Four Palestinian human rights defenders were seized by Israeli occupation forces for participating in the #DismantleTheGhetto campaign against settlement, colonization and occupation in al-Khalil (Hebron.)
Badee Dwaik of Human Rights Defenders, Anan Dana of the Hebron Defense Committee, Younes Arar of the Colonization and Wall Resistance Committee of the PLO and local activist Ishaq al-Khateeb were all seized by Israeli occupation forces on Thursday, 30 March. They will be brought before an Israeli military court in Ofer on 2 April for participating in demonstrations challenging the Israeli occupation and its settlements in al-Khalil.
They were seized by occupation forces after they planted olive trees on 30 March, marking Palestinian Land Day. Commemorated since 1976, when six protesters – Palestinians from Palestine ’48 – were shot dead by Israeli forces as they protested against land confiscation and the ongoing Nakba, Land Day is a day to highlight the Palestinian struggle to liberate the land and end colonization, settlement, land confiscation and home demolitions.
At the olive tree action, the #DismantleTheGhetto organizers were attacked by settlers but continued, marching to the center of al-Khalil, which has largely been forcibly shut down by the Israeli occupation and its settlements. As the Palestinians demonstrated for the right to their land, Israeli occupation forces declared the area a closed military zone, attacking the demonstration and arresting Dwaik, Dana, Arar and Khatib, later charging them with participating in an “illegal demonstration” in a closed military zone.
Activists in the #DismantleTheGhetto campaign were previously threatened by Israeli occupation forces, and the homes of two of the activists, Dwaik and Dana, were invaded by occupation forces on 24 February.
Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network demands the immediate release of these four human rights defenders. Their arrest is not only indicative of the constant oppression carried out by military rule against Palestinians under occupation but also of the ongoing attempt to suppress Palestinian struggle to defend their land from occupation and colonization for over 70 years. We express our full solidarity with the #DismantleTheGhetto campaign and urge real action to free these activists and stop the ongoing attacks of settlement, colonization and land confiscation in al-Khalil and throughout Palestine.
Take action!
1. Demand your country’s officials speak up and end the silence and complicity in the arrest and military trial of Badee Dwaik, Younes Arar, Anan Dana, Ishaq al-Khateeb and nearly 7,000 Palestinian political prisoners. Call your foreign affairs officials – and members of parliament – and urge action on this case.
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:
1. Four Palestinian human rights defenders are facing an Israeli military court on Sunday, 2 April for participating in a peaceful protest against illegal settlements and colonization. These four activists – Badee Dwaik, Younes Arar, Ishaq al-Khateeb and Anan Dana – must be released immediately.
2. Governments around the world have condemned Israeli settlements, yet Palestinians are facing military courts for protesting against them. Your government must demand the immediate release of Badee Dwaik, Younes Arar, Anan Dana and Ishaq al-Khateeb.
3. The government must do more than express concern, both about the arrest of these four human rights defenders but about Israeli settlements and land confiscation that are targeting Palestinian existence. Representatives of your government should attend the Ofer military court on Sunday and take action by suspending agreements with Israeli institutions and the Israeli state, including trade, association and other agreements.
2. Hold a direct action, protest, picket, banner drop or demonstration, including building the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign to internationally isolate Israel, its institutions, and the corporations – like HP-that profit from imprisonment, occupation, racism, colonialism and injustice. Demand freedom for these four human rights defenders and all Palestinian prisoners. Pleaseemail samidoun@samidoun.net or post to Samidoun on Facebook about your events and actions.
Palestinian student Kifah Quzmar has been imprisoned since 7 March by Israeli occupation forces, subjected to interrogation for over 20 days and on hunger strike against his confinement. Student organizations have initiated an international statement demanding his freedom and that of fellow student prisoners. Organizational endorsements are invited – please add your group’s name!
We, the undersigned student organizations, groups, associations and unions urge all organizations to express solidarity with hunger striker, student and prisoner Kifah Quzmar and his fellow imprisoned Palestinian students and sign this statement:
Kifah Quzmar, 27, and in his last year of study of Business Administration at BirZeit University, was arrested by Israeli authorities on 7th March when returning from a trip at the Karameh/Allenby crossing from Jordan. As of now, no charges or allegations have been made against him. On 26 March he demanded to either be charged with something or released, but instead Israel extended his interrogation for eight additional days. To protest this injustice, the same day he started a hunger strike demanding his release.
The imprisonment of Palestinian students by the occupation is a clear breach of international, human rights and humanitarian law and academic freedom as a whole. The massive use of imprisonment in Palestine is a key weapon of settler colonialism as it attempts to suppress and eliminate Palestinian resistance. We condemn the Israeli Occupation for its grave violations of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Arts. 14, 17, 18, 19, 22), through its use of imprisonment and of the rights of students to education and to full and active political participation. At BirZeit University alone, 60 Palestinian students are denied access to education because they are held as political prisoners in Israeli jails. Students are repeatedly targeted for arrests, especially as annual student elections approach; activists involved with student political blocs are ordered to administrative detention or accused of support for “prohibited organizations.”
We, the undersigned student organizations, groups, associations and unions, demand the immediate release of Kifah Quzmar and all Palestinian political prisoners. We also demand an immediate end to the imprisonment of Palestinian students, which is a direct impediment of the right to education (International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Art. 13). At last, we call upon all education institutions, companies and governments to comply with Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) in order to pressure Israel in complying to International Law.
We call upon all organizations to express solidarity with Kifah Quzmar and his fellow imprisoned Palestinian students and sign this statement. We refuse to remain silent about the ongoing injustice in Palestine and we stand in solidarity with all Palestinians who are deprived of their unalienable rights of freedom, justice and return.
Palestinian students are being denied their education by the Israeli occupation. International solidarity can help to defend them!
Al-Awda, PRRC
American Muslims for Palestine – NJ
Anakbayan New York
Anakbayan New Jersey
Arab-European Student Association – ULB
Asociación Palestina Biladi
Association des Universitaires pour le Respect du Droit International en Palestine (AURDIP)
Association of Palestinian Community in Scotland
AWAke International Student Organisation for World Affairs
BDS Campaign – University of Manchester
CharityCo-EUCSA
Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid
Comité BDS-ULB
Concordia Student Union – CSU
Cornell Students for Justice in Palestine
Coup Pour Coup 31
Derry Branch – Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Edinburgh University Communist Society
Estudiantes por la Justicia en Palestina – Madrid
Exeter Palestine Action
Florida State University Students for Justice in Palestine
Fordham University Students for Justice in Palestine
Free Leonard Peltier!
Freedom Archives
Freedom Road Socialist Organization
Fronte Palestina – Italy
Gentse studenten voor Palestina- Vrije Universiteit Gent / Hogeschool Gent
General Union of Palestine Students – (GUPS Aix-Marseille)
General Union of Palestine Students – (GUPS Paris)
General Union of Palestine Students – San Francisco State Univeristy
Human Rights March
Independent Jewish Voices Canada
Inminds, UK
Ireland supporting Palestinian youth
Jeunesses Libertaires Belgique
Jewish Voice for Peace, San Diego
John Jay Students for Justice in Palestine
King’s BDS Network
Manchester Boycott Israel Group
Merton PSC
National Students for a Democratic Society
New York City Students for Justice in Palestine
Not In Our Name (NION), Toronto, Canada
Palestina Rossa – Italy
Palestine Solidarity Committee – Austin
Palestine Solidarity Committee – University of Texas
Palestine Solidarity – Philippines
Palestinian Youth Movement – United States
People for Peace, London (Ontario)
Plate-forme Charleroi-Palestine
Popular Resistance of Mississippi
Progressive Student Labor Front – Palestine
RiseUp
Samidoun Palestinian Prisoners Solidarity Network
Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights at the University of Western Ontario
Strathclyde Students for Palestine
Studenten voor Rechtvaardigheid in Palestina – Universiteit van Amsterdam / Hogeschool van Amsterdam
Studenten voor Rechtvaardigheid in Palestina – Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam
Students Against Israeli Apartheid – Carleton University
Students Against Israeli Apartheid – George Mason University
Students Against Israeli Apartheid – Toronto
Students Against Israeli Apartheid – York University
Students for a Democratic Society at the University of Houston
Students for Justice in Palestine – Claremont College
Students for Justice in Palestine – Dublin
Students for Justice in Palestine – Kent State University
Students for Justice in Palestine – Leiden-Haaglanden
Students for Justice in Palestine – Maastricht
Students for Justice in Palestine – Nijmegen
Students for Justice in Palestine – Rotterdam
Students for Justice in Palestine – Saint Joseph’s College
Students for Justice in Palestine – The College of Staten Island
Students for Justice in Palestine – UGA
Students for Justice in Palestine – UOIT/DC
Tadamon, Montreal
UCL-Alma RiseUp
University of Manchester Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! Society
United for Palestine, Italia
US Campaign for Palestinian Rights
2) Organize a protest or action at an Israeli consulate and/or university/community square, urging freedom for Kifah Quzmar and Palestinian student prisoners. Highlight Kifah Quzmar and fellow Palestinian students in actions for Palestinian Prisoners’ Day, 17 April, and the Week of Action, 14-24 April.
3) Organize a table in a student center or a one-day hunger strike in support of Kifah Quzmar. Fellow students must know about the persecution faced by Palestinian students.
4) Organizations, associations and student unions and groups: write a letter or a statement in support of Kifah, or take a group photo with a sign that says, “Free Kifah Quzmar!” and use #FreeKifahQuzmar on social media. Share your statements and photos on Facebook, or email samidoun@samidoun.net.
5) Join the Boycott, Divest and Sanction Campaign to build the boycott of Israel, including the academic boycott of Israeli institutions. Israeli academic institutions are complicit in the system of imprisonment and occupation, while Palestinian students are denied their normal functioning and right to education by ongoing arrest campaigns.
Translations
Arabic
نحن المنظمات و الاتحادات و التجمعات الطلابية الموقعة أدناه ندعو جميع المنظمات للتعبير عن دعمها و تضامنها مع الأسير المضرب عن الطعام الطالب كفاح قزمار و رفاقه من الطلبة الفلسطينيين الأسرى، وذلك عن طريق توقيع هذا البيان.
كفاح مزمار، ٢٧ سنة طالب في جامعة بير زيت يدرس إدارة أعمال في سنته الأخيرة تم اعتقاله من السلطات الإسرائيلية في السابع من مارس في طريق عودته من رحلة إلى منطقة الكرامة عابرا الأردن. لم يتم توجيه أي تهمة أو ادعاء رسمي إليه حتى الآن. في ٢٦ مارس طالب الأسير بأن يتم اطلاق سراحه أو أن يتم توجيه أي تهمة إليه، و لكن قامت السلطات الإسرائيلية بتمديد مدة الأسر قيد التحقيق لثمانية أيام إضافية. للتعبير عن اعتراضه عن هذا الظلم بدأ الأسير بذلك اليوم اضرابه عن الطعام مطالبا بالإفراج.
يعد قيام سلطات الإحتلال بسجن الطلبة الفلسطينيين خرق واضح لجميع حقوق الإنسان الدولية و القوانين الانسانية و الحق في التعلم بشكل عام. الإستخدام المفرط لعمليات الأسر في فلسطين في سلاح أساسي للاستيطان الإستعماري هدفه قمع أي نوع من المقاومة الفلسطينية.نحن نشجب و نستنكر خرق الاحتلال الإسرائيلي للحقوق المدنية و السياسية الدولية (١٤، ١٧، ١٨، ١٩، ٢٢) لاستخدامها الأسر و السجن على الطلبة و بذلك سلبهم من حقهم في التعليم أو أي مشارك سياسية. في جامعة بير زيت لوحدها حرم ٦٠ طالب فلسطيني من الحصول على فرصة للدراسة لأنهم مأسورين في ال السجون الإسرائيلية كأسرى سياسيين. الطلبة دائما مستهدفين للأسر بشكل متكرر خاصة عند اقتراب موعد الانتخابات الطلابية. أي ناشط في أي منظمة طلابية معرض دائما للحجز الإداري أو الاتهام بدعم منظمات محظورة.
نحن المنظمات و الاتحادات و التجمعات الطلابية الموقعة أدناه نطالب بالإفراج الفوري عن كفاح قزمار و جميع الأسرى السياسيين الفلسطينيين. و نطالب كذلك بضرورة وضع نهاية لعمليات سجن الطلبة الفلسطينيين، حيث أن ذلك يعتبر خرق واضح لحق التعليم (العهد الدولي الخاص بالحقوق الاقتصادية والاجتماعية والثقافية، فقرة ١٣). ختاما، ندعو جميع المؤسسات التعليمية، الشركات، و الحكومات للامتثال مع حركة المقاطعة وسحب الاستثمارات وفرض العقوبات (BDS) و ذلك للضغط على إسرائيل بأن تلتزم بالقوانين الدولية.
ندعو جميع المنظمات للتعبير عن تضامنها مع كفاح قزمار و رفاقه الطلبة الفلسطينيين المأسورين و ذلك عن طريق توقيع هذه العريضة. نحن نرفض الصمت أمام الظلم المستمر في فلسطين و ندعو للوقوف وقفة تضامن مع جميع الفلسطينيين المسلوبين من حقوقهم البديهية في الحرية و العدل و العودة.
الطلبة الفلسطينيينمحرومين من التعليم بسبب الاحتلال الإسرائيلي. التضامن الدولي يمكنه من الدفاع عن حقوقهم.
ماذا نستطيع أن نفعل؟
١- التوقيع باسم منظمتكم على هذا البيان.
٢- تنظيم مظاهرة أو وقفة اعتراض أمام القنصلية الإسرائيلية و/أو الجامعة/ ساحة المجتمع، مطالبين بالإفراج عن كفاح قزمار و الطلبة الفلسطينيين المأسورين. لفت النظر إلى كفاح قزمار و رفاقه من الطلبة الفلسطينيين المسجونين عن طريق الفعل في يوم الأسرى الفلسطينيين المصادف ١٧ أبريل و أسبوع الفعل ١٤-٢٤ أبريل.
٣- تنظيم طاولة في المركز الطلابي، أو الاضراب عن الطعام ليوم واحد تعبير عن دعم كفاح قزمار في نضاله. يجب أن يعلم جميع الطلبة عن الظلم الذي يواجهه الطلبة الفلسطينيين.
٤- المنظمات و الاتحادات و التجمعات الطلابية: كتابة رسالة أو بيان معبرين عن دعمهم لكفاح، أو أخذ صورة جماعية مع لافتة مكتوب عليها “!Free Kifah Quzmar” و استخدام الهاشتاج #FreeKifahQuzmar على شبكات التواصل الاجتماعي، و مشاركة هذه البيانات، الرسائل و الصور معنا على الفايسبوك أو الإيميل samidoun@samidoun.net
٥- الانضمام إلى حركة المقاطعة وسحب الاستثمارات وفرض العقوبات (BDS) لبناء مقاطعة لإسرائيل تشمل مقاطعة أكاديمية للمؤسسات العلمية الإسرائيلية. للأسف، هذه المؤسسات مشاركة بنظام الإحتلال و الأسر التعسفي، بينما الطلبة الفلسطينيون محرومون من الحق الطبيعي للحصول على تعليمهم و ذلك بتعرضهم لحملات الأسر المستمرة.
Castellano:
Nosotros, las organizaciones de estudiantes, grupos, asociaciones y sindicatos abajo firmantes, instamos a todas las organizaciones a expresar su solidaridad con Kifah Quzmar (estudiante y prisionero declarado en huelga de hambre), a sus compañeros estudiantes Palestinos también encarcelados y a firmar esta declaración:
Kifah Quzmar, de 27 años y en su último año de los estudios de Administración de Empresas en la Universidad de BirZeit, fue arrestado por las autoridades israelíes el 7 de marzo en el cruce Karameh / Allenby cuando regresaba de un viaje desde Jordania. Hasta ahora, no se han presentado cargos ni acusaciones contra él.
El 26 de marzo exigió que o bien se le acusara de algo o bien se le pusiera en libertad. En lugar de esto, Israel amplió el plazo del interrogatorio ocho días más. Para protestar por esta injusticia, el mismo día empezó una huelga de hambre exigiendo su liberación. El encarcelamiento de estudiantes palestinos por parte de la ocupación es una clara violación de los derechos humanos internacionales, del derecho humanitario y de la libertad académica en su conjunto.
El uso masivo del encarcelamiento en Palestina es un arma clave del poder colonialista de los asentamientos para intentar suprimir y eliminar la resistencia palestina. Nosotros condenamos a la ocupación israelí por sus graves violaciones del Pacto Internacional de Derechos Civiles y Políticos (artículos 14, 17, 18, 19, 22) mediante el uso de la prisión y la negación de los derechos de los estudiantes a la educación y a la participación política plena y activa. Tan sólo en la Universidad de BirZeit, se les niega el acceso a la educación a 60 estudiantes Palestinos debido a que están retenidos como presos políticos en las cárceles israelíes. Los estudiantes son el blanco de detenciones, especialmente como se cerca la época de las elecciones anuales estudiantiles. Los activistas involucrados con bloques políticos de estudiantes son objeto de detenciones administrativas o acusados de dar apoyo a “organizaciones prohibidas”.
Nosotros, las organizaciones de estudiantes, grupos, asociaciones y sindicatos abajo firmantes, exigimos la liberación inmediata de Kifah Quzmar y de todos los presos políticos palestinos. También exigimos el cese inmediato del encarcelamiento de los estudiantes palestinos, puesto que constituye un impedimento directo al derecho a la educación (Pacto Internacional de Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales, Art. 13). Por último, hacemos un llamamiento a todas las instituciones educativas, empresas y gobiernos para que cumplan con el Boicot, Desinversión y Sanciones (BDS) con el fin de presionar a Israel para que cumpla con el Derecho Internacional.
Llamamos a todas las organizaciones a expresar su solidaridad con Kifah Quzmar y con sus compañeros estudiantes palestinos también encarcelados, y a firmar esta declaración. Nos negamos a guardar silencio ante la injusticia establecida en Palestina y nos solidarizamos con todos los palestinos que están privados de sus inalienables derechos de libertad, de justicia y de retorno.
La ocupación israelí niega la educación a los estudiantes palestinos. ¡La solidaridad internacional puede ayudar a defenderles!
2) Organiza una protesta o acción en un consulado israelí y / o en la plaza de tu universidad o de tu comunidad, pidiendo la libertad para Kifah Quzmar y para sus compañeros palestinos presos. Destaca a Kifah Quzmar y a sus compañeros estudiantes palestinos en las acciones para el Día de los Prisioneros Palestinos del 17 de abril, y en las de la ‘Semana de Acción’ (‘Week of Action’) del 14 al 24 de abril.
3) Organiza una mesa en un centro de estudiantes o una huelga de hambre de un día en apoyo de Kifah Quzmar. Los estudiantes deben conocer la persecución que sufren los estudiantes palestinos.
4) Organizaciones, asociaciones, sindicatos de estudiantes y grupos: escribid una carta o una declaración en apoyo de Kifah, o realizad una foto de grupo con un letrero que diga “Libertad Kifah Quzmar!” y usad #FreeKifahQuzmar en las redes sociales. Compartid vuestras declaraciones y fotos con nosotros en Facebook, o enviad un correo electrónico a samidoun@samidoun.net.
5) Uniros al Boicot, Desinversión y Sanciones para llevar a cabo el boicot a Israel, incluido el boicot académico a las instituciones israelíes. Las instituciones académicas israelíes son cómplices del sistema de encarcelamiento y ocupación, mientras que a los estudiantes palestinos se les niega su funcionamiento normal y el derecho a la educación mediante las campañas de detención en curso.
CATALÀ
Nosaltres, les organitzacions d’estudiants, grups, associacions i sindicats sotasignats instem a totes les organitzacions a expressar la seva solidaritat amb Kifah Quzmar (estudiant i presoner declarat en vaga de fam), amb els seus companys estudiants palestins també empresonats, i a signar aquesta declaració:
Kifah Quzmar, de 27 anys i en el seu últim any dels estudis d’Administració d’Empreses a la Universitat de BirZeit, va ser arrestat per les autoritats israelianes el 7 de març en l’encreuament Karameh / Allenby quan tornava d’un viatge des de Jordània. Fins ara, no s’han presentat càrrecs ni acusacions contra ell.
El 26 de març va exigir que o bé se l’acusés d’alguna cosa o bé fos alliberat. En comptes d’això, Israel va ampliar el termini de l’interrogatori vuit dies més. Per protestar per aquesta injustícia, el mateix dia va començar una vaga de fam exigint el seu alliberament. L’empresonament d’estudiants palestins per part de l’ocupació és una clara violació dels drets humans internacionals, del dret humanitari i de la llibertat acadèmica en el seu conjunt.
L’ús massiu de l’empresonament a Palestina és una arma clau del poder colonialista dels assentaments per tal d’intentar suprimir i eliminar la resistència palestina. Nosaltres condemnem l’ocupació israeliana per les seves greus violacions del Pacte Internacional de Drets Civils i Polítics (articles 14, 17, 18, 19, 22) mitjançant l’ús de la presó i la negació dels drets dels estudiants a l’educació i a la participació política plena i activa. Només a la Universitat de BirZeit, es nega l’accés a l’educació a 60 estudiants Palestins, ja que estan retinguts a les presons israelianes com a presos polítics. Els estudiants són el blanc de detencions, especialment quan s’acosta l’època de les eleccions anuals estudiantils. Els activistes involucrats amb blocs polítics d’estudiants són objecte de detencions administratives o acusats de donar suport a “organitzacions prohibides”.
Nosaltres, les organitzacions d’estudiants, grups, associacions i sindicats sotasignats, exigim l’alliberament immediat de Kifah Quzmar i de tots els presos polítics palestins. També exigim el cessament immediat de l’empresonament dels estudiants palestins, ja que constitueix un impediment directe al dret a l’educació (Pacte Internacional de Drets Econòmics, Socials i Culturals, Art. 13). Finalment, fem una crida a totes les institucions educatives, empreses i governs perquè compleixin amb el Boicot, Desinversió i Sancions (BDS) amb la finalitat de pressionar Israel perquè compleixi amb el Dret Internacional.
Fem una crida a totes les organitzacions a expressar la seva solidaritat amb Kifah Quzmar i amb els altres estudiants palestins companys seus també empresonats, i a signar aquesta declaració. Ens neguem a guardar silenci davant la injustícia establerta a Palestina i ens solidaritzem amb tots els palestins que estan privats dels seus inalienables drets de llibertat, de justícia i de retorn.
L’ocupació israeliana nega l’educació als estudiants palestins. La solidaritat internacional pot ajudar a defensar-los!
2) Organitza una protesta o acció a un consolat israelià o a la plaça de la teva universitat o de la teva comunitat, demanant la llibertat per a Kifah Quzmar i per als seus companys palestins empresonats. Destaca Kifah Quzmar i els seus companys estudiants palestins en les accions per al Dia dels Presoners Palestins del 17 d’abril, i en les de la Setmana d’Acció (“Week of Action”), del 14 al 24 d’abril.
3) Organitza una taula en un centre d’estudiants o una vaga de fam d’un dia en suport de Kifah Quzmar. Els estudiants han de conèixer la persecució que sofreixen els estudiants palestins.
4) Organitzacions, associacions, sindicats d’estudiants i grups: escriviu una carta o una declaració en suport de Kifah, o realitzeu una foto de grup amb un rètol que digui “Llibertat Kifah Quzmar!” i useu #FreeKifahQuzmar a les xarxes socials. Compartiu vostres declaracions i fotos amb nosaltres al Facebook, o envieu un correu electrònic a samidoun@samidoun.net.
5) Uniu-vos al Boicot, Desinversió i Sancions per dur a terme el boicot a Israel, inclòs el boicot acadèmic a les institucions israelianes. Les institucions acadèmiques israelianes són còmplices del sistema d’empresonament i ocupació, mentre que als estudiants palestins se’ls nega el seu funcionament normal i el dret a l’educació mitjançant les campanyes de detenció en curs.
Nederlands
Wij, de onderstaande studentenorganisaties, groepen, verenigingen en vakbonden roepen alle organisaties op om deze verklaring te ondertekenen en solidariteit te tonen met de student en hongerstaker Kifah Quzmar en zijn medegevangenen.
Kifah Quzmar, die 27 jaar oud is en bezig is met zijn laatste jaar Bestuurskunde aan de universiteit van Birzeit, is op 7 maart gearresteerd bij de Karameh/Allenby kruising door Israelische authoriteiten toen hij terugkwam van een reis. Tot op de dag van vandaag is hij niet aangeklaagd en is er niet duidelijk waar hij van beschuldigd wordt. Op 26 maart eiste hij vrijgelaten te worden of een tenlastelegging te ontvangen, in plaats daar van heeft Israel zijn verhoor met 8 dagen verlengd, daarom is hij diezelfde dag in hongerstaking getreden om tegen dit onrecht in opstand te komen..
De gevangenhouding van Palestijnse studenten door de bezetters is een ernstige overtreding van de internationale wetgeving omtrent mensenrechten en een zware inbreuk op academische vrijheid. De criminalisering en grootschalige gevangenhouding van Palestijnse studenten door de Israëlische bezetting is een essentieel wapen in de strijd tegen Palestijns verzet. Wij verwerpen Israël voor zijn systematische overtredingen van het internationaal verdrag inzake burgerrechten en politieke rechten (art. 14, 17, 18, 19 en 22) door het onrechtmatige gebruik van gevangenhouding en het verstoren van het recht op onderwijs en politieke participatie van de Palestijnse studenten. Alleen al op de universiteit van Bizet worden 60 Palestijnse studenten om politieke redenen gevangen gehouden en hun recht op onderwijs ontzegd. Studenten worden herhaaldelijk het doelwit van arrestaties, vooral tijdens de jaarlijkse studentenverkiezingen; activisten die betrokken zijn bij studentenpartijen worden onder administratieve detentie geplaatst of beschuldigd van het steunen van ‘verboden organisaties’
Wij, de onderstaande studentenorganisaties, groepen, verenigingen en vakbonden, eisen de onmiddellijke vrijlating van Kifah Quzmar en alle Palestijnse politieke gevangen. Het gevangenschap van de Palestijnse studenten is een directe overtreding van art. 13 IVBPR. Ten slotte, roepen wij alle academische instituties, bedrijven en overheden op om de reglementen van de BDS-beweging over te nemen zodat er een einde komt aan de Israëlische schendingen van het internationale recht.
Wij roepen alle organisaties op om solidariteit met de strijd van Kifah Quzmar en zijn medegevangenen te tonen en deze uitspraak te ondertekenen. Wij weigeren om stil te blijven over het voortdurende onrecht in Palestina en wij zijn solidair met alle Palestijnen wiens onvervreemdbare recht op vrijheid, rechtvaardigheid en terugkeer stelselmatig genegeerd wordt.
Palestijnse studenten worden beroofd van hun recht op onderwijs door de Israëlische bezetting. Internationale solidariteit beschermt ze!.
Wat kan jij doen?
1) Laat je organisatie deze oproep ondertekenen.
2) Organiseer een protest of actie bij een Israëlische consulaat en/of universiteit/gemeenschappelijke ruimte voor de vrijheid van Kifah Quzmar en andere Palestijnse studenten die gevangen zijn gezet. Bevorder bewustwording van deze strijd door deel te nemen aan acties tijdens de Dag voor Palestijnse Politieke Gevangen op 17 april en de Week van Actie van 14-24 april.
3) Organiseer een bijeenkomst in een studentencentrum of een eendaagse hongerstaking voor de strijd van Kifah Quzmar. Uw medestudenten moeten bewust worden van de onderdrukking waar Palestijnse studenten tegen vechten.
4) Organisaties, verenigingen, groepen en studentenbewegingen: schrijf een brief of een steunbetoog aan Kifah, of neem met je vrienden een foto met een bord waarop je ‘Bevrijd Kifah Quzmar’ heb geschreven en gebruik #FreeKifahQuzmar op sociale media. Deel je mening en foto’s met ons op Facebook, of email ons op samidoun@samidoun.net
5) Doe mee aan de BDS-beweging en steun de academische boycot om de druk op Israël op te voeren. Israëlische academische instituties zijn medeverantwoordelijk voor het systeem van gevangenhouding en bezetting, terwijl Palestijnse studenten niet normaal kunnen functioneren en hun recht op onderwijs ontzegd wordt door voortdurende criminaliseringscampagnes.
Português
Nós, abaixo-assinadas organizações estudantis, grupos, associações e uniões apelamos a que todas as organizações espressem solidariedade com o grevista de fome, estudante e prisioneiro Kifah Quzmar e com todos os outros estudantes Palestinianos aprisionados, e assinem esta petição:
Kifah Quzmar de 27 anos, no seu ano último ano da licenciatura em Administração de Empresas na Universidade de BirZeit, foi detido pelas autoridades Israelitas a 7 de março, quando regressava de uma viagem no cruzamento entre Karameh/Allenby e a Jordânia. Até agora, ainda nenhuma acusação foi feita contra si. A 26 de março Kifah exigiu ser ou acusado de algo ou libertado, mas ao invés disso Israel extendeu o seu interogatório por mais 8 dias. Como forma de protesto contra esta injustiça, no mesmo dia ele começou uma greve de fome.
A prisão de estudantes Palestinos pela ocupação Israelita é uma clara violação do direito internacional e humanitário, dos direitos humanos e da liberdade académica por inteiro. O número massivo de aprisionamentos na Palestina é a estratégia chave dos colonializadores para suprimir e eliminar a resistência Palestina. Nós condenamos a Ocupação Israelita pelas suas graves violações do Pacto Internacional de Direitos Civis e Políticos (Arts. 14, 17, 18, 19, 22), através da frequente recorrência a imprisionamentos e negação dos direitos dos alunos à educação e à plena e ativa participação na vida política. Apenas na Universidade de BirZeit, já a 60 estudantes Palestinos foi negado o acesso à educação por estarem condenados como prisioneiros políticos nas prisões Israelitas. Estudantes são repetidamente alvo de capturas, especialmente quando as eleições estudantis anuais se aproximam; os ativistas envolvidos com os blocos políticos estudantis são também remetidos para a detenção administrativa ou acusados de apoiar “organizações proibidas”.
Nós, as abaixo assinadas organizações estudantis, grupos, associações e uniões, exigimos a libertação imediata de Kifah Quzmar bem como de todos os outros prisioneiros políticos Palestinianos. Exigimos também o cessamento imediato da detenção de estudantes Palestinos, que constitui um impedimento direto ao direito à educação (Pacto Internacional de Direitos Civis, Económicos e Políticos, Art. 13). Por fim, apelamos a todas as instituições, empresas e governos a que atendam aos valores de Boicote, Desinvestimento e Sanções (BDS) de forma a pressionar Israel a cumprir com o Direito Internacional.
Apelamos a todas as organizações que expressem solidariedade com Kifah Quzman e todos os estudantes Palestinianos prisioneiros, e assinem esta declaração. Nós recusamo-nos a permanecer em silêncio face à contínua injustiça na Palestina e permanecemos solidários com os Palestinianos privados do seus direitos inalienaveis à Liberdade, Justiça, e Retorno.
Os estudantes Palestinos estão a ser negados de uma educação pela ocupação Israelita. A solidariedade internacional pode ajudar a defende-los!
2) Organizar um protesto ou ação num consulado e/ou universidade/comunidade Israelita, insistindo na libertação de Kifah Quzman e os outros estudantes prisioneiros Palestinianos. Ressaltar o Kifah Quzmar restantes estudantes Palestinos no Dia de ação pelos Prisioneiros Palestinianos, 17 de abril, e a respetiva semana da ação, 14-24 de abril.
3) Organizar um mesa num centro estudantil ou um “Dia de Greve de Fome” em solidariedade e apoio a Kifah Quzmar. As comunidades estudantis devem estar informados relativamente à perseguição que os estudantes Palestinos enfrentam.
4) Organizações, associações e uniões de estudantes e grupos: escrever uma carta ou declaração em apoio a Kifah, ou tirar uma foto de grupo com um cartaz no qual se leia “Libertem Kifah Quzmar!”, e usar o hashtag #FreeKifahQuzmar nas redes sociais. Partilha os teus pensamentos e fotos connosco no Facebook ou por email samidoun@samidoun.net.
5) Junta-te à campanha de Boicote, Desinvestimento e Sancões para construirmos o boicote de Israel, inclusive boicote académico das instituições Israelitas. As instituições académicas Israelitas são cumplices no sistema de aprisionamento e ocupação, enquanto os estudantes Palestinianos são negados funcionamento normal e direito à educação através de consecutivas campanhas de aprisionamento.
Italian
Noi sottoscritti organizzazioni studentesche, gruppi, associazioni e collettivi sollecitiamo tutte le organizzazioni ad esprimere la solidarietà allo studente e prigioniero in sciopero della fame, Kifah Quzmar ed ai suoi compagni prigionieri e studenti palestinesi e a sottoscrivere questa dichiarazione:
Kifah Quzmar, 27 anni, al suo ultimo anno di studio in Business Administration all’Università di Bir Zeit, è stato arrestato dalle autorità israeliane il 7 marzo al valico di Karameh/Allenby, mentre era di ritorno da un viaggio in Giordania
Al momento, nessuna accusa è stata mossa contro di lui. Il 26 Marzo scorso ha richiesto di essere accusato di qualcosa o rilasciato, ma Israele ha invece esteso il suo interrogatorio di altri otto giorni. Per protestare contro questa ingiustizia e chiedere il suo rilascio, lo stesso giorno Kifah ha iniziato lo sciopero della fame.
La detenzione di studenti palestinesi da parte dell’occupazione è una chiara violazione dei diritti umani internazionali, del diritto umanitario e della libertà accademica nel suo complesso.
In Palestina, il massiccio ricorso alla reclusione è un’arma fondamentale del colonialismo in quanto tenta di sopprimere ed eliminare la resistenza palestinese.
Noi condanniamo l’occupazione israeliana per le sue gravi violazioni del Patto Internazionale sui Diritti Civili e Politici (artt. 14, 17, 18, 19, 22), mediante il ricorso alla detenzione e alla negazione agli studenti del diritto all’istruzione e alla piena ed attiva partecipazione politica. Solo all’università di Bir Zeit l’accesso all’istruzione viene precluso a 60 studenti palestinesi, perché sono trattenuti come prigionieri politici nelle carceri israeliane.
Gli studenti sono ripetutamente presi di mira ed arrestati, in special modo quando si avvicinano le elezioni studentesche annuali; agli attivisti coinvolti in blocchi politici studenteschi viene ordinato la detenzione amministrativa o vengono accusati di sostenere “organizzazioni proibite.”
Noi sottoscritti organizzazioni studentesche, gruppi, associazioni e collettivi, chiediamo l’immediato rilascio di Kifah Quzmar e di tutti i prigionieri politici palestinesi. Chiediamo inoltre la fine della reclusione per gli studenti palestinesi, essendo essa un conseguente diretto impedimento del diritto all’istruzione (Patto Internazionale sui Diritti Economici, Sociali e Culturali, Art. 13).
Infine, ci appelliamo a tutti gli istituti di istruzione, aziende e governi a rispettare il Boicottaggio, Disinvestimento e Sanzioni (BDS) per fare pressione su Israele in conformità al diritto internazionale.
Facciamo appello a tutte le organizzazioni per esprimere solidarietà a Kifah Quzmar ed ai suoi compagni prigionieri e studenti palestinesi e a sottoscrivere questa dichiarazione. Ci rifiutiamo di rimanere in silenzio di fronte all’ingiustizia in corso in Palestina e siamo solidali con tutti i palestinesi che sono privati dei loro diritti inalienabili di libertà, di giustizia e di ritorno.
Gli Studenti Palestinesi si vedono negare la loro educazione dall’occupazione israeliana. La solidarietà internazionale può aiutare a difenderli!
2) Organizzare una protesta, presidi fuori dal consolato israeliano e/o nelle Piazza dell’Università, sollecitando la libertà per Kifah Quzmar e per gli studenti prigionieri palestinesi. Valorizzare la campagna per Kifah Quzmar e per i compagni palestinesi nelle iniziative pianificate durante la Giornata dei prigionieri palestinesi, il 17 Aprile, e nella Settimana di Azione dal 14-24 aprile.
3) Organizzare un incontro in un centro studentesco oppure una giornata di sciopero della fame a sostegno di Kifah Quzmar. Gli Studenti devono sapere la persecuzione affrontata dagli studenti palestinesi.
4) Le organizzazioni studentesche, i gruppi, le associazioni ed i collettivi possono scrivere una lettera o una dichiarazione in supporto a Kifah, oppure produrre foto di gruppo con cartelli che indichino le scritte: “Free Kifah Quzmar!” e condividere l’hastag #FreeKifahQuzmar sui social media. Condividere le dichiarazioni e le foto su Facebook, oppure inviarle per e-mail a samidoun@samidoun.net.
5) Aderire alla campagna BDS (il Boicottaggio, Disinvestimento e Sanzioni per costruire il boicottaggio di Israele, compreso il boicottaggio accademico di istituzioni israeliane. Le Istituzioni accademiche israeliane sono complici nel sistema della detenzione e della occupazione, mentre agli studenti palestinesi viene negato il normale funzionamento del diritto allo studio attraverso la campagna di arresti in corso.
The Solidarity with Prisoners Initiative in Istanbul sent solidarity cards to political captives the world over on 18 March, the International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, with activists in Turkey also sending messages to captive Palestinians. “Resistance until the last Palestinian returns home, resistance until the last Palestinian exits prison,” said Ayşe Düzkan, representing BDS Turkey, during an event to mark the day. She noted that the Palestinian cause was an important part of the fight against imperialism everywhere in the world.
Members of the Solidarity with Prisoners Initiative marked 18 March, the International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, with a call for freedom for political prisoners around the world, especially Palestinian, Turkish and Kurdish captives.
“While the nationalities, languages, continents and countries of the powers that be may change, their attitude toward those fighting for freedom does not,” said Sevim Kalman, one of the speakers at the event. “Whether in Israel or Greece, France or the United States, Germany or Peru, Colombia, Spain or Turkey, these powers that be take away the freedom of political prisoners and steal their rights. They don’t provide opportunities for people to live their lives in even the most basic human fashion behind bars while also refusing to recognize their political identities.”
During the protest, members of the Solidarity with Prisoners Initiative shouted “Freedom for political prisoners,” “Political prisoners will not be abandoned” and “Long live international solidarity” before heading to the Galatasaray Post Office to send solidarity cards for political prisoners incarcerated in countries around the world, including Ahmad Sa’adat and Georges Ibrahim Abdallah.
Although Turkish authorities have arrested Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chairs Figen Yüksekdağ and Selahattin Demirtaş along with thousands of other politicians, journalists and writers, political prisoners in Turkey and Kurdistan have not bowed to the measures against them but have resisted instead, Kalman said.
At the same time, a large number of hunger strikes are currently continuing in prisons, Kalman said.
“We salute Mumia Abu-Jamal, who has been on death row in the USA since 1981; Lebanese revolutionary Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, who has been held captive in France since 1984 for not showing penitence; Palestinian prisoners including PFLP General Secretary Ahmad Sa’adat, who has resisted in Zionist Israeli jails for 15 years, and Marwan Barghouti; all anarchist prisoners in the form of Pola Roupa in Greece and Qiyas İbrahimov in Azerbaijan; all Latin American prisoners including Abimael Guzman, who has been held in Peru since 1992; and all European Turkish Workers Confederation (ATİK) administrators and activists in Germany including Müslüm Elma and Banu Büyükavcı,” Kalman said.
Expressing her solidarity with all political prisoners and their families, Kalman also noted that they were marking 18 March, the International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, with a desire for a world without borders, classes or prisons.
Düzkan: Resistance until the last Palestinian returns home
Ayşe Düzkan also spoke at the event on behalf of BDS Turkey, also known as the Initiative to Boycott Israel for Palestine.
“I salute you on behalf of those who resist in Gaza, the children who throw stones in Jerusalem and Ramallah, the international solidarity movement that fights for solidarity with Palestine everywhere in the world, the representatives of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement against Israel and the political prisoners of the occupying Israeli state and even the Palestinian Authority,” she said.
“As of January 2017, 6,500 Palestinians are being held as political prisoners. Some 536 of these are in administrative detention – that is, they are being held under arrest without any concrete reason only because they supposedly present a danger to the regime. A number of Palestinian prisoners have managed to overturn their administrative detention by launching hunger strikes, succeeding in securing their own release,” Düzkan said.
“We stand together with Palestine against imperialism”
Düzkan reviewed the situation for Palestinian political prisoners.
“These [prisoners] include one of the founders of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade and leaders of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, Marwan Barghouti, and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine General Secretary Ahmad Sa’adat, who was kidnapped along with four comrades from Palestine’s Jericho prison by Israel with backing from the USA and Britain. Since 2006, he has been held in Israeli prisons. But these are not the only Palestinian prisoners and friends of Palestine. There is also Georges Abdallah, one of the founders of the Lebanese Armed Resistance Group. During the Lebanese civil war, he was arrested in France, where he remains incarcerated. But that is not all: Today, there are attempts to prosecute Rasmea Odeh, one of those who called for Women’s Strike on 8 March and who suffered torture at the hands of Israel…on trumped-up charges,” Düzkan said.
The Palestinian cause is an important part of the fight against imperialism everywhere in the world, she said.
“All of this shows how important it is to stand with Palestine against imperialism and that the Palestinian cause is a priority for those struggling against imperialism everywhere in the world. Because of this, we say, ‘Resistance until the last Palestinian returns home, resistance until the last Palestinian exits prison,’” she said.
The International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners was first launched on 18 March 1923 by International Red Aid under the motto of “equality, fraternity, freedom” on the anniversary of the beginning of the Paris Commune.
Barghouthi, age 59, has been imprisoned by Israel for 36 years and is the longest-detained Palestinian political prisoner.
He was released by Israel in a prisoner exchange with Palestinian resistance groups in 2011, but swept up in a wave of detentions by Israeli occupation forces that targeted dozens of freed prisoners in 2014.
On March 22, an Israeli military court at Ofer prison, in the occupied Palestinian West Bank, used “secret evidence” to reimpose Barghouthi’s original sentence of life plus eighteen years.
Stand with Barghouthi to demand that Israel release him and all 7,000 Palestinian political prisoners immediately, and that Hewlett Packard companies end their contracts with Israeli prisons and detention centers, occupation and security forces, and checkpoints and settlements now.
Palestinian prisoner Mahmoud Saada is currently on his 17th day of hunger strike in Israeli prisons, facing serious health concerns while being denied access to a lawyer and under extended interrogation.
Hamdan and Nurridin Saada, the brothers of Mahmoud Saada from the town of Huwarra in Nablus, confirmed that Mahmoud is continuing on hunger strike. He has been held under interrogation since his arrest on 16 February 2017. He was sent to the hospital from Jalameh detention center on 26 March due to his deteriorating health.
Mahmoud has a kidney and colon condition and had two surgeries in 2015. The family has had no communication with Mahmoud or with medical personnel as to his health condition or the location of the health facility. On 27 March the Israeli military court ordered an additional nine days of detention which can continue to be renewed for further interrogation.
His lawyer was not permitted to be at his Court appearance and Mahmoud has only been given access to this lawyer once since his arrest. Mahmoud is the father of four children, aged 2 months through 10 years.
His brothers provided the following medical report on Mahmoud’s pre-existing health conditions from the Specialized Arab Hospital in Nablus:
Palestinian university student Kifah Quzmar, in his final year studying business administration at Bir Zeit University, launched a hunger strike on Sunday, 26 March in Ashkelon prison, where he is held shackled and remains under interrogation after 22 days of imprisonment.
Quzmar, a popular, well-known student, was seized by Israeli occupation forces on 7 March at the Karameh/Allenby crossing from Jordan as he returned from travel. After denying that he was in their custody for several days, he was then denied access to a lawyer for 19 days. His lawyer, Anan Odeh, was finally allowed to see him on Sunday, 26 March, when his detention was extended by an Israeli military court for eight more days; Odeh reports that his morale and commitment are high and that he is determined to achieve his freedom.
No charges or allegations have been made against Quzmar. On Sunday, he reportedly demanded that he be charged with something or released; instead, his interrogation was extended for eight additional days. He has been transferred to four separate prisons and interrogation centers during his 22 days of confinement and has been kept almost continuously shackled throughout that time, subject to “severe and continuous pressure.” In response, he launched a hunger strike and is now on his third day of hunger strike, demanding his release.
Quzmar was previously arrested in 2016 by the Palestinian Authority after he posted critical comments about the PA’s arrest of his friend Seif al-Idrissi on Facebook, and was released on bail after widespread Palestinian and international response to his arrest.
Kifah Quzmar is not alone; there are over 60 students from Bir Zeit University alone imprisoned in Israeli jails and denied access to their education. Hundreds of Palestinian students are arrested and held as political prisoners; indeed, students are specifically targeted for arrests, especially as annual Palestinian student elections approach.
Take Action!
1. Organize a protest or action at an Israeli consulate, HP outlet, or university/community square, urging freedom for Kifah Quzmar and Palestinian student prisoners. Palestinian students are being denied their education by the Israeli occupation. International solidarity can help to defend them! Highlight Kifah Quzmar and fellow Palestinian students in actions for Palestinian Prisoners’ Day and the Week of Action.
2. Organize a table in a student center or a one-day hunger strike in support of Kifah Quzmar. Fellow students can and should know about the persecution faced by Palestinian students.
3. Organizations, associations and student unions and groups: write a letter or a statement in support of Kifah, or take a group photo with a sign that says, “Free Kifah Quzmar!” Share your statements and photos with us on Facebook, or email samidoun@samidoun.net.
4. Boycott, Divest and Sanction. Campaign to build the boycott of Israel, including the academic boycott of Israeli institutions, especially as Israeli academic institutions are complicit in the system of imprisonment and occupation, while Palestinian students are denied their normal functioning and right to education by ongoing arrest campaigns.
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.
There are approximately 7,000 Palestinian political prisoners behind Israeli bars today: women, men, children and elders. Nearly 600 of them are held in administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial, while others face military courts with a conviction rate of over 99%. Hundreds of Palestinian children, as young as 12 years old, are held in Israeli prisons. Palestinian political leaders, including PFLP General Secretary Ahmad Sa’adat, Fateh leader Marwan Barghouthi, and Samira Halaiqa and 11 more members of the Palestinian Legislative Council, are held behind bars.
This year, thousands of Palestinian political prisoners have announced that they will launch a hunger strike beginning on 17 April to achieve a list of demands, including an end to the prohibitions and cuts to family visits, proper medical care and an end to medical neglect and an end to isolation and administrative detention. This strike comes five years after the collective Karameh strike of 2012, and is once again a critically important struggle for justice. On Palestinian Prisoners Day, this week of action is an important time to support the Palestinian prisoners’ movement and leadership in struggle.
Every day, Palestinian prisoners are on the front lines of struggle, facing torturous interrogation, nighttime raids, solitary confinement and relentless attacks on their rights at the hands of Israeli occupation forces. Those attacks are aided by international and corporate complicity, support and profiteering. Palestinian Prisoners’ Day is a critical time to stand against state and corporate complicity with Israeli imprisonment of Palestinian political prisoners.
Every year, the United States provides over $3 billion in military aid to Israel. The European Union includes the Israeli National Police in research projects to further develop interrogation techniques, like LAW TRAIN. The US, Canada, UK and EU regularly defend Israeli oppression and occupation in international forums and even attempt to block Palestinians from seeking redress in international courts. The United States’ demands pressured the UN Secretary-General to remove a report by UN ESCWA on Israeli apartheid throughout occupied Palestine. This means that these states are partners in the imprisonment, isolation and torture of Palestinian prisoners.
Corporations like Hewlett-Packard profit from the imprisonment of Palestinians; HP corporations have contracts to run and maintain the biometric ID system that subjects Palestinians to checkpoints and the Apartheid Wall, as well as the databases of the Israel Prison Service. British-Danish security corporation G4S sold off its Israeli subsidiary after massive BDS pressure internationally, but continues to invest in the Israeli police’s training institute, Policity. And it continues to profit from the deportation of migrants and imprisonment of children in the US, UK and elsewhere, among the prison corporations that profit from the mass incarceration of Black people and the targeting of oppressed communities.
Internationally, Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, Lebanese Arab struggler for Palestine, has been imprisoned in French jails for 33 years. The demand for freedom for Georges Abdallah is part and parcel of the Palestinian prisoners’ movement. In the United States, the Holy Land Five are serving sentences of up to 65 years in prison, while longtime Palestinian struggler and community leader Rasmea Odeh will soon face deportation after her legal case has come to an end. On Palestinian Prisoners Day, we demand justice for all of these strugglers and prisoners for Palestine.
Palestinian Prisoners’ Day in 2017, 17 April, also marks the 40-day anniversary of the Israeli assassination of Palestinian youth leader Basil al-Araj on 6 March. Palestinian youth have issued a call for organizing actions for 17 April to challenge Palestinian Authority security coordination with Israel; al-Araj and five of his comrades were imprisoned for months without charge by the PA, and the demonstration against the continued trial in PA courts against the youth was attacked by PA security forces.
“On this day, we continue to demand an end to the Palestinian Authority’s security coordination with Israel. We call on Palestinian communities everywhere to use this moment as a first step in reorganising our communities and affirming our unwavering will for return, freedom and dignity,” emphasizes the statement.
Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network urges all organizations and groups that support justice, liberation and Palestinian freedom to organize events from 14-25 April in support of Palestinian prisoners, the prisoners’ movement’s collective hunger strike and demands, and the demand to end security coordination. 2017 is a year in which we mark 100 years of the Balfour declaration and colonization; 70 years of al-Nakba; 50 years of extended and intensified occupation. This is also the year to struggle for Palestinian freedom and support liberation for Palestinian political prisoners!
Some initial materials and posters are provided below; Palestinian youth organizing the End Security Coordination campaign have also provided materials, available here. Below are some ideas for events and actions in your community:
1. Join the events to End Security Coordination on 17 April! Palestinian youth have urged the organization of actions on 17 April to end security coordination and free Palestinian prisoners, marking the 40th day after the murder of Basil al-Araj. Contact the organizers on Facebook/Twitter about your local activity.
2. Boycott HP and G4S! Highlight the role of corporations involved in – and profiting from – the political imprisonment of Palestinians by the Israeli occupation. Demand your university, institution or local government stop contracting with HP so long as it provides the technology for apartheid and imprisonment in Palestine.
3. Support Palestinian Students! Palestinian students are facing imprisonment, raids on their universities and invasions of their student councils. As we issue this call, Palestinian student Kifah Quzmar has been denied access to a lawyer, under harsh interrogation for 20 days. Fellow Palestinian student Istabraq Yahya Tamimi is under interrogation as a member of Bir Zeit’s student council. On campuses around the world, this week of action is a critical time to hold events, organize solidarity strikes, petition and pass resolutions to free Kifah Quzmar and hundreds of imprisoned Palestinians denied access to their education.
4. Hunger Strike for Justice! Palestinian prisoners have announced plans for a mass hunger strike beginning 17 April for a series of demands, including an end to prohibitions and cuts to family visits, proper medical care and treatment and an end to isolation and administrative detention. Organize an event, demonstration or one-day hunger strike tent in solidarity with the prisoners’ strike.
5. Cut Complicity! In the United States, 15 April is not only two days before Palestinian Prisoners’ Day – it’s also Tax Day, a great occasion to protest the US’ billions in annual aid to Israel. Palestinian Prisoners’ Day is also an important time to challenge programs like LAW-TRAIN or joint police training exercises, which work to build racism and oppression while providing cover to the violations of Palestinian human rights.
6. Build the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Campaign! Palestinian Prisoners’ Day is a great occasion to build your BDS campaigns against Israeli products in your community, or for academic, cultural and sports boycott. Buying and selling Israeli goods, or engaging in partnerships with Israeli cultural or academic institutions, means going into partnership for the imprisonment and torture of Palestinians. While Palestinian students are imprisoned and denied education, cultural workers are locked up and football players are imprisoned instead of on the field, BDS campaigns can help support Palestinians struggling for freedom.
Palestinian student Istabraq Yahya Tamimi, 22, was ordered to eight more days under interrogation on Thursdsy, 23 March 2017. She was seized by Israeli occupation forces on 20 March, who invaded her residence in a student hall at Bir Zeit University. She was the secretary of the university’s student council and is studying radio and television journalism in the media faculty at the university.
Fellow Bir Zeit student Kifah Quzmar has been denied access to a lawyer for 20 days after being seized by Israeli occupation forces as he returned to Palestine from Jordan on 7 March. Quzmar, an active student, is studying business management and is scheduled to graduate in summer 2017.
Quzmar and Tamimi are among approximately 60 Bir Zeit students held in Israeli detention. Palestinian students, particularly those active in campus activities, are frequently targeted for political arrest and persecution, including being ordered to administrative detention without charge or trial or subject to Israeli occupation military courts with charges of support for “prohibited organizations” for engaging in student activities on campus.
On Sunday, 26 March, the Israeli occupation court hearing in the case of child prisoner Malak Salman, 16, from the village of Beit Safafa in Jerusalem, was postponed until 26 April 2017. Malak is one of a number of imprisoned children from Jerusalem and she is threatened with a massive and unjust sentence similar to those ordered against other Jerusalemite child prisoners, including Ahmad Manasrah (12 years), Mohammed Taha (11 years), Nurhan Awad (13 years) and Marah Bakir (8.5 years).
Jawdat Abu Mazen, the mother of the prisoner Sadiq Abu Mazen, 19, and her husband Nasser Abu Mazen, were sentenced by an Israeli occupation military court on Thursday, 23 March. Jawdat Abu Mazen was sentenced to four months imprisonment while Nasser was ordered released on Sunday, 26 March. Sadiq Abu Mazen, accused of carrying out a resistance action in Tel Aviv on 9 February, will face an Israeli military court on 8 May 2017.
Palestinian prisoner Raafat Shalash suspended his open hunger strike on Sunday, 26 March after promises to set an end to his administrative detention, indefinite imprisonment without charge or trial, reported Asra Voice.
Shalash’s father told Asra Voice that his son’s health situation is bad and that he is not being provided with medical care or treatment. He urged the immediate release of his son, held without charge or trial since 17 January 2016. Shalash, 34, is from the village of Beit Awwa near al-Khalil; his two brothers, Mohammed and Yousri, are also imprisoned.
Former prisoner and long-term hunger striker, Khader Adnan, confirmed that Mahmoud Saada, from the town of Huwwara in Nablus, is continuing on hunger strike against his conditions of detention; he has been held under interrogation for 37 days in Jalameh detention center.
Four Palestinian human rights defenders were seized by Israeli occupation forces for participating in the #DismantleTheGhetto campaign against settlement, colonization and occupation in al-Khalil (Hebron.)
Addameer Prisoner Support & Human Rights Association
Palestinian prisoner Mahmoud Saada is currently on his 17th day of hunger strike in Israeli prisons, facing serious health concerns while being denied access to a lawyer and under extended interrogation.
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.
Palestinian student 
On Sunday, 26 March, the Israeli occupation court hearing in the case of child prisoner 
Jawdat Abu Mazen
Palestinian prisoner 