Palestinian ambassador denied access to autopsy of Omar Nayef Zayed; family demanding accountability

27 February 2016

The Palestinian Ambassador was denied access to the autopsy of Omar Nayef Zayed today in Sofia, Bulgaria, reported Palestinian and Bulgarian news agencies; according to Omar Shehadeh of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the stated reason given was that Bulgarian law excludes the participation of any Palestinian or other non-Bulgarian doctor.

Shehadeh said that the PLO is following up with Bulgarian officials regarding the independence of the autopsy. Furthermore, that the PLO id forming a Palestinian delegation that is going to Sofia today to investigate the circumstances of the killing of Omar Nayef Zayed. Shehadeh said that the delegation will investigate the responsibility of Palestinian political and security officials at the embassy in carrying out their responsibilities toward Nayef Zayed, as well as that of the foreign ministry, given that the situation and outcome clearly indicates the failure of these agencies to protect Nayef Zayed.

Furthermore, Shehadeh said the Palestinian delegation will investigate the Israeli responsibility for the killing of Nayef Zayed and the role of Bulgarian authorities failing to protect people in Bulgaria.

The Palestinian ambassador, Ahmad al-Madhbouh, was quoted as stating that there were no security alarms, key codes, or even security cameras at the embassy and thus no way to show who came in or out of the building in the early morning. This was the case despite the fact that Nayef Zayed was regularly denied visits from solidarity activists, was prevented from seeing lawyers, repeatedly warned that his wife may be banned from visiting him, and barred from the embassy’s kitchen during the day under “security” precautions, making his life in the embassy difficult on a regular basis, yet not even basic security cameras were installed even at the door of the embassy to record comings and goings.

Omar’s family has denounced the role of the Palestinian Authority, saying that the PA and the Palestinian Embassy are responsible along with Israel for the killing of Nayef Zayed, by failing to provide proper protection for him and placing him under constant pressure while in the embassy. Ma’an news reported that Ahmad Nayef, Omar’s brother, said that “My brother was being directly and indirectly threatened by some individuals at the embassy — especially the ambassador — who demanded him to leave the embassy where he was taking cover after being threatened by Mossad.”

Hamza Nayef, Omar’s other brother, said that “we hold Israel fully responsible for Omar’s assassination and we also blame the Palestinian embassy for not protecting him and thus facilitating his murder.”

PA President Mahmoud Abbas condemned his death as a “reprehensible crime,” ordering an investigation into the events in Sofia; the PA ministry of foreign affairs also announced it had launched an investigation. Saeb Erekat called on the Bulgarian government to make all effort to arrest those responsible. Issa Qaraqe, director of the Prisoners’ Affairs Commission, said that the Mossad was responsible for the “heinous crime” against Omar Nayef Zayed, saying that Israel is carrying out international crimes in pursuit of Palestinian strugglers and especially former prisoners. He demanded an international commission of investigation of the crime, calling for the Bulgarian government to prosecute the perpetrators.

The Israeli foreign ministry initially denied requests to comment on the killing in Sofia, but later, a spokesperson vaguely said that it was “not an Israeli issue,” while other Israeli spokespeople attempted to imply that a Palestinian or Bulgarian source could be behind the killing; at the same time, major Israeli media such as the Jerusalem Post strongly implied that an Israeli Mossad assassination of Nayef Zayed was likely.

The killing of Omar Nayef Zayed came only hours after Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov returned from a trip to the region, in which he met with PA President Mahmoud Abbas, PA Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, PA Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki, Israeli President Reuben Rivlin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. While press reports on the meetings did not mention Nayef Zayed’s case, after the killing, Borissov told Bulgarian media that he had discussed the case with all parties and said that “Bulgaria respects the rule of law.”

Students and youth condemn killing, demand accountability for death of Omar Nayef Zayed

27 February 2016

The Progressive Student Labor Front, the Islamic Bloc, and the Islamic Student Association at Al-Aqsa University, the Islamic University and Al-Quds Open University in Gaza held a sit-in in mourning for Palestinian former prisoner Omar Nayef Zayed, killed on Friday morning inside the Palestinian embassy in Bulgaria.

The participants denounced the killing of Nayef Zayed as an Israeli plot to eliminate a former prisoner who had escaped Israeli prisons and lived a free life with his family in Sofia. He had taken refuge in the embassy after being pursued by Bulgarian authorities in December 2015 following an Israeli extradition demand. Prior to this, he had lived in Bulgaria for 22 years.

The student protesters also emphasized the responsibility of the Palestinian embassy in Bulgaria for the crime, which they called an “accomplice” to the assassination.

Palestinian and Lebanese youth in Lebanon also responded to the assassination of Omar Nayef Zayed. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Lebanese Democratic Youth Union, the Palestinian Youth Organization, the Youth and Students of the Lebanese Communist Party and the Palestinian Democratic Youth Federation issued a joint statement:

“We, Palestinian and Lebanese youth organizations, strongly condemn the assassination and we hold the Zionist intelligence services fully responsible. We also hold the Palestinian Authority responsible, as it continues the security coordination with the Zionist entity despite the terror and repression against the Palestinian people by the occupation and the settlers.

This assassination is not only further evidence of the Zionist hatred and persistence in the pursuit of Comrade Nayef… This is a hatred against those who carry the banner of struggle of the Palestinian cause anywhere in the world. The assassination of Comrade Nayef Zayed comes alongside the emergence of a new stage of intifada inside Palestine, and is a clear message meant to intimidate the Palestinian youth and break the spirit of resistance that continues to grow among Arab youth.

We reaffirm our condemnation of the assassination, we announce our insistence on resisting and confronting any form of occupation in the world and all forms of injustice, and we consider that the Palestinian cause is a fundamental struggle on the road of human liberation from oppression and confrontation of imperialism that exploits the Arab countries.”

In the United States, New York City Students for Justice in Palestine issued a statement, Long live the memory of Omar Nayef Zayed!

“Today only hours apart from the victory of Mohammed al-Qeeq after his 94-day hunger strike, the revolutionary Omar Nayef Zayed was assassinated within the Palestinian embassy in Bulgaria.

Omar, a former political prisoner and hunger striker, was threatened with extradition from Bulgaria in December of 2015 when the Israeli state demanded his arrest. Zayed was accused of carrying out a resistance operation against settlers in 1986, and had escaped from Zionist prisons in 1990 after a 40 day hunger strike. NYC SJP holds the Israeli state responsible for his assassination, and the Palestinian Authority for failing to adequately protect Omar within their diplomatic mission. The individuals and government who carried out this assassination must be held accountable through any channel possible.

All of the Palestinians resisting in the bowels of Israeli jails represent the firm resilience of the Palestinian people for self-determination, however no amount of happiness from al-Qeeq’s victory will make us forgive or forget about the enraging assassination of Omar Nayef Zayed. Even though we are Palestinians living in the diaspora and internationalists in solidarity with Palestine, the issues of the prisoners must always be on our minds. We salute Mohammed al-Qeeq, the martyr Omar Nayef Zayed, and all political prisoners.”

28 February, Berlin: Memorial for Omar Nayef Zayed

27 February 2016

Sunday, 28 February
4:00 pm
Mehringdamm 114
10965 Berlin

The Committees for a Democratic Palestine in Berlin will hold a memorial for Omar Nayef Zayed, to remember the life of this struggler for Palestine, taken on Friday in Bulgaria in the Palestinian embassy as he continued to struggle for freedom for himself and for Palestine.

29 February, Chicago: Memorial for Omar Nayef Zayed

27 February 2016

Monday, 29 February
8:00 pm
Jerusalem Banquet Hall
83rd and Harlem
Chicago, IL

The Democratic Palestine Alliance will hold a memorial and celebration of the life of the Palestinian martyr Omar Nayef Zayed, slain in the Palestinian embassy in Bulgaria, on Monday, 29 February, for condolences and speaking about the life of Nayef Zayed.

Marches and rallies in Palestine and internationally respond to death of Omar Nayef Zayed in Bulgaria

27 February 2016

Marches, rallies and protests took place throughout occupied Palestine on Friday, 26 February, in response to the killing of former Palestinian prisoner Omar Nayef Zayed in the Palestinian embassy in Bulgaria, where he had taken refuge from pursuit for extradition by Israeli and Bulgarian security forces.

Omar was found dead from a fall of multiple stories in the embassy’s garden on Friday morning; his family, political party and Palestinian officials have all declared it an assassination and demanded immediate investigation and accountability.

In Jenin, Omar Nayef Zayed’s family hometown, Palestinians marched through the streets to his family home, commemorating his life and demanding action for his death by assassination.

Protests also rose up throughout Gaza in memory of Nayef Zayed, demanding justice for his killing, in Khan Younis, Gaza City, Rafah, Jabalya and Nuseirat. Most of the marches and events inside Palestine were organized by his political party, the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

Gaza City:

Khan Younis:

Nuseirat:

Jabalya:

Rafah:

However, all Palestinian political factions condemned the killing, and demanded serious action and accountability, not only against the Israeli state and intelligence agencies, but also against the Palestinian Authority in whose embassy Zayed’s life was taken, and which allegedly contained no security cameras or alarm system despite the threat to Nayef Zayed’s life.

International protests for the freedom of Palestinian prisoners also demanded justice for Omar Nayef Zayed and exposure and accountability for those responsible for his killing. In New York City, Samidoun’s weekly protest demanded justice for Omar Nayef Zayed, while in London, Inminds spoke about his case while projecting his image on the headquarters of G4S, the massive security corporation that provides security equipment and control rooms for Israeli prisons, detention centers and checkpoints.

A memorial and celebration of Omar Nayef Zayed’s life is also planned in Chicago for Monday, 29 February at 8:00 pm in the event hall at Jerusalem Restaurant, at 83rd and Harlem.

Palestinian organizations respond to killing of Omar Nayef Zayed in Bulgaria

27 February 2016

Palestinian political parties, community and human rights organizations responded to the killing of Omar Nayef Zayed in Sofia, Bulgaria, in the Palestinian embassy with strong denunciations and demands for action. Nayef Zayed, 52, had taken refuge in the Palestinian embassy since December 2015, as he was being pursued for extradition by Bulgarian police after the Israeli embassy requested he be turned over under the European Convention on Extradtion. He had escaped Israeli prison in 1990 following a 40-day hunger strike and hospitalization, and had escaped Palestine, eventually coming to Bulgaria, where he lived for the past 22 years, marrying his wife Rania, a Bulgarian citizen and raising three children.

An international campaign was mobilized to fight the extradition attempt as Nayef Zayed remained within the embassy, whose walls cannot be breached by the host state. He was found dead on the morning of 26 February in the embassy’s garden; his family and Palestinian organizations have denounced the killing as an Israeli operation, while Israeli media have speculated on the likelihood of a Mossad assassination of Nayef Zayed. The family has also highlighted the role of the Palestinian Authority and the embassy in his death, saying that he was not appropriately protected – it is claimed the embassy had no security cameras or alarm system – and was instead constantly placed under pressure to leave the embassy throughout his time there.

A series of Palestinian organizations’ responses to the killing of Nayef Zayed are below, beginning with his own Palestinian political party, the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine:

Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine: The PFLP statement (in English) denounced the killing of “Comrade Omar Nayef Zayed, the former Palestinian political prisoner and lifelong struggler for the freedom of Palestine, assassinated this morning in the Palestinian embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria.” The statement continued:

“We in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine hold fully responsible for this nefarious crime the Zionist State and the Israeli Mossad who targeted Comrade Omar Nayef Zayed for assassination, as we hold responsible the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Embassy in Bulgaria who failed to protect him and his security, and the Bulgarian government and security forces who pursued Comrade Nayef Zayed for arrest and imprisonment for over three months. We note the full responsibility of the Palestinian Authority at the highest levels for failing to protect Comrade Nayef Zayed from assassination, up to and including PA President Mahmoud Abbas, Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki and Ambassador Ahmad al-Madbouh.

This crime took place as the highest officials of the Palestinian Authority met with the highest officials of the Bulgarian state in Ramallah, with no apparent demands made for our pursued comrade, the martyr Omar Nayef Zayed.

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine vows to pursue in all ways the truth of the assassination of the martyr Comrade Omar Nayef Zayed, to stand by the family of our martyred comrade, and to hold accountable those responsible for his targeting and assassination. We pledge as always to remain on his path of unremitting struggle for liberation of Palestine, its land and people, as he joins the convoy of the great martyrs of our people whose lives have been taken inside and outside Palestine by the murderous Zionist colonial project.”

Palestinian Prisoners’ Society: The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society stated that they were gravely concerned about the fate of freed Palestinian prisoners around the world in light of the assassination of Omar Nayef Zayed in the Palestinian embassy in Bulgaria. They demanded a serious investigation into this crime, coming after over 2 months of the Israeli occupation authorities demanding that the Bulgarian authorities arrest and turn him over for imprisonment. They called for urgently providing full protection to prisoners inside Israeli jails and freed prisoners as a national and international responsibility.

Islamic Jihad: Islamic Jihad denounced the assassination of Omar Nayef Zayed inside the Palestinian embassy in Bulgaria on Friday, 26 February, saying the Israeli state bears responsibility for the crime. Spokesperson Daoud Shehab said that “The one who gave the order to assassinate him is the same which directs the terrorism against our children and youth….the same who insist on continuing the imprisonment of journalist Mohammed al-Qeeq in order to kill him.”

Furthermore, Shehab said, this raises urgent questions about the situation in Palestinian embassies in Europe and internationally, including the role of ambassadors, staff and security personnel in the embassy. “Is security coordination practiced there as well, and play a role in the persecution of our people in exile?” he asked.

Hamas: Ismail Haniyeh, deputy chair of the Political Bureau of Hamas, said that the assassination of Omar Nayef Zayed was a “stain on the conscience of the international community, ane evidence of the continuing occupation crimes in light of security coordination and security weaknesses.” He said that the crime could not have taken place without the weakness of the security of the Palestinian embassy in Bulgaria.

Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri declared that Israel is responsible for the assassination of former prisoner Omar Nayef Zayed inside the Palestinian embassy in Bulgaria. He also demanded the resignation of Palestinian Authority foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki and Ambassador Ahmad al-Madhbouh, for their responsibility for the crime taking place inside the Palestinian embassy, calling for them to be tried because of the killing in the embassy and, at best, the failure to protect Nayef Zayed.

Fateh: Fateh said that the Israeli occupation has full responsibility for the killing of Omar Nayef Zayed, saying that the Palestinian leadership has formed a commission of inquiry into the crime. Fateh spokesperson Osama Qawasmeh denounced Hamas’s position, accusing them of “political opportunism” and “reckless accusations,” and defending the Palestinian embassy in Bulgaria, saying they refused to turn over Nayef Zayed despite pressure against them.

Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine: Tayseer Khaled, member of the Political Bureau of the DFLP, said that evidence indicates the Israeli Mossad is responsible for the assassination of Omar Nayef Zayed, calling for a national committee including independent Palestinian organizations, the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Palestinian Embassy in Bulgaria to investigate the killing of Nayef Zayed and report to the Executive Committee of the PLO.

Popular Resistance Movement in Palestine: The Popular Resistance Movement called for an immediate investigation into the assassination of Omar Nayef Zayed in Bulgaria, saying that it bears the marks of the Israeli Mossad. They also said that the Bulgarian authorities are responsible for the assassination of Nayef Zayed, by forcing him into the embassy by threatening him with extradition to the Israeli occupation.

The Palestinian National Initiative: The PNI condemned the assassination of Omar Nayef Zayed in Bulgaria on Friday. Mustafa Barghouti, the general secretary of the PNI, called for a comprehensive investigation as to what occurred in the killing of Zayed, as well as accountability from Bulgarian officials about this crime and its consequences.

Palestinian Arab Front: The Palestinian Arab Front denounced the assassination of former prisoner and struggler Omar Nayef Zayed in the Palestinian embassy in Bulgaria, saying that the occupation and its intelligence services are responsible for the crime and that “the assassination on foreign soil within the walls of the Palestinian embassy is a violation of all legal and ethical norms and a blatant defiance of diplomatic roles.” It also demanded that the PA provide better security services and equipment for Palestinian embassies internationally.

Palestinians in Europe Conference: The Palestinians in Europe Conference strongly condemned the crime targeting the Palestinian ex-prisoner Omar Nayef Zayed, considering it a “dangerous precedent”. The conference called for serious investigation into the crime and for holding accountable those responsible for the assassination including the Palestinian embassy and the Bulgarian authorities.

ECCP and Samidoun joint appeal to parliamentarians on the death of Omar Nayef Zayed

27 February 2016

The European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine (ECCP) and Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network issued a joint appeal to all Members of European Parliament on the killing of Omar Nayef Zayed, on 26 February 2016. ECCP and Samidoun will be following up this letter with an ongoing push for transparency, justice and accountability for the taking of the life of Zayed, a former Palestinian prisoner sought for extradition from Bulgaria to the Israeli occupation. The letter was written and sent hours after Nayef Zayed was pronounced dead in Sofia. Both organizations had been working together to advocate against the extradition of Nayef Zayed. The text of the appeal follows:

Dear Members of the European Parliament,

We write today with heavy hearts and extreme distress about an incident that has just occurred in Sofia, Bulgaria. Omar Nayef Zayed, the former Palestinian prisoner currently pursued for extradition by Israel and Bulgarian police, was found dead yesterday morning inside the Palestinian embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria, where he had taken refuge from the extradition request.

Omar’s case was a critical case for Palestinians in Europe; he had lived in Bulgaria for the past 22 years as a permanent resident, with his Bulgarian-citizen wife and three Bulgarian-citizen children. He fled Israeli imprisonment after a 40-day hunger strike in 1990; the threat of his extradition on the basis of his conviction by an Israeli court trying Palestinians from the West Bank in an unfair trial, after being subject to torture, held severe concerns not only for him as an individual but for all Palestinians in Europe who could face such threats.

Bulgarian police are reporting that it appears that Omar fell from a high story in the embassy building into its garden; they are also reporting that it is “not excluded” that he was pushed in order to cause the fall. Both Israeli and Palestinian media are reporting that Omar Nayef Zayed was the victim of an assassination in Sofia this morning.

Bulgarian police have closed off the street where the embassy is located and are carrying out an investigation. Due to the politically sensitive nature of this case and its high level of international importance, it is critical that Omar Nayef Zayed receive an independent autopsy and a full, transparent and independent investigation of his death in order to hold those responsible accountable.

Israeli intelligence agencies have in the past carried out assassinations on European territory, like those of Naim Khader, Mahmoud Hamshari, Wael Zuaiter and others. Omar’s family and Palestinian officials have declared Omar’s death an assassination; the fact that Israeli media is already reporting his death as an assassination lends further support to this statement. The assassination and killing of a former Palestinian prisoner in Europe is not acceptable and must not be allowed to pass by without serious investigation and international accountability.

We urge you to contact your Bulgarian colleagues and Bulgarian officials to urge the highest level of investigation into the case of Omar Nayef Zayed, and to register your interest in this case of major international import.

Sincerely,

European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network

Photos: New Yorkers celebrate end of Mohammed al-Qeeq’s hunger strike, protest Omar Nayef Zayed’s death

27 February 2016

Activists in New York protested outside the offices of security multinational G4S on Friday, 26 February, in solidarity with Palestinian political prisoners, focusing on the cases of Mohammed al-Qeeq and Omar Nayef Zayed.

Al-Qeeq, 33, a Palestinian journalist held in Israeli administrative detention without charge or trial, announced an end to his 94-day hunger strike earlier on Friday, with the conclusion of an agreement to end his imprisonment and secure his freedom.

Nayef Zayed, 52, was found dead in the garden of the Palestinian Embassy in Bulgaria on Fridsy morning. Palestinian political forces and his family have all expressed outrage and labelled the killing an assassination; a former Palestinian prisoner in Israeli jails, Zayed was staying in the Palestinian embassy to take refuge from an extradition request by the Israeli state to Bulgaria. Zayed had been taking refuge in the embassy since December 2015 and was the subject of an international campaign for his freedom; he lived in Bulgaria for 22 years after escaping Israel imprisonment in 1990 and fleeing Palestine.

The demonstration, part of weekly actions organized by Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network in New York City, was joined by representatives of Filipino and Pakistani community organizations, Bernadette Ellorin of BAYAN USA and Comrade Shahid of the Pakistan USA Freedom Forum.

The weekly protests focus on G4S, subject to an international call for boycott, including an appeal from Palestinian prisoners. The massive security corporation provides equipment and control rooms to Israeli prisons and interrogation centers and checkpoints, supplying the structure of oppression, occupation and torture. Protesters demand G4S – which also is involved in human rights violations in the US, Canada, South Africa, UK, Australia and elsewhere – get out of Palestine, and are calling on institutions to end their contracts with the corporation, including the United Nations.

Photos by Joe Catron

Rasmea Defense Committee celebrating today, planning next steps

26 February 2016

Yesterday’s ruling from the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals represents a great victory in the case of Rasmea Odeh, the legendary Palestinian American icon who was convicted of a politically motivated immigration violation in 2014, and sentenced to 18 months in prison and deportation last year.

There were some early press and other reports yesterday that were erroneous, stating that the “conviction was overturned” altogether, but that is not the case. The 3-judge appeals panel determined that Gershwin Drain, the trial judge who sentenced Rasmea, wrongfully barred expert torture witness, Dr. Mary Fabri, from testifying at the trial. According to lead defense attorney Michael Deutsch, “The case will be remanded [sent back to Drain] for a determination as to the admissibility of the expert testimony. The appellate court has essentially ruled that it was an error for Drain to have kept that testimony out.”

Judge Drain originally ruled that Fabri’s testimony was not relevant because the violation was a “general intent” crime as opposed to a “specific intent” one, stating that her state of mind does not need to be considered. The appellate panel disagreed: “Regardless of whether [it] was a specific or general intent crime,” the ruling states, “Dr. Fabri’s…testimony is relevant to whether Odeh knew that her statements were false. The district court accordingly erred in…excluding this testimony.”

If Judge Drain cannot determine if there are other legal avenues that will allow him to exclude the expert testimony, Rasmea will be granted a new trial, which will finally allow her to tell the entire story of Israel forcing her to falsely confess to bombings in 1969, when she endured over three weeks of vicious sexual, physical, and psychological torture at the hands of the Israeli military.

That Israeli military court “conviction” is what ultimately led to the U.S. federal charge against her almost 45 years later. In the appeal, Rasmea’s lawyers had also argued that the prosecution should not have been allowed to use documents from the Israeli military court during the trial, stating that the details from that court were “prejudicial” and “irrelevant” in a case dealing with alleged immigration fraud. In the ruling, one of the appellate judges agreed that those details should have been excluded.

U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Tukel, who are responsible for the original indictment against Rasmea in 2013, can file a motion asking the Court of Appeals to reconsider its decision. Barring that, Judge Drain must make a determination, which could mean another evidentiary hearing in Detroit.

“This isn’t a full victory yet, of course,” said Nesreen Hasan of the Rasmea Defense Committee in Chicago, “but it really is what we were hoping for and anticipating at this stage. The conviction wasn’t overturned altogether, but at least Judge Drain will be forced to rethink his decision on the torture evidence. And we are confident that Rasmea will get a new trial!”

Organizers with the defense committee, which represents over 50 institutions across the country, have been waiting for a decision in the appeal since last October, and are celebrating the result today. If the court had upheld the conviction, Rasmea’s supporters were prepared to carry out emergency response protests in dozens of U.S. cities.

“With this decision, instead of emergency protests, we’re doing everything we can to ensure that Rasmea finally gets the chance to tell her story in court,” said Frank Chapman, another leader of the committee and a prominent Black police accountability and anti-torture organizer in Chicago. “When the evidence is heard, Rasmea will be exonerated, because a jury will recognize that the only crimes in this case are Israel’s war against the Palestinian people and our U.S. government’s complicity.”

Considering that there will be much more legal and community-based organizing work ahead, the Rasmea Defense Committee is asking for continued financial support.

“Rasmea and we are celebrating our victory today, and are thankful for the work of our great lawyers and the thousands of people across the U.S. and the world who have stood with her,” said Lara Kiswani of the committee’s Bay Area chapter. “And besides fundraising, we want everyone to continue to organize educational events, like ourInternational Women’s Day celebrations honoring Rasmea in San Francisco, Chicago, Minneapolis, and other cities.”

Mohammed al-Qeeq suspends hunger strike in agreement after 94 days

26 February 2016

On Friday, 26 February, after completing 94 days of hunger strike, Palestinian journalist Mohammed al-Qeeq suspended his strike in an agreement announced by the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society. He was joined in his hospital room by Palestinian members of Knesset, other Palestinians from ’48 who have been by his bedside for weeks and legal representatives for the announcement.

According to the terms of the agreement, al-Qeeq’s administrative detention will end on 21 May 2016. He will be treated in Israeli hospitals before that time, and he will receive family visits that have been denied up to this point.

Al-Qeeq, 33, a Palestinian journalist for al-Majd TV, was arrested by Israeli occupation forces on 21 November 2015 in a violent raid on his home. On 25 November, he announced the start of his hunger strike after 15-hour periods of being shackled to a chair in stress positions and threats of sexual violence and assault. He continued his hunger strike for 94 days, demanding an end to administrative detention without charge or trial, as despite an Israeli Supreme Court “suspension” of his detention, he continued to be denied family visits, including from his wife Fayha and two small children, as well as treatment at a Palestinian hospital. Fayha called the agreement a “very big victory” in a media statement. He is now receiving medical treatment and examinations.

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Network salutes the steadfastness of Mohammed al-Qeeq, a true example of the resistance of Palestinian prisoners struggling constantly for freedom and liberation, for themselves and the entire Palestinian people.

We note that while this agreement has been reached, it has not yet been implemented, and that it is critical that the eyes of the world remain on the Israeli state to ensure the protection of the life and health of Mohammed al-Qeeq and that he is freed as agreed upon.

Further, it is appalling that in order to achieve even the vaguest kind of justice, a Palestinian must be on his deathbed and nearly starving to death at 94 days of hunger strike. It is also appalling that a Palestinian needs to be on hunger strike for 60 days – longer than many people are able to live at all without food – in order to begin to garner international attention or any kind of media coverage.

It is also critical that the international solidarity movement with Palestine highlights and amplifies the voices of Palestinian prisoners – not just those on hunger strike, but all Palestinian prisoners and their collective demands for freedom – early, constantly, and often. We cannot allow the Israeli attempt to isolate, silence and suppress Palestinian prisoners to succeed. We salute all of the organizations, activists and leaders around the world who have spoken up clearly on the case of Mohammed al-Qeeq, as we continue to struggle together for freedom for all Palestinian prisoners.

Photo by Mohammed Kana’aneh, Palestinian leader from ’48, taken at al-Qeeq’s hospital bed following the announcement of the agreement and the end of his strike.

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