After 45 days of hunger strike, Bilal Kayed is continuing his battle for freedom from Barzilai hospital, where he remains shackled hand and foot to his hospital bed and guarded at all times by three prison guards. He continues to lose large amounts of weight and is dizzy and unable to walk, suffering extreme fatigue. He is consuming water with salt only following several incidents of prolonged loss of vision; he is rejecting all vitamin or other supplements and any medical examinations.

Osama Saadi, a member of the Knesset with the Joint List and a lawyer, visited Kayed yesterday, 28 July, in Barzilai hospital, as Palestinian citizens of Israel protested outside the hospital for Kayed’s freedom. Saadi reported that Kayed is shackled to his hospital bed by his right hand and left foot, noting that “I saw with my own eyes the determination and insistence of the imprisoned hero Bilal Kayed to continue the strike, to break the chains, and to win his justly-deserved freedom. He told me that he will continue his hunger strike until freedom, and sends greetings to all of the Palestinian people and their friends. He appreciates all of the activities of solidarity with him and his morale is very high, touching the clouds. Thus, we continue to emphasize solidarity with the prisoner Kayed until his release. This is a hero who refuses the injustice of the jailer and believes firmly in the justice of his cause. We must stand together with him as one, and celebrate together when he achieves his freedom.”

Over 100 Palestinian prisoners are refusing all food in solidarity with Kayed while hundreds more are engaged in ongoing protest actions and partial hunger strikes in support of Kayed and his fellow striking administrative detainees. Kayed, 34, has been on hunger strike since 15 June, when he was ordered to administrative detention for an indefinitely-renewable six-month period following the expiration of his 14.5 year sentence in Israeli prisons. His case represents a threat of indefinite detention following completion of their sentences for all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. The growing protest movement has been met with repression, including invasions of cells, lockdowns, mass prison transfers, prohibition of family visits and access to the canteen (prison store), ransacking, confiscation and destruction of personal belongings and electronic appliances, and ongoing raids on cells by repressive forces. These raids and invasions have happened in Ramon, Negev, Gilboa, and Nafha prisons, while the hunger-striking al-Balboul brothers were beaten in Ofer prison.

Physicians for Human Rights Israel appealed on 22 July to the District Court in Beersheva against the shackling of Kayed to his hospital bed, stating thaat the shackling violates medical ethics, international medical guidelines, international human rights law, and Israeli ministry of health guidelines – and even the rules of the Israeli Prison Service. PHR also called for Kayed’s access to an independent doctor, urging “the international community to urge Israel to release Bilal Kayed immediately, to end the harsh, inhuman and degrading practices that pressure hunger strikers to end their strikes, and to review the continuous and systematic human rights violations of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, especially in regards to the policy of administrative detention.” The statement by PHRI was co-signed by Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association and The Public Committee against Torture in Israel (PCATI).

Protests have continued throughout Palestine and around the world, including in the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, for Kayed’s freedom and in support of the struggle of the prisoners.

On Wednesday, 28 July, protesters gathered in Brussels for a rally outside the offices of the European Commission to demand an end to European complicity in the imprisonment of Palestinians. At the protest organized by Samidoun, the Palestinian Community of Belgium and Luxembourg, and the European Alliance in Defence of Palestinian Detainees, speakers from a number of organizations demanded freedom for Kayed and his fellow Palestinian prisoners. The rally also included a statement from the family of Omar Nayef Zayed, the former Palestinian prisoner whose life was taken in the Palestinian embassy in Sofia as he resisted extradition from Bulgaria to Israel.

In Athens on 29 July, the ADEDY trade union called a demonstration for Kayed’s freedom outside the Israeli Embassy, joined by a number of Palestinian and solidarity organizations who came together in support of Palestinian political prisoners.

Irish republican socialist group eirigi demanded freedom for Bilal Kayed in Belfast, displaying a banner and distributing literature outside Stormont, demanding Kayed’s freedom from administrative detention and highlighting his lengthy hunger strike. They said, “éirígí once more extends its solidarity to all Palestinian political prisoners, and reiterates its support for the total liberation of Palestine from the auspices of Zionism and Imperialism.”

The Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association is planning a mural of solidarity between Irish Republican and Palestinian prisoners featuring a portrait of Bilal Kayed. The planned mural, on Belfast’s International Wall, has faced threats from anti-Palestinian individuals.

These protests followed actions in New York, Philadelphia, London , Lykesil, Malmo, and Berlin. Further protests are planned in the coming days in New York City, Milan, Manchester, and elsewhere.

Rallies throughout Palestine for Kayed have continued; in Gaza, a motorcade of driving protest for Kayed’s freedom wound through the streets. Earlier, Waed Association held a protest on 27 July to call for freedom for Kayed and support the dozens of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli jails.  On Thursday, 28 July, shops in Bethlehem held a 2-hour strike, from 10 am to 12 pm to demand freedom for Kayed. Kayed’s mother joined a protest in Jerusalem in support of Kayed and his fellow prisoners. Marches and protests have continued in cities, villages, and refugee camps throughout Palestine, including Tubas, Ramallah, and Dheisheh camp; students in Nablus followed on the World Student Day of Solidarity with Bilal Kayed and Palestinian Prisoners with a march through the city, organized by the Progressive Student Labor Front.

On Friday, 29 July, marchers will proceed after Friday prayers in Balata refugee camp to Huwarra checkpoint demanding freedom for Bilal Kayed. In addition to the growing protests in Palestine and internationally for Kayed, there are growing electronic campaigns including a “Twitterstorm” planned to take place on Saturday, 30 July, during the 10 days of international solidarity action with Bilal Kayed.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Philadelphia outside the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, 26 July, protesting the Democrats’ support for war, occupation, and imperialism; denouncing the nomination of Hillary Clinton as the party’s presidential candidate; and demanding action to stop the ongoing police and state killing of Black people and defend Black lives under attack.

Temple University Students for Justice in Palestine organized an SJP Ona MOVE contingent that focused on the liberation of political prisoners, both Palestinian political prisoners and on political prisoners in US jails, including Mumia Abu-Jamal and the MOVE 9. The contingent was also part of the World Student Day of Solidarity with Bilal Kayed and Palestinian Prisoners, called for by the Progressive Student Labor Front in Palestine.

There was a high visibility for issues around Palestinian liberation and Palestine solidarity, including protests of the Democrats’ anti-Palestinian platform, the carrying of the Palestinian flag – also raised by dissident delegates inside the DNC – and calls to support the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) campaign. In the evening protest outside the DNC, marchers burned an Israeli flag, chanting in support of Palestine and the intifada and against US imperialism. The struggle of political prisoners was visible throughout the day, with calls for the freedom of Abu-Jamal, the MOVE 9, Oscar Lopez Rivera, Leonard Peltier and other prisoners in US jails, alongside Bilal Kayed and his fellow 7,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Joe Catron of Samidoun spoke at the march and rally, and read aloud a statement from Mahmoud Kayed, the brother of Bilal Kayed, on hunger strike since 15 June against his administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial. Over 100 Palestinian prisoners are currently on hunger strike in support of Kayed’s demand for freedom. The administrative detention order against Kayed was imposed upon him after the expiration of his 14.5 year sentence; his case is seen as a dangerous precedent for the indefinite imprisonment of Palestinian prisoners following the expiration of their sentences. Mahmoud, Bilal’s brother, has become one of the frequent spokespeople for the family in the frequent protests, mobilizations and actions throughout Palestine demanding Kayed’s freedom.

Mahmoud Kayed’s message to the demonstration is reproduced below:

Friends in the United States
Friends everywhere in the world

We greet you from occupied Palestine, and we thank you for inviting us to deliver this word in the demonstration, and to raise the voice of Palestine in front of the Democratic National Convention in the city of Philadelphia.

Let me first greet you all, on behalf of my family and myself, and convey the greetings of my brother, Bilal Kayed, who is currently on hunger strike for the 42nd consecutive day, imprisoned by Israel. And I greet you on behalf of all of the Palestinian prisoners.

My brother Bilal, as some of you know, spent 14 and a half years in Israeli jails, and when he was scheduled to be released on June 13 – on that date, instead, they sent him to jail for six months under the law of administrative detention. This criminal colonial law is used by the occupation state, “Israel,” in order to keep the Palestinian leaders and activists isolated from their families and their loved ones and the masses of their people. Today, there are more than 700 Palestinians in detention under this unjust law.

Israel is not only imprisoning thousands of Palestinians in an attempt to crush the will, the spirit, and the resistance of the Palestinian people. It is also imprisoning the bodies of the martyrs shot down by the armies of occupation, their lives taken by the colonizers and their bodies frozen, imprisoned, denied to their families.

Today, I extend to you from occupied Palestine, a message of solidarity and support as well for you in your struggle inside the belly of the imperialist beast, and for your struggle for the freedom of all political prisoners in the United States. Freedom for the imprisoned strugglers for just causes and for liberation, whether they are in the US or Israeli prisons, and anywhere they are where prisoners are being held because of their commitment to defend justice and human dignity, giving years of their life to defend their oppressed peoples and their right to self-determination. Today we also raise the call once more to free Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, imprisoned for 32 years in French prisons for his struggle for Palestine.

As Palestinians, we know very well what injustice means, what occupation means, and what arrest means.

From occupied Palestine, we salute the struggler Mumia Abu-Jamal and all of his fellow militant Black leaders and political prisoners in US prisons. We are on their side in their struggle and their just cause for freedom and dignity.

The Palestinian Arab people have been struggling for 100 years for the right to live and to reclaim their land and liberate their land and people from colonialism, occupation, and racism. And our people have and continue to recognize that our natural position is in the struggle alongside the oppressed peoples, and not alongside states that trample people’s rights, plunder the wealth of the people, and impose their will on the impoverished and oppressed peoples.

My brother Bilal belongs to the Palestinian, Arab, and international movement confronting imperialism and Zionism. He is one of 7,000 Palestinian prisoners standing firm in defense of the rights, freedom, and dignity of the Palestinian people, which is inseparable from his personal rights, freedom, and dignity.

My brother Bilal belongs to the global movement of Palestinian Arab face of imperialism and Zionism, which is like 7,000 Palestinian prisoners still in its natural position in defense of the rights, freedom and dignity of his people, which is inseparable from the rights and personal freedom and dignity.

The United States government supports and perpetrates injustice and occupation injustice and Palestine and provides military and financial support from taxpayers’ money, rather than spending that money on programs and services for poor people, education, and social programs. Instead, the United States perpetuates injustice and violence and funds prisons and police oppression. We emphasize that your role and your struggle in the United States is a central, pivotal and leading role in stopping the Israeli and U.S. policies by:

• Participating in boycott campaigns against the occupation and against the private security corporations like G4S that provide it with support and services
•  Organizing delegations of solidarity with the Palestinian people and the prisoners. We welcome you to our occupied homeland Palestine and urge you to see the realities of occupation, apartheid, and the suffering of our people
• Building bridges between your people and ours – bridges based on human solidarity and internationalism, based on love, respect, and equality.

Long live international solidarity! Long live our resistance! Freedom for all political prisoners! Freedom for Bilal Kayed!

From your brother, Mahmoud Kayed

Photos by Joe Catron and Bill Doares

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network and the Palestinian Youth Organization in Lebanon’s Palestinian refugee camps have come together to launch the Youth Campaign for Freedom for Bilal Kayed. The new campaign, coordinated by Samidoun organizer Mostafa Awad, is holding youth, children’s, and women’s workshops about Palestinian political prisoners; protests and demonstrations in support of Bilal Kayed and his fellow prisoners; and a wide range of public events and activities mobilizing Palestinian refugees in Lebanon around the prisoners’ struggle for liberation.

Following their participation in the rally in Beirut outside the French Ambassador’s residence on 14 July, for freedom for Georges Ibrahim Abdallah and Bilal Kayed, Samidoun and the PYO launched the Youth Campaign to mobilize the Palestinian refugee population around the issue of Palestinian prisoners. They began the campaign on Thursday, 21 July, distributing a joint statement on Bilal Kayed‘s hunger strike and the need for collective Palestinian support for the struggle of the prisoners for freedom.

Kayed, 34, has been on hunger strike since 15 June to demand his freedom from administrative detention without charge or trial. He was ordered to administrative detention upon the completion of his 14.5-year sentence in Israeli prison on 13 June 2016; his case is seen as threatening a precedent of indefinite imprisonment of Palestinian prisoners following the expiration of their sentences. He is currently shackled hand and foot to his hospital bed in Barzilai hospital, guarded at all times by three prison guards and under intense surveillance; he is unable to walk, has episodes of losing sight, experiences severe pain, and suffers dizziness and deep fatigue.

On 22 July, the Youth Campaign held an educational workshop for children in cooperation with the Palestinian Children’s Club of the Social Solidarity Center in Ain el-Helweh refugee camp, led by Samidoun’s Mostafa Awad. The workshop focused on educating children about the struggle of prisoners in occupied Palestine, the use of administrative detention, and the history and background of Bilal Kayed, currently on open hunger strike.

Following the workshop, the participating children lit candles in memory of Palestinian cartoonist Naji al-Ali, shot on 22 July 1987, which would lead to his death one month later, on 29 August. Al-Ali is perhaps best known for the creation of the character Handala, a representation of a Palestinian refugee child viewing the injustice, exploitation, and oppression of the world. The participating children also lit candles for the freedom of Bilal Kayed and his fellow Palestinian prisoners.

The Youth Campaign also held a series of meetings between campaign organizers with Samidoun and the PYO and political forces and organizations in Ain el-Helweh refugee camp, including the Popular Committee in the camp. The delegation from the Youth Campaign presented about the struggle of Bilal Kayed and the prisoners, and the importance of the full involvement of the Palestinian diaspora and specifically Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, in all Palestinian national issues.

On Saturday, 23 July, the Youth Campaign organized a presentation on Kayed’s hunger strike and administrative detention in Israeli jails in the Arab Zubaid Social Association in Ain el-Helweh refugee camp. Mostafa Awad presented about the struggle of Bilal Kayed to the membership of the association, who urged the convening of more such workshops on emergent issues that impact all Palestinians, whether in exile and diaspora or inside occupied Palestine.

On 25 July, the Youth Campaign first presented on Kayed’s case and the prisoners’ struggle to the Popular Women’s Committees in Ain el-Helweh camp, screening a documentary film “Hunger Strike,” on the experiences and struggles of Palestinian prisoners over the years through hunger strikes and struggle within the prisons, followed by a Samidoun presentation on administrative detention and the life and struggle of Bilal Kayed.

The seminar was followed by a protest and demonstration in support of Bilal Kayed, organized as part of the World Student Day of Solidarity for Bilal Kayed and Palestinian Prisoners, in a central street of Ain el-Helweh camp, across from Human Call Hospital. Emergency medical workers at the hospital joined the protest as did other hospital staff, alongside Palestinian children of the camp, youth activists, and other Palestinian refugees in the camp, as a huge Palestinian flag fluttered from above.

Video:

Mostafa Awad of Samidoun appeared on Al-Quds TV to discuss the youth campaign and its work to free Bilal Kayed, as well as the importance of the prisoners’ struggle and organizing in the Palestinian diaspora. During the interview, he discussed his work with Raj’een dabkeh troupe in Belgium as well as organizing with Samidoun.

On 27 July, a Youth Campaign delegation met with Dr. Samah Idriss, editor of Al-Adab literary magazine and organizer of the Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel in Lebanon, working to build the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel in Lebanon and support the right of return for Palestinian refugees. They discussed and planned around work to build the BDS movement and the boycott of Israel in the Palestinian refugee camps, and the importance of Palestinian refugee leadership in organizing for the boycott of Israel of all types in Lebanon. The Campaign is currently organizing an ongoing effort to build the boycott of G4S, the massive security corporation that contracts with the Israel Prison Service to provide control rooms, equipment, and security systems for the imprisonment of Palestinians, among public, international, and business entities in Lebanon.

The Youth Campaign is continuing its series of actions, educational events, protests and workshops in the Palestinian refugee camps on the struggle of Palestinian prisoners and the case of Kayed in particular. Mostafa Awad will appear next week on Palestine Today TV, and a series of events are planned. The activities of the Youth Campaign can be followed at its Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/freebilalkayid/

The World Student Day of Solidarity with Bilal Kayed and Palestinian Prisoners included events and actions from Gaza City to New York to Philadelphia. Drawing support from student movements in the US, Morocco, Tunisia, Iraq, Jordan, Egypt and elsewhere, the Progressive Student Labor Front’s call for action on Monday, 25 July sparked protests, sit-ins, and events calling for freedom for hunger-striking Bilal Kayed and his fellow Palestinian prisoners.

There are currently approximately 100 Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in support of Kayed and his fellow striking prisoners held without charge or trial under administrative detention. Kayed, 34, has been on hunger strike since 15 June to demand his freedom from administrative detention without charge or trial. He was ordered to administrative detention upon the completion of his 14.5-year sentence in Israeli prison on 13 June 2016; his case is seen as threatening a precedent of indefinite imprisonment of Palestinian prisoners following the expiration of their sentences. He is currently shackled hand and foot to his hospital bed in Barzilai hospital, guarded at all times by three prison guards and under intense surveillance; he is unable to walk, has episodes of losing sight, experiences severe pain, and suffers dizziness and deep fatigue.

The PSLF organized a solidarity tent in Gaza City on Monday, 25 July, bringing students, youth, and representatives of political parties and social movements to the solidarity tent demanding freedom for Kayed and his fellow prisoners, including hunger strikers Mohammed and Mahmoud al-Balboul, Malik al-Qadi, Ayad Herama, and Mohannad Mutahna, all demanding freedom from their imprisonment without charge or trial. Student members of the PSLF spoke at the event, calling for freedom for all Palestinian prisoners.

They highlighted the cases of student prisoners, including Donya Musleh, a PSLF activist in the West Bank, recently sentenced to 10 months imprisonment for “incitement” for posting on Facebook. Prominent Palestinian political figures spoke at the event, including Maryam Abu Daqqa of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Ismail Radwan of Hamas, and Talal Abu Zarifa of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, highlighting the centrality of the prisoners’ struggle.

Palestinian students in Egypt and the students of the Karama Party organized an event at the party’s office in Cairo in support of Kayed’s strike, featuring former prisoner Ahmed Abu Saud, speaking about the experience of imprisonment in Israeli jails and the centrality of the prisoners’ struggle to the Palestinian movement for national liberation.

Students in Bir Zeit and an-Najah universities organized for freedom for the prisoners, with a large protest at Bir Zeit involving the various student blocs, as well as a program including former hunger strikers Khader Adnan and Mohammed al-Qeeq.

In addition, the General Union of Tunisian Students expressed its support for the campaign and intention to organize events, while the Union of Democratic Youth of Morocco will organize a protest in Rabat on Friday, 30 July. These events come amid international days of solidarity with Kayed’s strike for freedom, taking place from 20-30 July, with events being organized in Athens, Brussels, Berlin, Dublin, Belfast, London, Manchester, Amman, Lebanon, New York City, Philadelphia, Milan, and a number of other cities.

In New York City, NYC Students for Justice in Palestine organized a rally outside the Israeli embassy demanding freedom for Kayed and fellow Palestinian prisoners. Despite drenching rain, students and supporters gathered to demand Kayed’s release and participate in the world student day of action.

The protest had earlier been threatened by the infamously racist and violent “Jewish Defense League,” identified as responsible for the 1985 assassination of Palestinian American community leader Alex Odeh in Santa Ana, California. However, despite posting racist chants to social media, the JDL counter-protest fizzled with only a few individuals standing in the pouring rain – and departing before the student protest ended.

The World Student Day of Action also included a rally at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, including a contingent, SJP ONA MOVE, that linked the struggles of Palestinian political prisoners and Black Liberation and other political prisoners in US jails.

NYC Students for Justice in Palestine also collected photographs of student supporters of Bilal Kayed in an online campaign for Kayed’s freedom:

New prisoners joined dozens of fellow Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails on collective hunger strike in solidarity with Bilal Kayed on Tuesday, 26 July, including Mohammed Abu Sakha, the Palestinian circus performer and trainer held without charge or trial under administrative detention whose case has drawn international support and solidarity from the artistic and circus community.

The ten names of hunger strikers announced by Handala Center for prisoners and ex-prisoners are:
Asem Kaabi – Nablus
Mohammed Erekat – Jerusalem
Saed al-Amer – Nablus
Issam Hamad – Ramallah
Thabet Nassar – Nablus
Montasser Mansour – Nablus
Osama Atwa – Tulkarem
Mohammed Abu Sakha – Jenin
Mufti Amro – Bethlehem
Shadi Ma’ali – Bethlehem

In addition, the Prisoners’ Affairs Committee announced that 50 more Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails would be joining the over 50 already on hunger strike, for a total of over 100 striking prisoners. Kayed, 34, has been on hunger strike since 15 June to demand his freedom from administrative detention without charge or trial. He was ordered to administrative detention upon the completion of his 14.5-year sentence in Israeli prison on 13 June 2016; his case is seen as threatening a precedent of indefinite imprisonment of Palestinian prisoners following the expiration of their sentences. He is currently shackled hand and foot to his hospital bed in Barzilai hospital, guarded at all times by three prison guards and under intense surveillance; he is unable to walk, has episodes of losing sight, experiences severe pain, and suffers dizziness and deep fatigue. He has consumed only water for the past 43 days.

The new hunger strikers announced their participation as the prison authority escalated raids, attacks, and transfers against prisoners protesting in solidarity with Kayed and fellow administrative detainees on hunger strike for freedom. Section 5 of the Ramon prison was raided and attacked by Israeli prison guards and repressive units, who then rounded up 100 prisoners affiliated with the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – Kayed’s party – and Fateh, and transferred them to Ahli Kedar prison.

This came after a large group of repressive forces invaded section 15 of the Ofer prison on Monday, 25 July where the violently beat Palestinian prisoners. Malik al-Zaaqiq was beaten and injured and then taken into solitary confinement; section 15 is known as the “national unity” section because it includes Palestinian prisoners of all affiliations. The attack came after the announcement that 50 Palestinian prisoners had announced a ten-day hunger strike beginning on Tuesday in solidarity with Bilal Kayed, Mohammed and Mahmoud Balboul, Malik al-Qadi, Ayad Herama, and Mohannad Mutahna, all administrative detainess on hunger strike to demand their freedom.  Also on hunger strike for ten days is Walid Salamah, protesting against his solitary confinement, as well as Mahmoud Sarahna, Ziad al-Bazzar, Amin Kamil, and Ahmed Barghouthi, in protest of the International Committee of the Red Cross’s cut in family visits from twice to once month.y.

Al-Qadi, 20, is a student of journalism and media at Al-Quds University at Abu Dis. His mother urged support for her son in hunger strike from the university, noting that he has been held without charge or trial since 23 May. He had previously been held for four months under administrative detention without charge or trial, released, and then re-imprisoned 45 days later. He previously went on hunger strike to protest his abuse and torture under interrogation.

The hunger-striking prisoners held without charge or trial, brothers Mohammed and Mahmoud al-Balboul, were assaulted by jailers in the Ofer prison after returning from an appeal against their administrative detention on Monday, 25 July; the Prisoners Affairs Committee reported that five guards beat the brothers, who show bruising and other clear signs of beating. The two brothers have been on hunger strike for 21 days demanding their freedom from administrative detention without charge or trial; their 15-year-old sister Nuran was released last week after three months in prison.

In addition, Asra Voice reported that Nafha prison was put on lockdown, after two Fateh prisoners, Akef Abed Rabbo Abu Houli and Abdelrahim Abdulqader Abu Houli, were transferred to an unknown destination.

Protests throughout Palestine and internationally continued in support of the hunger strikers; a large crowd gathered in a solidarity tent in Bethlehem in support of the striking prisoners, including a large number of children. Ongoing solidarity tents have been erected in Dheisheh refugee camp, Bethlehem, Ramallah, and elsewhere.