom and dignity!

TAKE ACTION

3) Call your government officials and demand action. Call your foreign affairs officials – and members of parliament – and urge action for the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike.

Call your country’s officials urgently:

Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop: + 61 2 6277 7500
Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland: +1-613-992-5234
European Union Commissioner Federica Mogherini: +32 (0) 2 29 53516
New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully: +64 4 439 8000
United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson: +44 20 7008 1500
United States President Donald Trump: 1-202-456-1111

Samidoun Athens event supports Palestinian political prisoners’ struggle for liberation

25 April 2017

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network officially launched its organizing in Athens, Greece with a large event on Monday, 24 April in support of the Palestinian prisoners’ collective hunger strike and marking Palestinian Prisoners’ Day. The event, “Palestinian Prisoners’ Struggle for Freedom and Liberation,” was held at the Athens University of Economics and Business, was attended by over 100 people, including Palestine organizers, students and activists from a number of organizations in Athens.

Mohammed Khatib, the Europe coordinator of Samidoun, opened the event with a welcome to the audience in a large hall hung with a massive “Freedom for Palestine” banner and three posters honoring imprisoned Palestinian leftist political leader Ahmad Sa’adat, the General Secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine; Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, the Lebanese struggler for Palestine imprisoned in France for nearly 33 years; and Basil al-Araj, the Palestinian youth leader assassinated by Israeli occupation forces on 6 March.

Charlotte Kates, the international coordinator of Samidoun, spoke about the current hunger strike among Palestinian prisoners as part of a long history of hunger strikes, struggle and resistance inside Israeli jails. She began her remarks by saluting the hunger strikers and all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, as well as a special salute to Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, who launched a three-day hunger strike on 24 April along with Basque and Arab comrades in Lannemezan prison to join the Palestinian prisoners’ struggle.

Noting that 2017 marks 100 years of the colonization of Palestine and 100 years of Palestinian resistance, she provided a short overview of the history of the Palestinian prisoners’ movement as part of the liberation struggle. Kates highlighted the use of imprisonment as a mechanism of colonial control from British colonization to Zionist colonization.

She provided current statistics, facts and information concerning the approximately 6,500 Palestinian prisoners held now in Israeli jails, including approimately 60 women and 300 children. Outlining forms of detention, Kates highlighted Israeli military courts that convict over 99 percent of those brought before them, as well as “administrative detention,” or the imprisonment of Palestinians without charge or trial on te basis of secret evidence. She provided an overview of the demands of the hunger strikers, including the end to denials of family visits, appropriate medical care, the right to education and an end to solitary confinement and administrative detention.

In conclusion, Kates urged international solidarity with the prisoners’ strike, noting that events like this one and the protests scheduled for next Monday and Tuesday in Athens are part of a growing global movement in support of Palestinian freedom; the prisoners’ struggle is not simply to reform their conditions of detention or even for their own release, but an integral part of the struggle for the liberation of the land and people of Palestine.

Tarek Kishawi, a Palestinian youth organizer in Greece, examined the current situation of refugees and migrant people in Greece, including the involvement of NATO and the “Fortress Europe” policy that has led to the criminalization of people migrating and fleeing war and destruction. Kishawi noted that the situation is treated as a “refugee crisis” or a “migrant crisis,” as if there is a natural disaster, without noting the political forces, including the European Union and the United States, whose own policies have created disaster, war and destruction around the world, forcing people to migrate to seek safety.

He noted the increased level of militarization, including the involvement of NATO and the European Union in administering detention camps for people in migration on the Greek islands, undermining Greek sovereignty at the same time that refugees’ own human and civil rights are denied. Refugees, he said, are treated as a security issue or a source of intelligence and at best a humanitarian concern, without real regard for the political and social causes of their forced journeys.

In addition, Kishawi highlighted the role of the EU/Turkey deal in consolidating a security framework with a repressive state, evidencing clear disregard for the rights of refugees. In response, he urged the importance of the self-organization and mobilization of refugees, migrants and communities in exile to demand their rights and address key political questions, including their involvement in struggles for a new society in Greece and internationally.

Kishawi was followed by long-time Greek radical lawyer Yiannis Rachiotis, who provided a legal analysis of the illegitimacy of the Israeli state and the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination, national liberation and resistance. He outlined the refusal of Israel to conform to the structures of statehood, including its lack of a constitution or recognized borders, operating instead as a colonial project over the Palestinian people and their land.

He emphasized that this analysis is related to the nature of the state as a settler colonial project before addressing the daily crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people. In addition, he highlighted Israel’s false claims to “democracy” or being the “only democracy in the region,” when the reality is that a state based on the exclusion of Palestinians is far from a democracy and its current leadership includes an array of far-right, fascist figures.

Rachiotis slammed the role of the Greek state and especially the current Syriza government under Alexis Tsipras, in bowing to the dictates of the United States and deepening cooperation at all levels, especially militarily and economically, with Israel. He denounced attempts to build a “Greece-Cyprus-Israel-Egypt” axis for gas exploitation and “regional security,” noting that it places Greece in the position of alliance with the most reactionary forces, and always under the auspices of the United States.

The event concluded with a presentation on the Palestinian political scene today by Khaled Barakat, Palestinian leftist writer and the coordinator of the international Campaign to Free Ahmad Sa’adat. Barakat highlighted the Palestinian people’s struggle over 100 years, noting that throughout this time, Palestinians have not only faced Israel but also imperialism, especially the United States in the present day, and Arab reactionary regimes who have come together to repress the Palestinian people’s cause.

He further discussed the danger posed to the Palestinian cause by attempts to replace the so-called “two state solution” with something even worse for the Palestinian people, the revival of the “self-rule government” or Village Leagues in line with powerful capitalist interests allied with the Palestinian Authority. Barakat emphasized the importance of confronting and challenging the ongoing “peace process” and negotiations, including the upcoming meeting between PA President Mahmoud Abbas and US President Donald Trump, warning that it may accompany new efforts to impose “apartheid as a solution” on the Palestinian people while mobilizing for intensified and expanded war in the region. Barakat noted that this influential layer of the Palestinian capitalist class in alignment with the PA represents a true threat to the achievement of the national goals of return and liberation for the Palestinian people as a whole.

Barakat emphasized that the “peace process” has always been one of war and devastation for Palestinians, noting the near-tripling of settlement activity in the West Bank, the three wars on Gaza in the last decade, the Zionization of Jerusalem and attempts to eradicate its Arab identity, and the ongoing, racist attacks on Palestinians in occupied Palestine ’48. Despite the difficult and severe situation faced by the Palestinian people today, he emphasized that he remains optimistic, noting that only through struggle may the balance of power be changed.

Focusing on the international nature of the Palestinian struggle, Barakat noted that the Palestinian flag and kuffiyeh are international symbols of struggle and resistance to imperialism, Zionism and oppression. He recalled the long history of mutual support and assistance between the Palestinian movement and other national liberation movements. Barakat advanced a vision of a liberated, unified Palestine based on a framework of social justice, equality and liberation, and urged action and struggle to support the Palestinian people in achieving their victory, a victory for all oppressed peoples in the world today.

The Samidoun event was also officially supported by a resolution of the university’s student council expressing solidarity with the Palestinian political prisoners and the popularization of their struggle in Greece. The event concluded with enthusiastic discussion about the Palestinian struggle and the role of the Palestinian prisoners, including efforts to support the protests next Monday and Tuesday in Athens in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners as part of global actions for the Strike for Freedom and Dignity.

Schedule of Events: Actions around the world for Palestinian Prisoners Day 2017 Week of Action

25 April 2017

Send your events and actions to us at samidoun@samidoun.net, on Facebook, or use the form to tell us about your actions. We will be regularly updating this international list of events and actions for Palestinian Prisoners’ Day.

Organizers in Palestine and around the world are gearing up for the international week of action for Palestinian prisoners from 14 to 24 April, marking Palestinian Prisoners Day on 17 April.

Every year, on 17 April, Palestinian prisoners, the Palestinian people, and supporters of justice and liberation for Palestine all over the world mark the International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners.

This date is one of protests, rallies, marches, forums and actions to commemorate, support and build solidarity for the struggle of imprisoned Palestinians. In 2017, we join with the Palestinian prisoners’ movement in urging all organizations and people of conscience to organize actions for Palestinian freedom between 14 and 25 April 2017 in commemoration of Palestinian Prisoners’ Day. Read the Samidoun call to action for 2017 and download posters and flyers for your events.

Please add your own local actions to this list! Email us at samidoun@samidoun.net, on Facebook, or use the form to tell us about your actions. Building this strong list of actions around the world will help to underline the global support for Palestinian political prisoners in their struggle for freedom, and the struggle of the Palestinian people for liberation.

Friday, 28 April

Belfast, Ireland – 5 pm to 10 am Saturday 29 April, Old Andersonstown Barracks Site, Falls Road, Belfast: Freedom and Dignity Vigil. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/207587066411186/ Organized by Socialist Republicans for Palestine

Girona, Spanish state – 6 pm, Pont de Pedra, Girona: Solidarity with Palestinian prisoners on Hunger Strike! Organized by BDS Catalonia, BDS Girona

Brussels, Belgium – 5 pm, Carrefour de l’Europe (near Gare central), Brussels: Rally to support Palestinian Prisoners. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1906291959641425/ Organized by Association Belgo-Palestinienne, Palestina Solidariteit

Dublin, Ireland – 5 pm, GPO, O’Connell Street, Dublin: Dublin Freedom and Dignity Vigil. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/103190163580006/ Organized by Socialist Republicans for Palestine

New York, NY, USA – 5:30 pm, Best Buy Union Square, 52 E. 14th Street, New York City: Protest to support the hunger strike and stop HP. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/424742754552584/ Organized by Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network

London, UK – 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm, Charing Cross Road next to St-Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square, London: Vigil in Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners Hunger Strike. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/415527582163715/ Organized by Inminds

Parma, Italy – 8:30 pm, Il Pedale Veloce, Borgo Bernabei 29, 43100 Parma: Occupation, Repression and Resistance in Palestine. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/273546809759141/ Organized by Gruppo Azione Palestina.

Berlin, Germany – 7 pm, von Wittenbergplatz bis Joachimstaler Str, Berlin: Solidarity with Hunger-Striking Palestinian Prisoners. For more information: http://palaestina-solidaritaet.de/2017/04/26/berlin-sa-29-04-2017-menschenkette-in-solidaritaet-mit-den-palaestinensischen-und-arabischen-gefangenen/ Organized by the Palestinian National Action Committee in Berlin.

Montreal, Quebec – 12 pm to 1 pm, Carre Westmount, Westmount, QC: Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/419541931740374/ Organized by PAJU (Palestinian and Jewish Unity)

Copenhagen, Denmark – 5:30 pm to 6:15 pm, Lundvangsvej 4, 2900 Hellerup: Solidarity with the hunger striking Palestinian prisoners. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/757547721080888/ Organized by Internationalt Forum

Aarhus, Denmark – 4 pm, Radhuspladsen 1, Aarhus: Protest for Palestinian Prisoners on Hunger Strike. Organized by the Committee of Associations to Support the Prisoners.

Albany, NY, USA – 2 pm to 4:30 pm, West Capital Park, Albany: When I see them, I see us: Public Protest. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1400935433271604/ Organized by Queer Palestinian Empowerment Network (QPEN)

Strasbourg, France – 6 pm, FNAC, Place Kleber, Strasbourg: Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners on Hunger Strike

Saturday, 29 April

Paris, France – 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm, Place de la Republique, Paris: Rally for the Palestinian Prisoners. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/202604946912253/ Organized by GUPS France, CAPJPO-EuroPalestine and more

Gothenburg, Sweden – 1 pm to 3 pm, Fredsbron, SE-411 O7 Gothenburg: Demonstration for the Palestinian prisoners. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/290914928021175/ Organized by Palestine House in Gothenburg.

Rome, Italy – 5:30 to 7:30 pm, Palestinian Documentation Center, Via dei Savorgnan 40, Rome: Screening of “Sogni Reclusi” (Dreams of the inmates) and connection with the Handala Center for Palestinian Prisoners. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1933196126916648/ Organized by Palestinian Documentation Center

London, UK – 2 pm to 4 pm, Israeli Embassy, 2 Palace Green, London: Protest for hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1703123046370362/ Organized by a number of organizations.

Torino, Italy – 4 pm, Presidium in Piazza Castello, Torino: Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners. Organized by Invicta Palestina and a number of groups.

Memphis, Tennessee, USA – 10 am to 3 pm, Overton Park (The Greensward), Memphis: Palestine Festival. Prisoner Solidarity at the Memphis Voices for Palestine stand at the festival. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1846479925570758/ Organized by Memphis Voices for Palestine

Washington, DC, USA – 10 am to 12 pm, the White House, Washington, DC: Support Palestinian Prisoners’ Hunger Strike. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/105794673322368/

Berlin, Germany – 2 pm to 6 pm, Info Stand, 6 pm to 8 pm, Demonstration, Potsdamer Platz, Berlin: Solidarity Demonstration with the Palestinian Prisoners in Israeli Jails.

Koblenz, Germany – 4 pm to 6 pm, An der Herz-Jesu Kirche, Lohrstrasse 1a, Koblenz: Demonstration for Palestinian Prisoners. For more information: http://palaestina-solidaritaet.de/2017/04/26/koblenz-sa-29-04-2017-kundgebung-fuer-die-palaestinensischen-gefangenen/. Organized by the Palestinian Community in Koblenz.

Bremen, Germany – 11 am, Domsheide Square, Bremen: Solidarity with Palestinian Political Prisoners on Hunger Strike

Albertville, France – 2 pm to 4 pm, from the Sous-Prefecture, Albertville: Silent March for Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike. For more information: http://www.france-palestine.org/Marche-silencieuse-dans-les-rues-d-Albertville-en-soutien-aux-prisonniers Organized by AFPS of Albertville

Winnipeg, Canada – 1 pm to 2 pm, Good Will Social Club, 625 Portage Avenue Winnipeg: Info Conference on Palestinian Freedom and Dignity Hunger Strike. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/rafe.abdulla.9/posts/10212931323947181

Bonn, Germany – 2 pm to 4 pm, Friedensplatz, Bonn: Info Stand on BDS and Palestinian prisoners’ hunger strike. for more information: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bds.bonn/permalink/1906146039597085/ Organized by BDS-Gruppe Bonn.

Montpellier, France – 4 pm, Place de la Comedie, Montpellier: Solidarity with Palestinian prisoners. For more information: https://bdsf34.wordpress.com/2017/04/26/samedi-29-avril-16h-place-de-la-comedie-montpellier-soutien-aux-prisonniers-palestiniens/ Organized by BDS France 34

Magusa, Cyprus – Palestine night with the #SaltWaterChallenge. Organized by the Palestinian community in Cyprus

Odense, Denmark – 3 pm, Radhuspladsen, Odense: Demonstration to support Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike

Sunday, 30 April

Padua, Italy – 5 pm, Piazetta Padua: Discussion with Fronte Palestina and Myassar Atyani on Palestinian prisoners (part of a three-day event). For more information: https://m.facebook.com/events/638319456375566?view=permalink&id=641441536063358 Organized by Fronte Palestina

Milan, Italy – 4 pm, Piazza Cordusio, Milan: solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners on Hunger Strike. Organized by the Palestinian Association in Italy.

Malmo, Sweden – 5 pm, Mollevangstorget, Malmo: Protest in Solidarity with Palestinian Political Prisoners. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/675338782662300/ Organized by Palestine Group Malmo

Melbourne, Australia – 3 pm to 5:30 pm, Trades Hall, 54 Victoria Street, Melbourne: Palestinian Prisoners’ Day Event. for more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1279677832086814/ Organized by Fateh Movement Melbourne.

Beirut, Lebanon -All Day, 24 Hour Hunger Strike for Palestinian prisoners. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/436204716734040/

Monday, 1 May

Athens, Greece – 10:30 am, Gather on Patission and Chalkokondili, march to Syntagma Square and then to Israeli Embassy, Athens: Support Palestinian Political Prisoners. More information: http://laiki-enotita.gr/?p=8410 Organized by Popular Unity.

Liege, Belgium – 12 pm, Place Saint-Paul, Liege: Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners on Hunger Strike. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1298181800259724/ Organized by Association Belgo-Palestinienne-Liege.

Copenhagen, Denmark – 12 pm to 5 pm, Faelledparken, Copenhagen: Tent for Palestinian Prisoners at May Day, with the participation of artist Salim Assi. Organized by the Palestinian National Alliance in Denmark.

New York, NY, USA – 3 pm, Whole Foods at Union Square, NYC: Palestine Contingent for May Day. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/423457958018949/ Organized by NYC Students for Justice in Palestine

Lille, France – 10 am, Porte de Postes Lille, behind the banner of AFPS Nord-Pas de Calais, Lille: Palestine contingent in May Day demonstration. Organized by AFPS Nord-Pas de Calais

Arras, France – 10 am to 6 pm, Stand of AFPS Nord-Pas de Calais, Place des Héros, near the belfry, Arras: Book Fair for May Day. Organized by AFPS Nord-Pas de Calais.

Lyon, France – 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, Place Jean Mace to Place Bellecour, Lyon: Solidarity and freedom for Palestinian prisoners! For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/290277098094266/ Organized by Collectif 69 Palestine

Metz, France – 11 am, Hotel de ville, Metz: Balloons and Palestinian flags at May Day event, Metz. For more information: http://www.agencemediapalestine.fr/blog/2017/04/28/rassemblements-de-soutiens-aux-prisonniers-palestiniens/ Organized by AFPs Meurthe and Moselle Nord

Poitiers, France – 10:30 am, Place d’Armes, Poitiers: Palestine contingent for May Day. For more information: http://www.agencemediapalestine.fr/blog/2017/04/28/rassemblements-de-soutiens-aux-prisonniers-palestiniens/

Montpellier, France – 10:30 am, Place Zeus (Antigone), Montpellier: Participation in Palestine Contingent for Palestinian Prisoners on May Day. For more information: https://bdsf34.wordpress.com/2017/04/29/1er-mai-les-syndicats-palestiniens-appellent-a-lintensification-du-bds/ Organized by BDS France 34

Lausanne, Switzerland – 5 pm, gathering, followed by event at 6:30 pm, Lausanne May Day event – support Palestinian political prisoners! For more information: http://europalestine.com/spip.php?article12925

Albertville, France – 10 am to 12 pm, Place de l’Europe, Albertville: Information Table on Palestinian political prisoners at May Day event

Paris, France – May Day rally and march, Place de la Republique to Nation, Paris: Salute Palestinian resistance on hunge rstrike. For more information: http://europalestine.com/spip.php?article12925

Beziers, France – May Day rally, before the departure of May Day march, Beziers: Information table for Palestinian prisoners. For more information: http://europalestine.com/spip.php?article12925

Saint-Etienne, France – 3 pm to 5 pm, City Center, Saint-Etienne: May Day gathering – support Palestinian prisoners.

Berlin, Germany – 1 PM, Karl-Marx-Platz, Berlin-Neukolln: Red May 1st. For more information: http://erstermai.wordpress.com

Berlin, Germany – 4 pm, Lausitzer Platz, Berlin-Kreuzberg: Revolutionary 1 May Demonstration, Internationalist Block. For more information: http://palaestina-solidaritaet.de/2017/04/26/berlin-01-05-revolutionaere-1-mai-demonstration/

Cologne, Germany – 12 pm, Hans-Buckler-Platz, Cologne: Information on solidarity with Palestinian prisoners at the May Day demonstration. Organized by the Palestinian community of Cologne.

London, UK – 11 am, Clerkenwell Green, 1 pm march to Trafalgar Square, 2 pm Rally, Sun Tavern, 66 Long Acre, London: May Day March, Palestinian contingent participation for Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1850138368541836/

Los Angeles, CA, USA – 10 am to 4 pm, Broadway and Olympic, Los Angeles: Palestine Contingent in May Day demonstration. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/217253992095826/ organized by LA4Palestine, Al-Awda and Jews for Palestinian Right of Return

North Bergen, NJ, USA – All Day, American Muslims for Palestine – NJ, 9020-28 Palisade Plaza, North Bergen: Fast4Justice. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1834959813495495/ Organized by AMP-NJ

Oakland, CA, USA – 3 pm rally, 4 pm march, Fruitvale Bart Plaza (International Boulevard between 35th and Fruitvale), Oakland: AROC Contingent March on May Day for immigrants, workers and Palestinian political prisoners. Contingent will meet in front of Reem’s (3301 E. 12th St #133, Oakland) at 3 pm. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1239048449465541/ Organized by Arab Resource and Organizing Center (AROC)

Tuesday, 2 May

Athens, Greece – 6:00 pm, Israeli Embassy (Kifissias Av) 2 Triti, Athens: Protest in solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners. For more information: https://athens.indymedia.org/post/1572308/ Organized by Solidarity Meeting on Palestinian Prisoners on Hunger Strike

Helsinki, Finland – 5 pm to 7 pm, Mannerheiminaukio 2, Helsinki: Palestinian Prisoners Solidarity Protest. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1673130756326326/ Organized by Suomen Palestiinalaisten Siirtokuntayhdistys

Wednesday, 3 May

Turin, Italy – 5 pm to 8 pm, Campus Luigi Einaudi, Lungo Dora Siena 100, Turin: Palestinian Political Prisoners – meeting with Myassar Atyani. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1884362401802715/ Organized by Progetto Palestina

Cardiff, Wales – 2 pm to 4 pm, McDonalds Queen Street, Cardiff: Free the Hunger Strikers South Wales Palestine Action. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/420709361626784/ Organized by South Wales Palestine Action

Charleroi, Belgium – 6 pm, Salle Hamignie, Rue Leon Bernus 9, Charleroi: Stop the Belgian collaboration with the Israeli Police. For more information: http://www.pourlapalestine.be. Organized by Plate-forme Charleroi-Palestine

Coventry, UK – 3 pm to 5 pm, The Piazza, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry: Support Palestinian Prisoners on Hunger Strike. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/648053568728712/ Organized by Warwick Friends of Palestine Society

Paris, France – 7 pm to 10 pm, Salle de l’International, 5/7 Rue Moret, Paris: Concert of Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/222469588239529/ Hosted by Association France Palestine Solidarite

Thursday, 4 May

Oslo, Norway – 5 pm to 7:45 pm, Eldorado Bookstore, Torggata 9 A, Oslo: Legal Aid to Palestinian Children. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1264018033686237/ Organized by the Campaign for Palestinian Children in Israeli Military Prisons

Galway, Ireland – 7 pm, Eyre Square, Galway: Vigil in Solidarity with Palestinian Hunger Strike. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1091693810934870/ Organized by Galway Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Friday, 5 May

Dublin, Ireland – 6 pm, O’Connell Bridge, Dublin: Palestinian Hunger Strike Solidarity/1981 Black Flag Vigil. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/659119907622292/ Organized by eirigi.

Edinburgh, UK – 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, outside St Johns, West End, Princes Street, Edinburgh: solidarity with Palestinian Political Prisoners. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1855017678069771/ Organized by SPSC Edinburgh.

Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA – 7 pm to 9 pm, US Federal Courthouse, 299 E. Broward Blvd, Fort Lauderdale: Rally in Solidarity with Palestinian Hunger Strike. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/579931158844268/ Organized by Al-Awda South Florida.

Saturday, 6 May

Stuttgart, Germany – 4 pm to 6 pm, Konigstrasse Ecke Marstallstrasse, Stuttgart: Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners on Hunger Strike.

Dublin, Ireland – 2 pm to 3 pm, Henry Street Shopping District, Dublin: Solidarity Picket in support of Irish and Palestinian prisoners. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1853156531613096/ Organized by End Internment

Berlin, Germany – 10 am to 6 pm, Alexanderplatz, Berlin: Hunger strike action in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners. Organized by the Palestinian National Action Committee in Berlin.

Brussels, Belgium – 4 pm, Place de la Monnaie/Muntplein, Brussels: Protest in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike. Organized by a group of Belgian associations.

Cologne, Germany – 3 pm, Domplatte, Cologne: Solidarity with Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike. Organized by the Palestinian community of Cologne.

Sunday, 7 May

Sydney, Australia – 12 pm, Hyde Park, Elizabeth Street, Sydney: Solidarity with Palestinian Hunger Strikers at May Day Rally. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1521817667868976/

PAST EVENTS:

Friday, 14 April

New York City, US – 5:30 pm, Best Buy Union Square, 52 E. 14th St, NYC: Protest to free Palestinian prisoners and boycott HP. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/191869654662310/ Organized by Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network.

Vienna, Austria – 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm, OKAZ – Österreichisch Arabisches Kulturzentrum, Gusshausstraße 14/3, 1040 Vienna: Commemoration of the 40th day of the assassination of Basil al-Araj. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/187418165107576/ Organized by the Friends of Basil al-Araj, with OKAZ, Handala Palestinian Cultural Forum, Palestine Arab Club.

Saturday, 15 April

Manchester, UK – 12 pm to 3 pm, Picadilly Gardens, Manchester: BDS protest: Manchester Day of Action for Palestinian Prisoners. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/424909251209003/ Organized by the Manchester Boycott Israel Group.

Berlin, Germany – 3 pm, Rathaus Neukölln, Karl-Marx-Strasse 83, Berlin. Protest for Palestinian Political Prisoners, on the 40th day of the assassination of Basil al-Araj. For more information: http://palaestina-solidaritaet.de/2017/03/30/berlin-sa-15-04-2017-kundgebung-zu-politischen-gefangenen/ https://www.facebook.com/events/1854956604763820/ Organized by the Democratic Palestine Committees – Berlin.

London, UK – 3 pm to 5pm, Under Hungerford / Golden Jubilee Bridges on the Southbank, London: Palestinian Prisoners Day London. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1986958591533520/ Organized by Inminds.

Paris, France – 3 pm to 6 pm, Metro Jourdain, Paris: Journée de solidarité avec les prisonniers Palestiniens. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/678719208979900/ Organized by a number of associations, including GUPS, AFPS, Comite Palestine 19, UJFP

Lyon, France – 3 pm, Place Le Viste (Angle Rue de la République, place Bellecour), Lyon: Rally to free Palestinian prisoners. Organized by Collectif 69 de Soutien à la Palestine

Rennes, France – 12 pm to 2 pm, Place de Zagreb, Rennes: Balloon launch for the Palestinian prisoners. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1823001917963476/ Organized by Jeunes Communistes 35

Gennevilliers, France – 1:30 pm to 5:45 pm, Espace Gresillons, 40 rue Francois Kovac, Gennevilliers: Day of Palestine with film on Salah Hamouri and more. For more information: http://europalestine.com/spip.php?article12870

Wicklow, Ireland – 2 pm, Bray co. Wicklow: Palestine prisoner Solidarity bloc at 1916 March and Commemoration. More details to come. Organized by Irish socialist republicans.

Glasgow, Scotland – Outside Barclays Bank, Glasgow: Day of Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners. Organized by Glasgow Fight Racism Fight Imperialism.

Sunday, 16 April

Paris, France – 2 pm to 5 pm, Place de la Republique, Paris: Journée Internationale Des Prisonniers Politique Palestiniens. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/724460024403259/ Organized by Palestine House.

Malmo, Sweden – 3 pm to 4:30 pm, Möllevångstorget, 214 24 Malmö: Protest PA Security Coordination with Israeli Occupation. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/775623225947822/ Part of the End Security Coordination series of actions for 17 April.

Monday, 17 April

Toulouse, France – 4 pm, Square du Général Charles de Gaulle, Toulouse: Rassemblement pour les Prisonniers Palestiniens! For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/601896656681838/ Organized by Coup Pour Coup 31.

Paris, France – 3 pm to 6 pm, Place de la Republique, Paris: Protest for Palestinian political prisoners. Information via CAPJPO-EuroPalestine

Paris, France – 6:30 pm to 8 pm, Librarie Quilombo, 23 rue Voltaire, Paris 11th: Launch of “In Between” exhibition, artistic homage to Palestinian political prisoners. For more information: http://liberonsgeorges.samizdat.net/mobilisation/17-avril-journee-internationale-de-solidarite-prisonniers-palestiniens/ https://www.facebook.com/events/278186659307004/ Organized as part of the International Week of Solidarity with Political Prisoners

Paris, France – 8 pm, CICP, 21 rue Voltaire, Paris 11th: Commemoration of Palestinian Prisoners Day. For more information: http://liberonsgeorges.samizdat.net/mobilisation/17-avril-journee-internationale-de-solidarite-prisonniers-palestiniens/ https://www.facebook.com/events/278186659307004/ Organized as part of the International Week of Solidarity with Political Prisoners

Marseille, France – 11:30 am, Vieux Port, Marseille: Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners. Organized by BDS France Marseille

Nanterre, France – 8:30 pm to 11 pm, Cinéma Les Lumières, 49 rue Maurice Thorez, 92000 Nanterre: Projection du film “3000 nuits”. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1385657454828299/ Organized by AFPS Nanterre.

Madrid, Spain – 7 pm, Salon de Plenos, Junta Municipal Retiro, Metro Pacifico, Madrid: Día Internacional de las presas y presos palestinos. Organized by Sodepaz, Women’s Boat to Gaza, Unadikum, Paz con Dignidad an others.

London, UK – 1 pm, 52 Galena St, London: Protest PA Security Coordination w/ Israeli Occupation. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/283079908796371/ Part of the End Security Coordination series of actions for 17 April.

London, UK – 4 pm to 6 pm, Israeli Embassy, 2 Palace Green, London: Solidarity with the Palestinian Prisoners in Israeli prisons on hunger strike. https://www.facebook.com/events/1663333880628536/

Berlin, Germany – 3 pm to 5 pm, Hermannplatz, Berlin: Protest PA Security Coordination w/ Israeli Occupation. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/810752369078977/ Part of the End Security Coordination series of actions for 17 April.

Stockholm, Sweden – 4 pm to 6 pm, Rådmansgatan 48, SE-113 57 Stockholm: Protest PA Security Coordination w/ Israeli Occupation. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/752153938293311/ Part of the End Security Coordination series of actions for 17 April.

Landskrona, Sweden – 2 pm, Rudhus square: Protest tent to support Palestinian prisoners. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1395030190540942&set=a.285984981445474.67775.100001019231619&type=3&theater Organized by Group 194

Malmo, Sweden – 5 pm, Möllevångstorget, Protest tent to support Palestinian prisoners. For more information: http://qudsnet.com/news/View/370420/ Organized by Al-Awda Youth Association in Sweden

Amman, Jordan – 6 pm to 8 pm, Riyad al-Mufleh 27, Amman, Jordan: Protest PA Security Coordination w/ Israeli Occupation. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1885979978336285/ Part of the End Security Coordination series of actions for 17 April.

Tunis, Tunisia – Law Students General Meeting, Tunis: Solidarity with Georges Ibrahim Abdallah. Organized by the Tunisian Campaign to Free Georges Ibrahim Abdallah

New York City, US – 5 pm to 7 pm, 115 E 65th St, New York: Protest PA Security Coordination with Israeli Occupation. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1857531881194874/ Part of the End Security Coordination series of actions for 17 April.

Washington, DC, US – 4:30 pm to 6 pm, 1732 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC: Protest PA Security Coordination with Israeli Occupation. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/246258285781904/ Part of the End Security Coordination series of actions for 17 April.

Boston, MA, US – 4 pm, Park Street MBTA Station, Boston: Protest PA Security Coordination with Israeli Occupation. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/458303734505885/ Part of the End Security Coordination series of actions for 17 April.

Los Angeles, CA, US – 3 pm to 5:30 pm, 11766 Wilshire Blvd #1600, Los Angeles: Protest PA Security Coordination with Israeli Occupation. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/273747333066325/ Part of the End Security Coordination series of actions for 17 April.

Los Angeles, CA, US – 7 pm to 9 pm, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, 337 Charles E Young Drive E, Los Angeles: Talk on Palestinian Prisoners Day with Dr Rabab Abdulhadi and Hank Jones. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1903054056631965/ Organized by SJP at UCLA

San Diego, CA, US – 7 pm to 9 pm, UCSD Raza Resource Center, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla: Discussion on Prisoners Day and Security Coordination. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/668576439996111/ Part of the End Security Coordination series of actions for 17 April.

Tuesday, 18 April

Dakar, Senegal – 10 am to 1 pm, Maison de la Presse, 8th floor, Dakar: Journee de Solidarite Avec Les Prisonniers Palestiniens. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1901954100082708/ Organized by the International Campaign to Free Marwan Barghouthi and all Palestinian Prisoners, the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Senegal, the Collectif de Solidarité Sénégal Palestine, Amnesty International and Maison de la Presse

New Brunswick, NJ, US – 7:30 pm, Busch Student Center, 604 Bartholomew Road, Piscataway, New Jersey: Detaining Dreams: Israel’s Torture of Children. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1758692427774230/ Organized by Rutgers NB Students for Justice in Palestine

Wednesday, 19 April

Nanterre, France – All day, Université Paris Nanterre: Journée de solidarité étudiante pour la Palestine, student letter-writing for Palestinian prisoners. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1867322946874659/ Organized by the Étudiant.e.s Communistes Nanterre.

Leuven, Belgium – 8 pm to 10:30 pm, Van Den Heuvelinstituut 29.2, Dekenstraat 2, Leuven: Israel tortures, KULeuven ignores. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/301448586940488/ Organized by the Stop Law Train Coalition.

Brussels, Belgium – 2 pm to 4 pm, Rond-point Schuman, Brussels. Demonstration in solidarity with Palestinian political prisoners. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1367332569989947/, organized by the Palestinian Community of Belgium and Luxembourg.

Vienna, Austria – 4 pm to 9 pm, Wien, Pestsäule, Graben. Tag der Solidarität mit den palästinensischen Gefangenen. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/435769400097679/ Organized by BDS Austria

Rome, Italy – 5 pm to 7 pm, Largo di Torre Argentina, Rome: Sit-in in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1896005030674227/ Organized by Assopace Palestina

New Brunswick, NJ, US – 3 pm to 6 pm, Brower Commons, Rutgers University, New Brunswick: Demonstration in Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1881542335439345/ Organized by Rutgers NB Students for Justice in Palestine

Cardiff, Wales – Action in Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners on Hunger Strike. Organized by South Wales Palestine Action

Thursday, 20 April

Udine, Italy – 6:30 pm, Biblioteca dell’Africa, Galleria Astra, Iato via Battisti 7/a, Udine: Giornata di solidarieta’ con i prigionieri politici palestinesi. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/146389529225805/. Organized by Gruppo Ibriq

Naples, Italy – 5 pm, Piazza San Domenico Maggiore, Naples: Day of Palestinian Prisoners. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/904557526353336/ Organized by Comunità Palestinese Campania

London, UK – 4:30 pm to 6 pm, St. Martins in the Fields Trafalgar Square, London: Palestinian Prisoner Protest. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1865228013736812/ Organized by CADFA (Camden Abu Dis Friendship Association)

Rabat, Morocco – 6 pm, Headquarters of al-Nadj al-Democrati, Rabat: Commemoration of the Martyrdom of Basil al-Araj. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1321753831275072/ Organized by Nadj Democrati Youth and BDS Maroc

Belfast, Ireland – 7 pm, International Peace Wall, Falls Road, Belfast: Solidarity with Palestinian Hunger Strikers. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/102359593660921/ Organized by Ireland Supporting Palestinian Youth

Friday, 21 April

New York City, US – 5:30 pm, Best Buy Union Square, 52 E. 14th St, NYC: Protest to free Palestinian prisoners and boycott HP. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/707830809407918/ Organized by Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network.

Clifton, NJ, USA – 7 pm, Palestinian American Community Center, 388 Lakeview Ave, Clifton, NJ: Screening of “3000 Nights”. For more information: http://www.paccusa.org/event/3000nights/ Organized by the Palestinian American Community Center

Durham, NC, USA – All Day, Solidarity Hunger Strike. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/254251538380129/ Organized by the Coalition for Peace with Justice

Rome, Italy – 7:30 pm, Comitato Popolare ia Passino 20, Garbatella – Roma: International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners – Film screening, discussion and buffet. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/734054266678507/photos/a.734064736677460.1073741828.734054266678507/1286683188082276/?type=3 Organized by Fronte Palestina

Derry, Ireland – 7 pm, Hunger Strike Memorial, Derry: Protest to support Hunger-Striking Palestinian Prisoners. For more information: https://www.derrynow.com/news/sinn-fein-republican-youth-urge-support-derry-rally-support-palestinian-hunger-strikers/157368

Athens, Greece – 6 pm, Syntagma Square: Protest to Support Palestinian Prisoners on Hunger Strike.

Thessaloniki, Greece – 6 pm, Protest to support Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike

Oslo, Norway – Norwegian Parliament, Protest to support Palestinian prisoners

Saturday, 22 April

Waterford, Ireland – 2 pm to 3 pm, John Roberts Square, Waterford: Palestinian Political Prisoner Solidarity Protest. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/149770245547978/ Organized by Anti Internment Munster.

Copenhagen, Denmark – 3:30 pm, Rode Plads, Norrebro, Copenhagen: Demostration in Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners on Hunger Strike. Organized by the Solidaritetsgruppe med palaestinensernes rettigheder

Toronto, Canada – 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm, OISE, Room 4-414, 252 Bloor St. W., Toronto: Criminalizing Resistance – Joint Struggles of Land Defenders, Human Rights Activists, and all who Struggle for Liberation. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/178140356027878/. Organized by Actions4Palestine.

Lille, France – 3 pm to 5 pm, Place de la Republique, Lille: Rally of solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/208070236352193/ Organized by AFPS 59/62

Manchester, UK – 12 pm, Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester: Protest – Victory to the Hunger Strikers! Free all Palestinian Prisoners! For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/429459287404327/ Organized by the Manchester Boycott Israel Group

London, UK – 3 pm to 5 pm, Embassy of Israel, 2 Palace Green, London: Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners Hunger Strike. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/153376048526086/

Brighton, UK – 1 pm to 3 pm, The Clocktower, Brighton: Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners on Hunger Strike.

Berlin, Germany – 4 pm, Potsdamer Platz, Berlin: Rally in Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners on Hunger Strike. For more information: http://palaestina-solidaritaet.de/2017/04/19/berlin-22-04-2017-protestkundgebung-fuer-die-palaestinenischen-gefangenen/ Organized by the Palestinian National Action Commission in Berlin.

Stuttgart, Germany – 4 pm, Stuttgart Königstrasse Ecke Marstallstraße. Am Brunnen, Stuttgart: Vigil to support the Palestinian Prisoners. Organized by Women for Palestine of Stuttgart.

Amsterdam, Netherlands – 1 pm, Het Spui, Amsterdam: Freedom for Palestinian political prisoners! For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/109880746238399/ Organized by BDS Amsterdam

Uppsala, Sweden – Central Square, Uppsala: Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners on Hunger Strike. Organized by the Association of Palestinian Refugees.

Sunday, 23 April

Milan, Italy – 9:00 pm, Panetteria Occupata, Milan: Discussion on Palestinian Prisoners with Myassar Atyani from Nablus. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/801519560005165/ Organized by Fronte Palestina

Beirut, Lebanon – 12 pm to 3 pm, Ghubairi Municipality Park, Ghubairi: Protest to Support the Palestinian Prisoners’ Strike. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/431247563906278/ Organized by the Lebanese Democratic Youth Union, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Jaffa Association for Return, Youth Movement for Change, Herak al-Shaab, Murabitoun Movement, Popular Democratic Party, Syrian Social Nationalist Party, Lebanese Communist Party, Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel in Lebanon and the National Campaign for the Liberation of Georges Abdallah

Monday, 24 April

Athens, Greece – 7 pm, Athens University of Economics and Business: Evening of Solidarity with the Struggle of Palestinian Prisoners. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/205442036623165/ Organized by Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network.

Portland, Oregon, USA – 5 pm to 6 pm, East end on the Hawthorne Bridge, SE Grand and Hawthorne, Portland: Stand in Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners on Hunger Strike. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/282728912184587/ Organized by Jewish Voice for Peace – Portland, OR

Johannesburg, South Africa – 12 pm, Women’s Jail, Constitution Hill, 11 Kotze St, Johannesburg: Press Conference – Free Palestinian Political Prisoners (South African Campaign). For more information: http://nc4psouthafrica.com/press-conference-announcement-of-actions-in-solidarity-with-hunger-strike-launched-by-palestinian-political-prisoners/ Organized by the National Coalition for Palestine, BDS South Africa and more.

Madrid, Spain – 7 pm, Embassy of Palestine, Avenido de Pio XII 20, Madrid: Act to Support the Palestinian Prisoners on Hunger Strike. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/286796815111143/

Tuesday, 25 April

Detroit, MI, US – 1 pm (rally at 1:00 PM, hearing starts at 2:30 PM), U.S. District Court, 231 W. Lafayette Blvd., downtown Detroit, Michigan: All Out to Support Rasmea Odeh. For more information: http://justice4rasmea.org/news/2017/04/06/all-out-to-detroit-for-plea-hearing/ Organized by the Rasmea Defense Committee.

St. Paul, MN, US – 8 pm, Old Main 001, Macalester University, St. Paul: Palestinian Prisoners’ Hunger Strike: Open MacSUPER Meeting. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/272992896493601/ Organized by Macalester Students United for Palestinian Equal Rights

Milan, Italy – 2 pm, Piazza San Babila, Milano: For the Resistance and No to Friends of Israel. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/489585487915946/ Organized by Fronte Palestina

Buenos Aires, Argentina – 6 pm, Obelisco Buenos Aires, Argentina: Open Hunger Strike of Palestinian Political Prisoners. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/793669734123327/ Organized by the Comite de Apoyo a Palestina

Wednesday, 26 April

Berlin, Germany – 6 pm, Brandenburger Tor, Pariser Platz, Berlin: Solidarity Demonstration with Palestinian Prisoners in Israeli Jails. For more information: http://palaestina-solidaritaet.de/2017/04/25/berlin-mi-26-04-2017-solidaritaetskundgebung-fuer-die-palaestinensischen-gefangenen/

Thursday, 27 April

Vancouver, Canada – 7 pm, Room 2245, SFU Harbour Centre, 515 W. Hastings, Vancouver: BDS Strategy: Summing up G4S, Air Canada and Israeli Wine campaigns and moving forward! For more information: http://www.cpavancouver.org/index.php/2014/12/02/bds-vancouver-coast-salish-territories/ Organized by BDS Vancouver – Coast Salish Territories

County Donegal, Ireland – 6:30 pm, Station Road Roundabout, Letterkenny, Donegal: Support the Palestinian Hunger Strikers Vigil. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/194265191084239/ Organized by Donegal Awareness for Palestine

County Armagh, Ireland – 7:30 pm, Garvaghy Road, Portadown: Vigil in Solidarity with the Palestinian Hunger Strikers. Organized by the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

Tampa, Florida, USA – All Day, 24 Hour Hunger Strike for #PalHunger. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1848333452094174/ Organized by Block the Boat Tampa, Florida Peace Action Network, Food Not Bombs

Manchester, UK – Launch of Student Hunger Strike, Manchester, UK: Hunger Strike for Palestine. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/791608477673651/ Organized by Recognize Refugee Rights and BDS Campaign – University of Manchester

London, UK – 4:30 pm to 7 pm, Kentish Town, London: Palestinian Prisoner Protest. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/251061031967261/ Organized by Cadfa (Camden Abu Dis Friendship Association)

Siena, Italy – 4 pm to 7 pm, Piazza Antonio Gramsci, Siena: Siena for Gaza with the Palestinian prisoners. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/150968285436406/ Organized by L’Altra Europa and Si Toscana a Sinistra.

Vaxjo, Sweden – Event of Solidarity with Palestinian Political Prisoners

Hundreds to join Rasmea at her plea hearing April 25th in Detroit, as U.S. Attorney’s office launches another political attack

24 April 2017

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Tukel appears to want to sabotage the plea agreement

WHEN: Tuesday, April 25^th, 2017, at 1:00 PM Eastern Time (rally at 1:00 PM, hearing starts at 2:30 PM)

WHERE: U.S. District Court, 231 W. Lafayette Blvd., downtown Detroit, Michigan

On Tuesday, April 25^th, Palestinian American icon Rasmea Odeh will be joined in a Detroit courtroom by supporters from across the Midwest. There, Judge Gershwin Drain will consider the plea agreement Rasmea signed in March, which ended a three-and-a-half-year legal battle against immigration violation charges brought against her.

Rather than risk 18 months or more of imprisonment, and the possibility of indefinite detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Rasmea will plead guilty to Unlawful Procurement of Naturalization, lose her U.S. citizenship, and be forced to leave the country. However, she will exit the U.S. without serving any more time in prison or ICE detention, a victory considering the government’s sought after sentence of 5-7 years.

The plea agreement took away the chance for zionist Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Tukel to grandstand in support of the Israeli occupation of Palestine; so on April 21^st, he filed a Memorandum to enter into the record a number of points that were rejected by Rasmea in the plea negotiations, claiming that he would be able to “prove” that she committed “terrorist” acts and was a member of a “designated terrorist organization.”

Rasmea’s lead defense attorney Michael Deutsch and his team immediately filed a motion in response, denying any of the “facts” alleged by Tukel, and accusing the government of political posturing. Judge Drain has not yet ruled on either filing.

The 69-year old Rasmea was tortured and sexually assaulted by the Israeli military in 1969, and spent 10 years imprisoned by the Israelis, until she was released in a negotiated prisoner exchange. Years after her release, Rasmea came to the U.S. as a permanent resident to care for family, later becoming a naturalized citizen and making a home for herself in Chicago. When she was indicted in 2013, almost 20 years after she arrived here, the government claimed that Rasmea’s immigration documents were not in order. The case against her was never about immigration; it was always about attacking the Palestine liberation movement.

In her 2014 trial in U.S. federal court, where Rasmea was convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison for allegedly giving false answers to questions on her applications for permanent residency and citizenship, Judge Drain barred the defense from challenging the legality of the 1969 Israeli military tribunal. Rasmea was not allowed to explain that she suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of the torture, but she won an appeal and a new trial expressly based on the excluded torture evidence. The crimes of Israel would have been part of that new trial.

However, just weeks before the re-trial was to take place, Tukel unveiled a vindictive new superseding indictment, falsely accusing Rasmea of being a “terrorist” and a member of a “designated terrorist organization.” These new allegations laid bare the government’s motivation in this case, to criminalize the cause of Palestinian liberation. Rasmea would be on trial for her lifetime of dedication to that cause. It is impossible to imagine a fair trial for any Palestinian in an immigration case framed around accusations of “terrorism.”

Tens of thousands of people across the U.S. have rallied in support of Rasmea over the past three-and-a-half-years, including many organizations and individuals within the Movement for Black Lives, the anti-torture movement, and the sexual assault survivors’ movement, respectively. She is embraced by the women’s rights movement as well, having been celebrated on International Women’s Day this year. And over 1,000 members of Jewish Voice for Peace gave her repeated standing ovations at their national member meeting in Chicago earlier this month.

Hundreds of these supporters from Chicago and other parts of Illinois, as well as from Milwaukee, Detroit / Dearborn, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Minneapolis / St. Paul, Ohio, Indiana, and other Midwest areas are already committed to stand with Rasmea at the Tuesday, April 25th hearing, and rally with her outside.

MEDIA CONTACT: Hatem Abudayyeh, 773.301.4108, hatem85@yahoo.com

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