Ibrahim Khader, a former Palestinian prisoner, announced he was launching an open hunger strike in Rafah, Gaza, Palestine this morning, Sunday, 14 February, in support for hunger-striking imprisoned Palestinian journalist Mohammed al-Qeeq.

Khader’s announcement followed the news that al-Qeeq’s health has declined precipitously after 82 days of hunger strike in protest of his imprisonment without charge or trial under Israeli administrative detention.

Khader, 65, served 14 years in Israeli prisons and was released in the prisoner exchange of 1985. A longtime leader in the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, he is a constant participant in activities and events in support of the prisoners throughout Gaza, especially the many gatherings and protests outside the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

He announced that he was launching the open hunger strike in solidarity with al-Qeeq and all of the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, and to intensify the pressure and campaign for their immediate release, raising the profile of the prisoners’ issues. He also stated that his action comes to intensify the Palestinian popular pressure on the Palestinian Authority to take all actions necessary to save the life of al-Qeeq and address the suffering of Palestinian prisoners.

Activists in Dublin, Ireland, protested in an emergency vigil on Saturday, 13 February, demanding the release of hunger-striking Palestinian journalist, Mohammed al-Qeeq, on his 81st day of hunger strike. The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign called for the urgent action to support Al-Qeeq, 33, who is imprisoned without charge or trial under Israeli administrative detention. He is currently held in HaEmek hospital in Afula under “suspended” administrative detention by a ruling of the Israeli Supreme Court.

However, he is not free to leave the hospital and his detention can be reimposed at any time. Al-Qeeq launched his hunger strike on 25 November 2015 in protest of his torture under interrogation and has maintained it since in protest of his imprisonment without charge or trial.

Al-Qeeq is in severe danger of death at any time; since 10 February, Israeli authorities have ceased all negotiations with his lawyers. The protesters demanded tha the European Union take action to demand al-Qeeq’s immediate release and an end to the practice of administrative detention, calling on the EU to suspend its Association Agreement with Israel, granting free trade and other privileges, because of its violations of international law and Palestinian human rights.

Photos by Fatin al-Tamimi

In addition, activists in London, England projected images from Inminds on the BBC Broadcasting House, highlighting the case of Mohammed al-Qeeq. Despite al-Qeeq’s 81-day hunger strike, the BBC continues to ignore the case of this imprisoned Palestinian journalist:

New Yorkers protested on Friday, 12 February – Mohammed al-Qeeq’s 80th day of hunger strike – demanding his freedom from administrative detention without charge or trial. The 33-year-old Palestinian journalist has consumed only water since 25 November and is currently facing a dire health crisis, at risk of multiple organ failure.

The protest, held outside of the offices of G4S, the British-Danish security corporation that provides security equipment and control rooms for Israeli prisons, checkpoints and police training systems, called for al-Qeeq’s immediate release. It was one of the weekly protests organized by Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network in New York City.

G4S is subject to an international boycott campaign because of its involvement in mass imprisonment, torture and colonialism in Palestine, as well as its involvement in human rights violations in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa and elsewhere. Palestinian prisoners have urged a boycott of G4S and hundreds of international organizations have called on the United Nations to stop doing business with G4S.

Following pressure, the Gates Foundation divested its G4S holdings, while organizations like the British Labour Party have ended their contracts with G4S. Still, the massive security corporation continues to provide airport security services in Canada and across much of Europe.

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network in New York is urging people to take the streets again next Friday, 19 February, outside G4S’ office at 19 W. 44th Street in Manhattan, to demand G4S immediately end its contracts with Israeli prisons and detention centers, occupation and security forces and checkpoints, and that Israel release al-Qeeq, other administrative detainees and all Palestinian political prisoners.

A large number of Brazilian progressive, left, Palestinian and solidarity organizations have come together to demand freedom for imprisoned Palestinian journalist Mohammed al-Qeeq, on his 80th day of hunger strike. Al-Qeeq, 33, has been held without charge or trial by the Israeli occupation since 21 November 2015, and on hunger strike since 25 November. His wife and lawyers have warned that he is “on the brink of death.” Held in HaEmek hospital in Afula, he has rejected all medical treatment until he is free in a Palestinian hospital. Among the signers is Brazilian cartoonist Carlos Latuff, whose design below highlights Al-Qeeq’s strike:

Statement follows:

They will not silence our voices!
Immediate freedom for Palestinian journalist Mohammed al-Qeeq!

Held in administrative detention by Israel since November 2015, Palestinian journalist Mohammed al-Qeeq has been on hunger strike for 80 days, at risk of death. He is facing his third imprisonment at the age of 33.

Administrative detention – without charge, and renewed arbitrarily by Israel every six months – is often used to silence journalists. Currently, there are 17 imprisoned journalists, and 660 Palestinians held in administrative detention.

“Israel is sending a message to all Palestinian journalists,” Yousef Aljamal, researcher at the Center for Policy Studies and Development in Gaza, told Mintpress. “If you talk, we know how to silence you. Administrative detention is there.”

Since the start of the new Intifada (Palestinian uprising against the occupation) last October, this already common action by Israel has only grown. In total, there are almost 10,000 political prisoners, including women and children.

In addition to imprisoning Palestinian journalists, these professionals are subject to daily Israeli attacks. In the massacre in Gaza in 2014, 15 were murdered and broadcasting stations were bombed. Foreign journalists who denounced the genocidal attack were replaced by the media outlets where they worked or dismissed at Israeli request.

In the present Intifada, such methods used by Israel against freedom of speech and expression, in order to silence the outcries against apartheid and violations of the fundamental human rights of Palestinians, have been applied with intensity. Recently, the Israeli occupation destroyed and closed radio and television channels in occupied Palestine. In 2015, there were 574 attacks on these sites and 194 wounded journalists. Two cameramen were killed and Israel threatened to close 21 Palestinian news outlets. The criminalization of posts on social networks has also become customary. “The best treatment they might get from Israel is being tear-gassed,” Aljamal said. “The worst treatment is shooting them to death.”

The prolonged hunger strike of Al-Qeeq is an important rejection and denunciation of this situation. In protest against arbitrary detention and torture inflicted upon him in interrogations (common to all Palestinian political prisoners), Al-Qeeq has refused to consume even the most basic substances to stay alive, consuming only water. During the prolonged protest, Israel imposed forced treatment (intravenous nutrition) on him in the hospital, which violates the Geneva Conventions on the rights of political prisoners. Even having lost more than 20 kilos, Al-Qeeq tried to resist and was strapped to his hospital bed while a member of the Israeli medical team inserted a forced infusion of salt and vitamins. He was kept in this position for four days, during which he was pressured to end his hunger strike; he refused to give in.

Israel continues to reject granting his freedom. Meanwhile, there is an increase in Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike and protesting in solidarity with Al-Qeeq.

In the fight against the occupation of Palestine and for media democracy, organizations of Brazil and the world add their voices to demand immediate freedom for Mohammed al-Qeeq and denounce the attacks on freedom of speech and expression by Israel.

End Administrative Detention in Israel!
Freedom for all Palestinian Political Prisoners!
Boycott Israel!

Frente em Defesa do Povo Palestino (Front in Defense of the Palestinian People)
Comitê Brasileiro em Defesa dos Direitos do Povo Palestino (Brazilian Committee to Defend the Rights of the Palestinian People)
Comitê Cearense de Solidariedade ao Povo Palestino (Ceara Committee in Solidarity with the Palestinian People)
Comitê Catarinense de Solidariedade ao Povo Palestino (Santa Catarina Committee in Solidarity with the Palestinian People)
Comitê Gaúcho de Solidariedade ao Povo Palestino (Gaucho Committee in Solidarity with the Palestinian People)
Comitê da Palestina Democrática – Brasil (Committees for a Democratic Palestine – Brazil)
Comitê de Solidariedade ao Povo Palestino Abcdmrr/SP (Committee in Solidarity with the Palestinian People ABCDMRR/Sao Paulo)
Campanha Global pelo Retorno à Palestina (Brasil) (Global Campaign to Return to Palestine – Brazil)
Campanha Free Ahmad Sa’adat e Khalida Jarrar (Brasil) (Campaign to Free Ahmad Sa’adat and Khalida Jarrar – Brazil)
Centro Cultural Árabe Brasileiro (Brazilian Arab Cultural Center)
Centro Cultural Árabe Palestino do Rio Grande do Sul (Palestinian Arab Cultural Center of Rio Grande do Sul)
Sociedade Árabe Palestina de São Paulo (Palestinian Arab Society of Sao Paulo)
Instituto Jerusalém do Brasil (Jerusalem Institute of Brazil)
Comitê Contra o Genocídio da Juventude Preta, Pobre das Periferias de São Paulo (Committee Against the Genocide of Black Youth, the Poor and the Peripheries of Sao Paulo)
Comitê Estadual de Luta Contra a Repressão-SP  (State Committee of Struggle Against Repression – Sao Paulo)
Grupo Tortura Nunca Mais do Estado de São Paulo (Torture Never Again Group of the State of Sao Paulo)
Ciranda Internacional de Comunicação Compartilhada (Ciranda International for Shared Communication)
Associação Internacional de Comunicação Compartilhada (International Association for Shared Communication)
Intervozes – Coletivo Brasil de Comunicação Social (Intervozes – Brazil Collective for Social Communication)
Anel – Assembleia Nacional dos Estudantes Livre! (ANEL – National Assembly of Free Students)
Assisp – Associação Islâmica de São Paulo (Islamic Association of Sao Paulo)
Associação Vida Brasil (Vida Association Brazil)
CSP-Conlutas – Central Sindical e Popular (Trade Union and Popular Central)
FST/SP – Fórum Sindical dos Trabalhadores no Estado de São Paulo (Trade Union Forum of Workers in the State of Sao Paulo)
MDD – Movimento Democracia Direta (Direct Democracy Movement)
Marcha Mundial de Mulheres (Global March of Women)
Movimento Mulheres em Luta (Movement of Women in Struggle)
Movimento Mulheres pela P@z! (Movement of Women for Peace)
MLC – Movimento Luta de Classes (Class Struggle Movement)
MST – Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (Landless Workers’ Movement)
POR – Partido Operário Revolucionário (Revolutionary Workers Party)
PSOL – Partido Socialismo e Liberdade (Party for Socialism and Freedom)
PSTU – Partido Socialista dos Trabalhadores Unificado (United Socialist Workers Party)
Corriente Roja (Espanha) (Red Current – Spain)
Quilombo Raça e Classe (Race and Class Quilombo)
Refundação Comunista  (Communist Refoundation)
Soweto Organização Negra (Soweto Black Organization)
Unipop – Universidade de Políticas do Movimento Popular (Political University of the Popular Movement)
UP – Unidade Popular pelo Socialismo (Popular Unity for Socialism)
Carlos Latuff, cartoonist
State deputy Carlos Giannazi (PSOL-SP)
State deputy Raul Marcelo (PSOL-SP)

**

Não vão calar a nossa voz!
Liberdade imediata ao jornalista palestino Mohammed Al-Qeeq!

Em detenção administrativa por Israel desde novembro de 2015, o jornalista palestino Mohammed Al-Qeeq está em greve de fome há 80 dias e corre risco de morte. Aos 33 anos de idade, é a terceira prisão que enfrenta.

A detenção administrativa – sem qualquer acusação formal e renovada por Israel de seis em seis meses, arbitrariamente – é usada com frequência para silenciar jornalistas. Atualmente, há 17 nessa situação, entre os 660 presos políticos palestinos também em detenção administrativa.

“Israel está enviando uma mensagem a todos os jornalistas palestinos”, afirmou à agência Mintpress o pesquisador do Centro de Estudos Políticos e Desenvolvimento em Gaza, Yousef Aljamal. “Se você falar, nós sabemos como silenciá-lo. A detenção administrativa está aí.”

Desde que teve início a recente Intifada (levante palestino contra a ocupação), em outubro último, cresce a perseguição já comum por parte de Israel. No total, são quase 10 mil presos políticos, incluindo crianças e mulheres.

Além de prender também grande número de jornalistas palestinos, Israel ataca cotidianamente esses profissionais – nos massacres em Gaza em 2014, foram assassinados 15. Estações de radiodifusão foram bombardeadas. Jornalistas estrangeiros que denunciaram o genocídio foram substituídos pelos meios de comunicação em que trabalhavam ou demitidos, a pedido de Israel.

Neste momento de Intifada, tais métodos empregados por Israel contra a liberdade de expressão e manifestação – de modo a silenciar a denúncia de colonização, apartheid e violações a direitos humanos fundamentais dos palestinos – têm sido aplicados com intensidade. Recentemente, foram destruídos e fechados canais de rádio e televisão na Palestina ocupada. Em 2015, houve 574 ataques a esses locais e 194 jornalistas feridos. Dois cinegrafistas foram mortos e Israel ameaçou fechar 21 agências de notícias palestinas. A criminalização por postagens em redes sociais também tem sido praxe. “O melhor tratamento a esses profissionais por Israel são bombas de gás lacrimogêneo. O pior é atirar para matar”, disse Aljamal.

A greve de fome prolongada de Al-Qeeq é importante denúncia dessa situação. Em protesto contra a detenção arbitrária e as torturas infringidas a ele em interrogatórios (comuns a todos os presos políticos palestinos), Al-Qeeq tem se recusado até mesmo a consumir suplementos básicos para se manter vivo, ingerindo apenas pouca quantidade de água. Diante do protesto prolongado, Israel impôs a ele, no hospital, alimentação forçada, o que viola as convenções de Genebra sobre direitos dos presos políticos. Mesmo tendo perdido mais de 20 quilos, Al-Qeeq tentou resistir e foi amarrado à maca enquanto um membro da equipe médica de Israel realizava infusão forçada de sal e vitaminas. Ficou amarrado por quatro dias, tempo em que tentaram pressioná-lo pelo fim da greve de fome, sem sucesso.

Israel mantém-se irredutível em conceder sua liberdade. Enquanto isso, aumenta o número de presos políticos palestinos em greve de fome em solidariedade a Al-Qeeq.

Em luta contra a ocupação palestina e pela democratização das comunicações, as organizações do Brasil e do mundo somam-se às vozes que exigem liberdade imediata a Mohammed Al-Qeeq e repudiam os ataques à liberdade de expressão e manifestação por parte de Israel.

FIM DAS DETENÇÕES ADMINISTRATIVAS POR ISRAEL!
LIBERDADE A TODOS OS PRESOS POLÍTICOS PALESTINOS!
BOICOTE A ISRAEL!

Frente em Defesa do Povo Palestino
Comitê Brasileiro em Defesa dos Direitos do Povo Palestino
Comitê Cearense de Solidariedade ao Povo Palestino
Comitê Catarinense de Solidariedade ao Povo Palestino
Comitê Gaúcho de Solidariedade ao Povo Palestino
Comitê da Palestina Democrática – Brasil
Comitê de Solidariedade ao Povo Palestino Abcdmrr/SP
Campanha Global pelo Retorno à Palestina (Brasil)
Campanha Free Ahmad Sa’adat e Khalida Jarrar (Brasil)
Centro Cultural Árabe Brasileiro
Centro Cultural Árabe Palestino do Rio Grande do Sul
Sociedade Árabe Palestina de São Paulo
Instituto Jerusalém do Brasil
Comitê Contra o Genocídio da Juventude Preta, Pobre das Periferias de São Paulo
Comitê Estadual de Luta Contra a Repressão-SP
Grupo Tortura Nunca Mais do Estado de São Paulo
Ciranda Internacional de Comunicação Compartilhada
Associação Internacional de Comunicação Compartilhada
Intervozes – Coletivo Brasil de Comunicação Social
Anel – Assembleia Nacional dos Estudantes Livre!
Assisp – Associação Islâmica de São Paulo
Associação Vida Brasil
CSP-Conlutas – Central Sindical e Popular
FST/SP – Fórum Sindical dos Trabalhadores no Estado de São Paulo
MDD – Movimento Democracia Direta
Marcha Mundial de Mulheres
Movimento Mulheres em Luta
Movimento Mulheres pela P@z!
MLC – Movimento Luta de Classes
MST – Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra
POR – Partido Operário Revolucionário
PSOL – Partido Socialismo e Liberdade
PSTU – Partido Socialista dos Trabalhadores Unificado
Corriente Roja (Espanha)
Quilombo Raça e Classe
Refundação Comunista
Soweto Organização Negra
Unipop – Universidade de Políticas do Movimento Popular
UP – Unidade Popular pelo Socialismo
Carlos Latuff, cartunista
Deputado estadual Carlos Giannazi (PSOL-SP)
Deputado estadual Raul Marcelo (PSOL-SP)