Shadid and Abu Fara end hunger strike after 90 days in agreement

22 December 2016

Striking Palestinian prisoners, Anas Shadid and Ahmad Abu Fara, ended their hunger strike on Thursday, 22 December after 90 days without food after reaching an agreement. Under the agreement, Shadid and Abu Fara, who have been imprisoned without charge or trial since August 2016, will be released in May 2017 after one four-month extension each of their administrative detention orders. Shadid, 19, from the town of Dura, and Abu Fara, 29, from the town of Surif, both near al-Khalil, launched their hunger strikes on 25 September after nearly two months in Israeli prison without charge or trial.

Both of their detention orders have been “suspended” by the Israeli supreme court due to their health situation; however, such “suspensions” are contingent on their continuing poor health. Both are suffering from an array of very serious health problems, including kidney and liver issues, massive weight loss, and pain throughout the body. Both have experienced major deterioration in their vision. They are held in Assaf Harofeh hospital and have been repeatedly denied transfer to a Palestinian hospital.

This development came one day after fellow administrative detainee Ammar Hmour of Jaba, Jenin, announced that he was suspending his hunger strike after 32 days until next Wednesday, 28 December. He has a court hearing on that date and has reportedly received reassurances that his detention without charge or trial will not be renewed. He was transfered from isolation back to the Negev desert prison after this announcement. Kifah Hattab, in Nafha prison serving a life sentence, is still on hunger strike after 27 days. He is demanding recognition of his status as a prisoner of war.

The conclusion of Abu Fara and Shadid’s strike came as Israeli occupation forces arrested former long-term hunger striker and administrative detainee Muhammad Allan, a Palestinian lawyer who won his freedom from administrative detention in a lengthy hunger strike, and detained him for several hours. Allan was seized at 3:00 am on Thursday, 22 December by occupation forces, one month after he refused as a lawyer to participate in interrogation at the Huwwara detention center. Allan, 30, was released after a few hours and reported to Asra News that he was threatened by occupation forces.

In addition, occupation forces raided the homes of former prisoner Mona Qa’adan and former long term hunger strikers Jafar Ezzedine and Tareq Qa’adan, ransacking their homes and confiscating their electronics and belongings, in the pre-dawn hours of 22 December.

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network extends its warmest congratulations and strongest solidarity to Anas Shadid and Ahmad Abu Fara on their achievements and steadfastness through three months of lengthy hunger strike. We salute their courage and leadership and that of the Palestinian prisoners’ movement, which continues daily to struggle with bodies on the front lines against occupation and oppression in all forms. We urge intensified international action to end the practice of administrative detention and free all of the over 700 Palestinians imprisoned without charge or trial, and for the freedom of all of the over 7,000 Palestinian political prisoners behind Israeli bars.

23 December, NYC: Protest to free Palestinian prisoners and stop HP

21 December 2016

Friday, 23 December
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Best Buy – Union Square
52 E. 14th St, NYC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1787789111470955/

On Friday, Anas Shadid and Ahmad Abu Fara will reach their 91st day on hunger strike against their “administrative detention” without charge or trial by Israel.

On Saturday, Palestinian doctor Mohammed Jadallah, who had visited the two in Assaf Harofeh hospita, said in a report that the coming hours were critical for the lives of the two hunger-striking young men. He said that they may have permanent kidney disorders and that their legs are atrophying. They also have damage to their hearts, vision, mouth, and pharynx. They suffer from severe pain throughout their bodies.

“Administrative detention” is a British colonial-era policy Israel uses to intern 720 Palestinians from the occupied West Bank indefinitely.

In defiance of international condemnation, Israel recently ordered 27 Palestinians into “administrative detention” over less than two weeks.

Stand with Shadid and Abu Fara to demand that Israel release them, other “administrative detainees,” 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.

Help build a growing international campaign to boycott HP over the companies’ support for Israeli crimes.

Samidoun also urges all supporters of Palestinian political prisoners to pressure their governments officials to end the silence and complicity with the Israeli regime of political imprisonment and administrative detention.

Call during your country’s regular office hours:

• Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop: + 61 2 6277 7500
• Canadian Foreign Minister Stephane Dion: +1-613-996-5789
• 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 Barack Obama: 1-202-456-1111

Tell your government:

• Two Palestinian prisoners, Anas Shadid and Ahmad Abu Fara, have been on hunger strike since 25 September against “administrative detention,” Israeli imprisonment without charge or trial.
• Your government must demand the strikers’ immediate release and end all support for Israel’s political imprisonment and other crimes against Palestinians.
• Israel’s use of “administrative detention” is a universally-recognized violation of human rights and international law.
• The government must do more than criticize “administrative detention” or express concern, but should also take serious measures to end these violations.

Support the Palestinian people, the Palestinian prisoners, the Palestinian Resistance, and the liberation of Palestine, from the river to the sea.

CANCELLED 22 December: Call-In to demand freedom for Anas Shadid and Ahmad Abu Fara

21 December 2016

This call is cancelled as Anas Shadid and Ahmad Abu Fara have ended their hunger strike.

Join the Facebook page to report your own experiences calling in to support Anas and Ahmad!

Support Anas Shadid and Ahmad Abu Fara on their 90th day of hunger strike by calling your government to demand that it intercede for the immediate release of the two Palestinian political prisoners, ordered into “administrative detention” without charge or trial by Israel.

Afterward, please post here about how your call went and what response you received.

Call during your country’s regular office hours:

Tell your government:

• Two Palestinian prisoners, Anas Shadid and Ahmad Abu Fara, have been on hunger strike since 25 September – for 90 days – against “administrative detention,” Israeli imprisonment without charge or trial.
• Your government must demand the strikers’ immediate release and end all support for Israel’s political imprisonment and other crimes against Palestinians.
• Israel’s use of “administrative detention” is a universally-recognized violation of human rights and international law.
• The government must do more than criticize “administrative detention” or express concern, but should also take serious measures to end these violations.

Take action: Call the US Congress to request commutations for the Holy Land Five

20 December 2016

Samidoun: Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network is circulating the following appeal from Khalil Meek, executive director of the Muslim Legal Fund of America, and urges all supporters of Palestinian political prisoners to take immediate action to free the Holy Land Five.

The Five – Ghassan Elashi, Shukri Abu-Baker, Mohammad El-Mezain, Mufid Abdulqader and Abdulrahman Odeh – were officers, employees and volunteers at the Richardson, Texas-based Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, the largest Muslim charity in the United States until its closure and the seizure of its assets by the Bush administration in 2001.

Each is imprisoned on terms from 15 to 65 years after their 2008 convictions on charges stemming from the HLF’s charitable aid to Palestinians under Israeli occupation.

We need your help — and it’s urgent. I need you to call each of the legislators in the list below — both their Washington and local office numbers — and ask them to take the lead in asking President Obama to commute the sentences of the Holy Land Foundation defendants before the end of his term in office.

Each call should only take a minute.

This is urgent — we need you to call today!

Here is the suggested language you can use when calling:

I strongly urge you to immediately take the lead in asking President Obama to commute the sentences of the Holy Land Foundation defendants before the end of his term in office. Their prosecution was a great injustice and their sentences of 15 to 65 years cruelly disproportionate. Had they been prosecuted for the same crime in Israel their maximum sentence would have been four years. They have already served eight years in U.S. prisons. Please let me know as soon as possible what actions you are taking to obtain a commutation of their sentences. Thank you.

Please call each one today at both of their offices.

Here’s the list:

Congressman Keith Ellison
Washington office: (202) 225-4755
District office: (612) 522-1212

Congressman Andre Carson
Washington office: (202) 225-4011
District office: (317) 283-6516

Congressman John Conyers
Washington office: (202) 225-5126
District office: (313) 961-5670

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee
Washington office: (202) 225-3816
District office: (713) 655-0050

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell
Washington office: (202) 225-4071
District office: (313) 278-2936

Congressman Bill Pascrell
Washington office: (202) 225-5751
District office: (973) 523-5152

Congressman Marc Veasy
Washington office: (202) 225-9897
District office: (214) 741-1387

Senator Amy Klobuchar
Washington office: (202) 224-3244
State office: (612) 727-5220

Senator Al Franken
Washington office: (202) 224-5641
State office: (651) 221-1016

Senator Gary Peters
Washington office: (202) 224-6221
State office: (313) 226-6020

Senator Debbie Stabenow
Washington office: (202) 224-4822
State office: (313) 961-4330

Thank you!

27 more administrative detention orders issued against Palestinian prisoners

18 December 2016

Israeli occupation authorities issued 27 administrative detention orders for periods between three and six months between 7 and 18 December, reported Palestinian lawyer Mahmoud Halabi of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society.

Halabi noted that seven of the orders were newly issued against prisoners who had just been arrested, while 20 were renewals of existing detention orders. Included among these was the order of renewal against Palestinian journalist Omar Nazzal, member of the General Secretariat of the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate, as well as that against Mohammed Abu Sakha, the Palestinian circus performer whose continued imprisonment for over a year has sparked international protests. Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council Azzam Salhab and ill academic lecturer Issam al-Ashqar also received new 6-month administrative detention orders during this time.

There are over 700 Palestinian prisoners imprisoned without charge or trial by the Israeli occupation under administrative detention orders. Issued for one to six months at a time, these orders are indefinitely renewable and Palestinians are routinely detained for years at a time with no charge, no trial, on the basis of secret evidence.

The orders issued are:

1. Shaher Jamil Al-Hih, from al-Khalil, 4 months, extension
2. Mahmoud Awad Al-Asakra, from Bethlehem, 6 months, new order
3. Ahmed Abdel-Basit Abu Raya, from al-Khalil, 6 months, new order
4. Bassem Abdel-Razaq Saed, from Ramallah, 4 months, extension
5. Nidal al-Hindi, from Ramallah, 6 months, new order
6. Jamal Awni Al-Aedam, from al-Khalil, 4 months, extension
7. Rami Mahmoud Beiram, from Ramallah, 4 months, extension
8. Sharif Mohammed Musallem, from al-Khalil, 6 months, extension
9. Salim Yousef Rajoub, from al-Khalil, 4 months, extension
10. Yasser Ibrahim Badrsawi, from Nablus, 4 months, extension
11. Jibril Diab Jiyawi, from al-Khalil, 4 months, new order
12. Omar Naji Nazzel, from El-Bireh, 3 months, extension
13. Hamza Ibrahim Jibril, from Bethlehem, 6 months, extension
14. Mohammed Faisal Abu Sakha, from Jenin, 6 months, extension
15. Malik Awad Abayat, from Bethlehem, 4 months, extension
16. Abdallah Abdel-Hafiz Yousef, from Nablus, 4 months, extension
17. Mohammed Yousef Awad, from al-Khalil, 4 months, extension
18. Mohammed Medhat Abdu, from Ramallah, 3 months, extension
19. Rami Rezeq Fadayel, from Ramallah, 6 months, extension
20. Abdel-Halim Nayef Izzedine, from Jenin, 6 months, extension
21. Ahmed Qasim Sheikh, from Bethlehem 4 months, extension
22. Salah Abdallah Zughbi, from Jenin, 6 months, extension
23. Fadi Abdel-Halim Daoud, from al-Khalil, 6 months, extension
24. Saddam Ghalib al-Saadah, from al-Khalil, 4 months, new order
25. Ismail Mohammed Al-Amsi, from al-Khalil, 6 months, extension
26. Azzam Naaman Salhab, from al-Khalil, 6 months, new order
27. Issam Rashid al-Ashqar, from Nablus, 6 months, new order

86 Days of Hunger Strike: Supreme Court suggests force-feeding for Shadid and Abu Fara

18 December 2016

Ahmad Abu Fara and Anas Shadid are at dire risk to their lives and threatened with force-feeding following a hearing at the Israeli Supreme Court on Sunday morning, 18 December. After 86 days of hunger strike, Abu Fara, 29, and Shadid, 19, are held at the Assaf Harofeh hospital. They have also not voluntarily consumed water for the past 5 days following a rejection of their last appeal to the high court.

Both are held in “suspended” administrative detention, scheduled to be re-imposed should they end their strike and their health improve. Their hunger strikes have persisted since 25 September, when they began refusing food in protest of their imprisonment without charge or trial. Abu Fara and Shadid are among over 700 Palestinians imprisoned without charge or trial by the Israeli occupation under administrative detention orders, which are indefinitely renewable.

Palestinian doctor Mohammed Jadallah visited the two in Assaf Harofeh hospital and issued a report on Saturday evening, 17 December, that the coming hours were critical for the lives of the two hunger-striking young men. He said that they may have permanent kidney disorders and that their legs are atrophying. They also have damage to their hearts, vision, mouth, and pharynx. They suffer from severe pain throughout their bodies.

The Court announced that it would issue a decision on Tuesday morning after the appeal of their lawyer, Ahlam Haddad. It also ordered another medical report on the health status of Abu Fara and Shadid by a doctor from Wolfson hospital. However, Issa Qaraqe of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Affairs Commission reported that the court also suggested to the military prosecution that Shadid and Abu Fara be force-fed. The “Law for the Prevention of Harm Caused by Hunger Strikers” was upheld by the Israeli Supreme Court in September, which permits the forced-feeding of hunger strikers, in violation of international codes of medical ethics and human rights. So far, doctors have refused to force feed striking Palestinian prisoners via nasogastric tubes; however, they have been subject to forced nutrition and treatment via IV tubes.

Also on hunger strike are Ammar Hmour, protesting his own administrative detention for 29 days by refusing food, and Kifah Hattab, on strike for 25 days to demand recognition as a prisoner of war.

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network urges active international solidarity with Anas Shadid and Ahmad Abu Fara and their fellow Palestinian prisoners at this critical time. The Israeli occupation bears the full responsibility for their lives and health at this critical moment. Their bodies are on the front lines of the struggle against administrative detention and for the freedom of imprisoned Palestinians. Protests, phone calls and actions are necessary to support their struggle as their lives are at risk for seeking freedom.

Take action!

1. Hold a direct action, protest, picket 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 Ahmad Abu Fara, Anas Shadid and all Palestinian prisoners. A flyer is provided below for distribution at your events and other actions. Please email samidoun@samidoun.net or post to Samidoun on Facebook about your events and actions.

2. Call political figures to demand action for the hunger strikers. Call your government officials to pressure them to end the silence and complicity with the Israeli regime of political imprisonment and administrative detention.

Call during your country’s regular office hours:

Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop: + 61 2 6277 7500
Canadian Foreign Minister Stephane Dion: +1-613-996-5789
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 Barack Obama: 1-202-456-1111

Tell your government:

Two Palestinian prisoners, Anas Shadid and Ahmad Abu Fara, have been on hunger strike since 25 September – for over 86 days – against administrative detention, Israeli imprisonment without charge or trial.
Your government must demand the strikers’ immediate release and end all support for Israel’s political imprisonment and other crimes against Palestinians.
Israel’s use of administrative detention is a universally-recognized violation of human rights and international law.
The government must do more than criticize administrative detention or express concern, but should also take serious measures to end these violations.

Download the leaflet: Click here to download PDF

Italian Video: Milan event highlights Black-Palestinian solidarity

18 December 2016

Fronte Palestina Milan organized a Palestine solidarity event on 18 November in the city of Milan at the T28 squat. The event included discussion and organizing in support of Palestinian struggles for liberation, as well as conversation about the Palestinian struggle and its role in joint struggle with other national liberation movements, especially the Black Liberation movement in the United States.

As part of the event, Fronte Palestina screened a video of Mohammed Khatib, the Europe coordinator for Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network. Originally released in English by Black4Palestine, it was subtitled into Italian for screening at the Milan event.

The subtitled video is available below. Thank you to Fronte Palestina for the translation:

New York activists boycott HP, support Holy Land Five struggle for justice

18 December 2016

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network gathered in New York City on Friday, 16 December for two actions: a protest to boycott Hewlett-Packard for its role in profiting from Israeli repression and imprisonment, and an evening to support the Holy Land Five, five Palestinian political prisoners in US jails serving up to 65-year sentences for their charitable and fundraising work.

The five, Ghassan Elashi, Shukri Abu-Baker, Mohammed El-Mezain, Mufaid Abdulqader, and Abdulrahman Odeh, were convicted in 2008 in a retrial that featured testimony from an anonymous Israeli intelligence agent, alleging that the five and the HLF were responsible for “material support” to Hamas because they donated funds to Zakat committees. These committees are public charities in Palestine that also received support from USAID and other international aid agencies.

Since their conviction, teams of lawyers have been pursuing appeals and various legal campaigns while their family members are urging President Obama to issue executive clemency for the Five before leaving office. The massive sentences handed out in this case against well-known and respected Palestinian community leaders have created a chilling effect on Palestinian community institutions across political lines in the United States.

A small protest gathered earlier on Friday evening outside the Best Buy on Union Square, urging shoppers to boycott HP products. This is Samidoun’s second protest in the international campaign to boycott HP; over 100 cities internationally held protests against HP on an early-December week of action, and several countries secured victories against HP during the week. HP provides technology for Israeli checkpoints, military, population registry, settlements, and the Israel Prison Service.

The Holy Land Five event featured commentary from Nida Abubaker and Noor and Asma Elashi, daughters of two of the Five, as well as a screening of the Al-Jazeera World documentary that highlights the injustice of their case. The documentary is available for online viewing:

Salah Khawaja’s military court hearing delayed until 20 December #FreeSalah

16 December 2016

Palestinian activist Salah Khawaja‘s hearing was once again postponed by an Israeli military court at Ofer prison on Thursday, 15 December. A member of the Secretariat of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee (BNC) and an active member of the Palestinian Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign (Stop the Wall), Khawaja was seized from his home in a violent pre-dawn raid by occupation forces on 26 October. He was subjected to over 20 days of harsh interrogation and ill-treatment at Petah Tikva interrogation center.

During that time, Khawaja was forbidden from seeing his lawyer for over two weeks and brought blindfolded into the military court. He was beaten, kicked, and threatened during interrogation and was then transferred to Ofer prison.

Salah Khawaja’s next hearing at the Ofer military court will take place on Tuesday, 20 December.

Take Action:

1. Participate in the Front Line Defenders action, urging the Israeli state to immediately release Khawaja and end its persecution of Palestinian human rights defenders. Join in here: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/action/take-action-salah-khawaja

2. Demand your country’s officials speak up and end the silence and complicity in the detention of Salah Khawaja and other Palestinian human rights defenders, and over 7,000 Palestinian political prisoners. Call your foreign affairs officials – and members of parliament – and urge action on this case.

Call during your country’s regular office hours:

Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop: + 61 2 6277 7500
Canadian Foreign Minister Stephane Dion: +1-613-996-5789
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 Barack Obama: 1-202-456-1111

Tell your government:

Salah Khawaja, a Palestinian human rights defender, has been arbitrarily detained since 26 October and denied access to a lawyer. Salah is one of the primary Palestinian voices against the illegal settlements and wall destroying Palestinian land.
Your government must demand Salah’s immediate release and an end to the persecution of Palestinian human rights defenders by the Israeli state.
Israel’s interrogation of Salah at Petah Tikva violates the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilians during Times of War, which prohibits the transfer of protected civilians to the territory of the occupying power. Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilians during Times of War, which prohibits the transfer of protected civilians to the territory of the occupying power.
The government must do more than express concern, but should also take serious measures to end these violations. Representatives of your government should attend Salah’s hearings beginning on 6 November, and suspend agreements with Israeli institutions involved in the ongoing imprisonment and oppression of Palestinians.

Palestinian child prisoners face medical neglect, harsh interrogation, lengthy sentences

15 December 2016

Palestinian child prisoners continue to face severe repression at the hands of the Israeli occupation. There are over 350 child prisoners held in Israeli jails, and there has been an escalation in the length of the sentences and the young age of Palestinian prisoners since the beginning of the Palestinian popular uprising in October 2015.

Osama Zeidat, 14, is the youngest wounded prisoner in Israeli prisons. He was shot in the foot, back, and leg by Israeli occupation soldiers on 23 September. Accused of trying to attack settlers in the Kiryat Arba colonial settlement, Osama was in fact the victim of an attack, the only person injured as he was shot in the back by occupation soldiers. He is held in very difficult conditions with the most injured and ill prisoners in the Ramleh prison clinic. Osama’s foot is painfully swollen and he continues to have a 5cm bullet injury. A metal implant was inserted in his foot, causing him further pain and making it difficult for him to move.

The 14-year-old boy from the village of Bani Naim near al-Khalil was held in Shaare Tzedek hospital for 18 days and while undergoing several operations, was denied family visits. He was brought to an Israeli military court on 1 November shackled to a hospital bed, and later not brought to his hearings after Israeli forces said that there was no ambulance available to transport him. His family has demanded the release of their child, which has been repeatedly denied by the Israeli military courts.

Osama has continued to suffer from pain and severe effects of his injury. His family have urged that he receive appropriate medical treatment so he can be transferred to the Ofer prison with fellow children or more appropriately, be released.

In addition, 13-year-old Palestinian boy Samer Raja Daraghmeh remains imprisoned and held under interrogation. Despite an initial order to release him on Tuesday, he was ordered returned to prison for further interrogation without any clear charge attributed to him. He was seized by occupation forces on Monday, 12 December as he left his school to return to his village of Laban, near Nablus. Samer also suffers from a difficult health condition after a traffic accident one year ago in which he suffered a head injury and damage to his kidneys and liver.

Following on a long line of lengthy sentences handed out to Palestinian children, particularly from Jerusalem, Akram Tawfiq Abu Sarhan, 17, from Jabal al-Mukabber in Jerusalem, was ordered to nine years in Israeli prison on Wednesday, 14 December. Accused of possession of a knife with the intention to carry out a resistance operation, Akram was also fined 10,000 NIS ($2500 USD). This harsh sentence was imposed despite the fact

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