Contaminated water ails striking prisoners in Beersheba; additional 50 joining open strike

23 May 2014

All striking prisoners in Beersheba prison were transferred from isolation to Soroka hospital after they developed an intestinal infection from the consumption of contaminated water, reported the Palestine Prisoners Center for Studies.

The contaminated water was provided by the prison administration. Amina Tawil of the Center noted that physicians at the hospital had informed the prisoners that contaminated water was the source of the illness and stated that they should consume only mineral water. The prison administration has thus far refused to provide mineral water, in an attempt to break the prisoners’ strike.

Instead, they have been given water in which two tablespoons of salt is dissolved, the contamination of which led to the illness. The strikers are continuing in their strike and have each lost over 20 kilograms of weight.

50 Palestinian prisoners held in Nafha Israeli prison, Mitzepe Ramon, will join an open-ended hunger strike on Sunday in support of the hunger striking administrative detainees, who also threatened to escalate their hunger strike and stop drinking water, according to the Palestinian Prisoner’s Club (PPC), reported the International Middle East Media Center.

WAFA reports that the PPC said 50 prisoners will join the open-ended hunger strike in solidarity with the administrative detainees, who have been on an open-ended hunger strike for 29 consecutive days protesting their detention without charge or trial.

18 Palestinian human rights organizations deliver a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon urging immediate action for the hunger strikers

23 May 2014

The following letter was sent by 18 Palestinian human rights organizations to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon regarding the urgent case of Palestinian administrative detainees and political prisoners on hunger strike:

His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki Moon

United Nations Secretary General

UN Headquarters

First Avenue at 46^th Street

New York, NY 10017

USA

Date: 22 May 2014

Re: Mass Hunger Strike of Palestinian ‘Administrative Detainees’

Dear Secretary-General,

We, the Palestinian Ministry of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs and the undersigned human rights organizations, request your immediate intervention on behalf of the approximately 125 Palestinian detainees and prisoners currently on hunger strike in Israeli prisons.

The hunger strike commenced on 24 April 2014 when approximately 90 detainees began refusing food in protest of their continued administrative detention, which is detention without charge or trial. Since then the hunger strike has escalated as more administrative detainees and prisoners have joined the strike. The youngest hunger striker, Ahmad Rimawi, is just 19 years old.

The seriousness of the situation cannot be underestimated as the majority of the hunger strikers have now gone 29 days without food. Unless there is immediate intervention there will be serious consequences for the health of all those on hunger strike.

Since the strike commenced the conditions and the treatment of the hunger strikers have deteriorated as the Israeli authorities have imposed a number of punitive measures. All hunger strikers were immediately isolated from the rest of the prison population, with many also being transferred to different prisons.Israeli Prison Service (IPS) guards and Israeli Special Forces have also been conducting intrusive searches on the hunger strikers, and violent raids on their cells, on a daily basis.

In addition, all hunger strikers have also been denied family visits for four months, with some of the leaders of the strike being denied visits for six months. Some of the leaders of the strike have also been placed in isolation. All personal belongings of the hunger strikers have been confiscated and hygiene products and soap have also been denied. Access to the hunger strikers is proving particularly difficult as the Israeli authorities are restricting visits of their legal counsel.

Each hunger striker was denied access to salt for the first fifteen days of their strike. They have also decided to boycott the prison clinics as they accuse the prison physicians of conspiring with the IPS to break the strike.This behaviour is in direct violation of the World Medical Association’s Malta Declaration on Hunger Strikers, which states that “Physicians or other health care personnel may not apply undue pressure of any sort on the hunger striker to suspend the strike.”

There are currently eleven members of the Palestinian Legislative Council imprisoned by Israel, six of whom are also on hunger strike. All six are being held under administrative detention. This is despite the fact that under international law nobody can be imprisoned for their political opinions. The PLC members, and most of the hunger strikers, are held without charge and under secret evidence and their administrative detention orders can be renewed indefinitely.

We would also like to bring to your attention recent proposed legislation that has now been approved to come before the Israeli Knesset for voting into Israeli law, which, if passed into law, would allow for the force feeding of Palestinian hunger strikers.If this legislation is indeed passed into law it would have serious implications as according to the World Medical Association Declaration of Malta on Hunger Strikers, “Forcible feeding is never ethically acceptable”.

We welcome your previous statements highlighting Israel’s use of administrative detention, including that of 11 December 2013 in which you stated administrative detention “should be applied only under clear parameters and in exceptional circumstances, for as short a period as possible and without prejudice to the rights guaranteed to prisoners. Those detained must be allowed to challenge their detention and, in the absence of formal charges, should be released without delay”.

The origins of the current mass hunger strike can be traced back to an agreement between the IPS and representatives of the prisoners on 14 May 2012 which ended the previous mass hunger strike in 2012. Contained in this agreement were a number of elements including a restriction that administrative detention will onlybe used only in exceptional circumstances, as is required under international law.

However, since the May 2012 agreement, Israel has not only failed to limit the use of administrative detention but has in fact increased its use. By continuing to renege on the agreement, Palestinian political prisoners feel compelled to undertake a hunger strike which puts their lives in grave danger.

We call on you in your capacity as Secretary-General of the United Nations to immediately intervene on behalf of the hunger strikers and ensure that Israel, as the Occupying Power, respect its obligations under international humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Conventions.

Signed,

Addameer Prisoners Support and Human Rights Association

Aldameer Association for Human Rights

Al-Haq

Al Mezan Center for Human Rights

Badil Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights

Defence for Children International – Palestine Section

Ensan Center for Human Rights and Democracy

Hurryyat –Centre for Defense of Liberties and Civil Rights

Jerusalem Center for Legal Aid and Human Rights

Ramallah Center for Human Rights Studies

Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counseling

Palestinian Center for Human Rights

The Public Committee against Torture in Israel

Adalah – The Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel

Physicians for Human Rights – Israel

Arab Association for Human Rights

Palestinian Prisoners Society

Ministry of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs

May 23, London: Solidarity Protest with Mass Hunger Strike to End Administrative Detention

22 May 2014

23RD MAY – SOLIDARITY PROTEST WITH MASS HUNGER STRIKE TO END ADMINISTRATIVE DETENTION

Date: Friday 23rd May 2014, 3:00pm – 5:00pm
Location: G4S HQ, 105 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QT (Closest public transport: Victoria Tube/Rail station)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/291833330977212/

On 24th April 2014 a mass hunger strike of Palestinian prisoners demanding an end to Israels’s illegal policy of punitive Administrative Detention began with 134 administrative detainees joining the strike on the first day. Today (22nd May), on the 23rd day of the hunger strike over 5,000 Palestinian prisoners have joined the hunger strike for a day of solidarity with the administrative detainees. Tomorrow we will protest in London for the third time is solidarity with the mass hunger strike. Please join us.

We will inshAllah have a message from the family of one of the hunger striking administrative detainees to read out at the protest.

ADMINISTRATIVE DETENTION

Administrative detention is a practice used by Israel to imprison Palestinians indefinitely without charge or trial.

Prisoners are given rolling detention orders which can be anything from 1-6 months, renewable indefinitely. This is against international law. For example administrative detainee Mazen Natsheh has been locked up cumulatively for nearly 10 years without charge or trial.

Detention orders are based on so called “secret information” which never needs to be produced, either to the detainee nor their lawyer.

Administrative detention is often used to arbitrarily jail Palestinians where there is no evidence for a trial, or for punishment as in the case of 9 Palestinian MPs.

Israel has on average issued over 2000 detention orders every year (2007-2011). Today there are 186 administrative detainees, the vast majority – 86% are locked up in G4S secured prisons like Ofer, Ketziot and Megiddo. Most of them having been transferred from the West Bank into Israel in contravention of Article 76 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

We will be protesting outside the headquarters of G4S in London demanding Israel stop its illegal policy of punitive administrative detention and for G4S to stop its complicity in Israeli war crimes against Palestinian prisoners.

AYMAN AL-TABEESH – 85th DAY OF HUNGER STRIKE

On 17th Feb 2013 Israeli soldiers abducted 33 years old Ayman Al-Tabeesh from his home in Dura, near al-Khalil, and caged him at the G4S secured Ofer prison – indefinitely on an illegal rolling administrative detention order with no charge, and no trial.

To protest he went on a 105 day hunger strike, only stopping once Israel had agreed in writing that they would not renew his administrative detention. Yet in Jan 2014 Israel reneged on its written agreement and issued a new administrative detention order. As a result Ayman started a second hunger strike on 28th Feb 2014.

After 70 days he lost over 25kg in weight and his condition is so critical that he has been moved twice to different hospitals.

Two months after Ayman started his strike over 130 other administrative detainees joined the hunger strike – all demanding an end to Israel’s illegal practice of administrative detention.

We received a short message from the Muhammed Al-Tabeesh the brother of hunger striker Ayman Al-Tabeesh. Muhammed himself was a hunger striker and was released from the occupations prison just 4 months ago. The message was written especially for the 9th May London protest, it reads:

“Thank you for standing besides us in supporting the steadfastness of my brother Ayman Al-Tabeesh in his hunger strike.

Thank you for your humanity in supporting the Palestinian prisoners, especially the hunger strikers.

We need you to tell the international community of Israel’s criminal brutality against our prisoners, the violation of their rights. The occupations illegal never ending administrative detention orders is nothing less than a slow death for Palestinian prisoners.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj-2gKujmhQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmFuLq_OEy0

Friday will be Ayman Al-Tabeesh’s 85th day of hunger strike.

We would like to thank the Palestinian Prisoners Center for Studies for their help in this campaign.

CHILD PRISONERS – HARES BOYS

We will also be continue our campaign for child prisoners, in particular the Hares Boys who have been caged in a G4S secured prison now for well over a year, going from one postponed military hearing to another, for a crime that didn’t even happen.

WOMEN PRISONERS – LENA JARBONI TO SHIREEN ISSAWI

There currently 22 women prisoners nearly all locked up in G4S secured HaSharon prison from the longest serving woman, Lena Jarboni who has been caged for nearly 12 years, to one of the newest woman prisoners Shireen Issawi.

Shireen Issawi who was abducted by the Israeli occupation on 6th March. As a human right lawyer she has been a strong advocate for prisoners rights, a thorn against the occupation. After interrogating her for a full month at Israel’s notorious G4S secured torture den – the Russian Compound in Jerusalem, they transferred her to the filthy rat infested dungeon at Hasharon, also secured by G4S. The transfer of Palestinian prisoners from the occupied West Bank and Gaza to into Israel (to HaSharon Prison) is illegal under international law and constitutes a war crime, G4S is complicit in this by the services it provides to HaSharon Prison.

In a meeting with her lawyer in HaSharon prison Shireen revealed the daily ordeal she suffered during the 22 days of interrogation at the G4S secured Russian Compound in Jerusalem Prison. Everyday the interrogation would started at 10am in the morning and last 16 hours, until 2am the next morning leaving her exhausted. The stress positions during interrogation have left her with severe pains in her back. Between interrogation sessions she was caged in solidarity confinement with no contact with any other prisoner.

Shireen also complained of the cruel transportation from the prison to the court where she is strapped to an iron chair with hands and feet shackled for over 8 hours in a closed bus with no ventilation or access to water or a toilet whilst being taunted by the cruel soldiers of the Nashshon Unit of the occupation.

When her military court hearing was postponed for a year she started a hunger strike in protest on 7th May. After 13 days on hunger strike the occupation relented and agreed to a new court hearing and the possibility of bail as was the case with the other lawyers who were arrested at the same time as her. With this concession Shireen has suspended her hunger strike. Both Shireen and her brother Medhat Issawi remain imprisoned despite the fact that the other lawyers that were abducted at the same time as them have been released on bail.

LIVE UPDATES DURING PROTEST

We will, inshAllah, be tweeting live (hash tags #Water_and_Salt #StopAD #StopG4S ) from the protest with live photos being uploaded to our twitter and facebook page. So if you can’t join us on the day, please help us by sharing the photos as they get uploaded.

https://www.facebook.com/inmindscom

https://twitter.com/InmindsCom

Palestinian Prisoners Campaign
www.inminds.com/caged

The Palestinian Prisoners Campaign aims to raise awareness for the plight of Palestinian prisoners and build solidarity for their struggle and work towards their freedom. The campaign was launched by Innovative Minds (inminds.com) and the Islamic Human Rights Commission (ihrc.org) on the occasion of Al Quds Day 2012 (on 17th August 2012), since then we have held actions every fortnight in support of Palestinian prisoners, if you can spare two hours twice a month then please join the campaign by coming to the next action.

Mona Qa’adan’s trial postponed for thirteenth time

21 May 2014

Israeli military courts postponed the trial of Palestinian captive Mona Qa’adan for the thirteenth time in a row, reported the Palestine Center for Prisoners Studies on May 19.

Qa’adan, 42, from Arraba near Jenin, was arrested on November 13 2012, and her trial has been suspended since that time. Each time she has been brought to court – 13 in total – it has required a 10 hour continuous journey by “Bosta,” the infamous transport van that is poorly ventilated and includes shackling of prisoners to metal chairs.

The Center said that this was part of a psychological campaign against Qa’adan, who suffers from severe pain in the stomach and joints but has not received treatment for her illnesses. She has also been forbidden family visits as her family members’ applications to visit have been denied under the prtext of security.

Mona Qa’adan has previously spent three years in Israeli jails before being freed in the 2011 prisoner exchange (Wafa al-Ahrar). She was re-arrested a year after her release under the pretext of affiliation with Islamic Jihad.

May 23, Washington DC: Protest in solidarity with Palestinian hunger strikers

21 May 2014

Friday, May 23 – 5:30 – 7:30 pm

The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC

Come to stand with Palestinian administrative detainees on hunger strike, demand an end to administrative detention and US support for the unlawful and unethical detention of Palestinians without charge or trial.

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/690024731065010/

Al-Saadi in solitary confinement for a year

21 May 2014

Ahmad Abdullah Al-Saadi has now spent a year in solitary confinement, since May 21, 2013. He is now being held in solitary confinement in Megiddo prison, and was previously held in isolation in Shata Prison and then Ramon prison.

In 2012, thousands of Palestinian prisoners engaged in the Karameh (Dignity) Hunger Strike. The end of isolation and solitary confinement was a primary demand of the prisoners, and was agreed to by the occupation prison authorities in order to end the strike. Nevertheless, cases in which occupation authorities continue to use solitary confinement continue.

In addition, occupation authorities also in 2012 agreed to a reduction and curtailment in the use of administrative detention. This has not occurred, which has led to the now 29-day hunger strike of administrative detainees demanding an end to the practice of imprisonment without charge or trial on secret evidence.

In 2013, when Al-Saadi was first isolated, “According to prisoners, Saadi was held in Ramon prison and was transferred in February 2013 to Jalama interrogation centre, where he was interrogated for over one month and accused of attempting to coordinate the capture of an Israeli soldier from inside the prison. He denied the allegations, was returned to Ramon prison and two months later, on May 21, was transferred to Shata prison and has been held in solitary confinement since that time.

The prisoners said that Saadi’s isolation is an attempt by the Shin Bet security service to retaliate against Saadi for his refusal to confess in interrogation, saying that Saadi had been threatened during interrogation with the arrest of his mother and family; he has been prohibited from family visits for a year.”

Rasmea Odeh not pleading guilty

21 May 2014

Release from the Rasmea Defense Committee:

Rasmea Defense Committee

For Immediate Release

Contact: Hatem Abudayyeh
773.301.4108
hatem@aaan.org

Contrary to erroneous press reports, Rasmea Odeh is not pleading guilty. Today in the U.S.District Court in Detroit, MI, she requested a change of counsel and reported to Judge Paul Borman that she is going to trial.

She has committed no crime and the government has no case. She has been in this country for 20 years, a citizen for 10 of them, and an upstanding one at that. One who supports the empowerment of immigrant women through leadership development programming she leads in Chicago. One who works closely with Black, Latino, Asian, white, and other communities in Chicago, to promote multi culturalism and racial and social justice. One who is supported so broadly by colleagues in Chicago that she was awarded an Outstanding Community Leader award by the Chicago Cultural Alliance in 2013.

The charge brought against her is just a pretext for the continuation of federal law enforcement repression against Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims in this country. This policy attempts to scapegoat and intimidate our community into staying silent and not raising its voice against injustice.

But that will not happen. Hundreds of people are being mobilized as I speak to travel to Detroit to fill the courtroom during Rasmea’s trial and provide support. We will be here every day, showing the world that she will not be alone.

There has already been a massive outpouring of love and support for Rasmea across the U.S. and the world, because people see this prosecution for what it is, a political attack on a 66 year old Palestinian woman who has dedicated her life to progress and social justice for her people and all people. We will stand with her to fight these charges.

Take Action: Sa’adat strikes in solidarity as administrative detainees near 1 month of hunger

21 May 2014

Ahmad Sa’adat, imprisoned Palestinian leader and General Secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, engaged in a one-day solidarity hunger strike on May 21, in support of an open hunger strike of Palestinian administrative detainees held in occupation prisons. He was one of 120 prisoners in Hadarim prison who joined the one-day strike demanding the end of administrative detention, confinement in occupation prisons without trial or charge. Click here to send a letter now and take action in support of the striking administrative detainees!

The administrative detainees’ open hunger strike began on April 24. As of May 20, there were approximately 120 Palestinian prisoners on an open-ended hunger strike, most who began 28 days ago. 15 Palestinian political prisoners have been hospitalized since the strike began. Occupation prison authorities have engaged in a number of repressive measures in retaliation against strikers, including solitary confinement, denial of legal visits, arbitrary transfers, late-night raids and disruptive, violent inspections. Strikers were denied water and salt for at least the first fifteen days of the strike, putting their health at risk.

At the same time, Mohammed Kana’aneh (Abu As’ad) of Abna’a el Balad Movement in occupied Palestine ’48, himself a former prisoner, launched a solidarity open hunger strike in support of the striking prisoners’ demands. Solidarity tents and rallies have taken place throughout Palestine. Kana’aneh has declared that he will consume only salt and water until the strikers’ demands are met.

40 additional Palestinian prisoners announced they would join the open-ended strike in Naqab Prison beginning on the 21st, raising the total number of strikers to approximately 160. Marwan Barghouthi, a Fateh leader and member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, also engaged in a one-day strike on May 21. Fifteen prisoners in Ashkelon prison announced that they will join the strike on Sunday if the administrative detainees’ demand to end administrative detention is not met. Future days of action involving thousands of prisoners – up to and including a full collective hunger strike – are planned if the occupation prison authority continues to ignore the administrative detainees’ demands.

The strike was launched in Ofer, Megiddo and Naqab Prisons; there were 186 Palestinians being held without charge or trial at the time. Rather than reducing the use of administrative detention as promised in 2012, its use has increased and continues to be a standard policy: in 2014, 142 administrative detention orders and renewals have been issued. Addameer notes that the strike is currently taking place in Naqab, Ofer, Marash, Ayalon and Ayala prisons and isolation cells. It should be noted that G4S, the British/Danish security company subject to an international boycott campaign, provides cameras and surveillance equipment at Ofer and Megiddo.

Ayman al-Tabeesh, Palestinian political prisoner held under administrative detention, has now been on hunger strike for 80 days. has been detained since May 2013 and engaged in an open hunger strike for 105 days, ending on September 4, 2013, which ended with an agreement to not renew his administrative detention after the current period. However, in direct violation of the agreement, his administrative detention was again renewed without charge or trial, sparking his renewed hunger strike.

Shireen Issawi, Palestinian lawyer and the sister of former prisoner and long-term hunger striker Samer Issawi, engaged in a 13-day hunger strike which was suspended on May 21 after an appeal secured her re-trial and a reconsideration of release. Her court date had earlier been postponed for six months.

TAKE ACTION!

1. Send this letter to occupation prison officials in support of the strikers’ demands. Click here to take action!

2. Write to the International Committee of the Red Cross and call upon it to visit all hunger striking detainees and prisoners, as well as publicly condemn the policy of administrative detention which is in clear violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, as stipulated by the ICRC mandate to protect international humanitarian law. Email the ICRC, whose humanitarian mission includes monitoring the conditions of prisoners, at JER_jerusalem@icrc.org.

3. Organize a protest or action in your city to support the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike. Demonstrate outside an Israeli consulate or embassy in your city.

4. Share this alert via email, Facebook and Twitter with your colleagues, comrades, friends and contacts.

Georges Abdallah refusing food for three days in solidarity with administrative detainees

8 May 2014

Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, the Arab struggler who has been held for 30 years in French prisons, is refusing food for three days in solidarity with Palestinian administrative detainees on hunger strike in occupation prisons who have been striking for two weeks, since April 24, 2014.

He is joined in his strike by a dozen fellow Arab and Basque prisoners in Lannemezan prison, which he launched on Thursday morning, May 8, 2014. Abdallah stated that this step comes in the context of duty and solidarity with the prisoners of the Palestinian revolution and resistance and their just demands.

On Friday, May 9, a sit-in is being held in Beirut in front of the French embassy with the participation of Lebanese and Palestinian organizations, including the campaign in solidarity with Palestinian leader Ahmad Sa’adat.

The prisoners who are refusing to eat emphasized their support to their comrades in Palestine confronting imperialism and Zionism. Abdallah said that they are refusing food in solidarity with the protest of the prisoners inside the Zionist jails.

On May 8, thousands of Palestinian prisoners throughout occupation prisons, who number over 5,100, have announced a one-day solidarity hunger strike in solidarity with the administrative detainees.

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine responded to Abdallah’s action, praising his response and that of his fellow detainees in French prison in solidarity with the administrative detainees in occupation prisons, saying “this shows the unity of common global struggle against imperialism and the Zionist occupation. The Palestinian and Arab people and the free people of the world will not forget the great sacrifices made by the struggler George Abdallah in the service of our national Arab struggles, especially the Palestinian cause.”

Brussels conference calls for freedom for Palestinian political prisoners

20 April 2014

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, Global Week of Action for Palestinian Prisoners, and the Campaign to Free Ahmad Sa’adat organized a conference on Palestinian Prisoners’ Day in Brussels, Belgium on April 19, 2014. The event, held in a packed room at Pianofabriek Culturencentrum in Brussels, included presentations and talks, a photography exhibition and music.

Leila Khaled, Palestinian political leader and icon of the resistance, sent her greetings to the event via video:

Charlotte Kates of Samidoun and the National Lawyers Guild (U.S.) discussed the legal and political situation of Palestinian prisoners, the mass imprisonment of Palestinians, and criminalization of resistance. Rabee Eid, Palestinian journalist from Palestine ’48, spoke about the Palestinian prisoners from ’48 and the legacy of mass imprisonment from the earliest days of the colonization of Palestine.

Jan of Palestina Solidariteit presented on Palestinian child prisoners and the growing international campaign to boycott G4S, the world’s largest security corporation, which provides security services to occupation prisons and Ofer military court.

Khaled Barakat, coordinator of the Campaign to Free Ahmad Sa’adat, addressed the political implications of imprisonment for the Palestinian liberation movement and the use of isolation as a constant tactic, both inside and outside the occupation prisons, to separate Palestinians from one another. He discussed the prisons and the prisoners as centers of resistance and resistance leaders for the Palestinian movement as a whole.

The event also included a photo exhibition with the images and stories of Palestinian women former prisoners by photographer Asmaa Seba, and concluded with Palestinian food and music by Souk-Souk Soundsystem. The photo exhibition, “Suspended Lives,” showcased former women prisoners with photos of themselves prior to their time in occupation prisons.

“It was very important to have this event here in Brussels to bring Palestinian voices speaking about the Palestinian prisoners, G4S and the BDS movement,” said one of the Palestinian youth who organized the event. “We plan to continue to organize similar events of this type to build the movement further.”

The event followed a successful protest held in Brussels’ Place de la Monnaie on April 17, where numerous Belgian organizations joined together to take the streets to call for freedom for Palestinian political prisoners. “Liberez-les prisonniers palestiniens!” rang out in the plaza as speakers and activists came together to demand freedom for all Palestinian political prisoners.

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