Raghida Qawasmi detained after visiting her husband in Negev prison

11 January 2014

Raghida Qawasmi, 24, of al-Khalil, is being held in Hasharon prison, reported the Palestine Centre for Prisoners Studies.

She is the wife of Palestinian prisoner Moataz Qawasmi, being held in Negev prison and a mother of two children, the youngest being 18 months old. She was arrested on January 7, 2014 during her visit with her husband, accused of attempting to smuggle a mobile phone to her husband during the visit.

She was transferred to Hasharon prison but rather than being held with the other Palestinian women prisoners there, she is being held in a cell next to Israeli criminal prisoners, causing her fear and anxiety. She was brought for a hearing on Thursday, which was postponed.

Her family called for the immediate release of their daughter, arrested without charge, saying that her arrest was an act of revenge and that her husband has now been moved to an isolation cell. They demanded her release and her immediate transfer to the Palestinian prisoners’ area.

Palestinian from Gaza seized while crossing for eye surgery

9 January 2014

Israeli occupation authorities arrested the first Palestinian from Gaza in 2014 on January 6, reported Hossam Association. Yousef Abu Jedian, 26, of Deir al-Balah in southern Gaza, was seized by occupation officials when he went to Erez crossing in Beit Hanoun to travel to Ramallah for a corneal transplant not available in Gaza.

He was taken to an interrogation center, and his mother, who was accompanying him, returned to Gaza. He has previously passed through the crossing on several occasions to receive treatment for his eyes; due to a work injury, he has lost 80% of his sight.

According to Abu Jedian’s mother, occupation officials refused to allow him to bring his medication, including specialized eyedrops, when he was taken to interrogation. Hossam association called for the International Committee of the Red Cross to intervene to secure treatment and release for Abu Jedian. His brother Zuhair is serving a 12 year sentence in Nafha prison, where he has been held for 10 years.

Ali Da’na suspends hunger strike on promise of medical treatment

9 January 2014

Palestinian prisoner Ali Da’na announced on Tuesday, January 7 that he was suspending his open-ended hunger strike, which lasted for 34 days. He suspended his strike after the prison administration promised to provide the necessary treatment for his severe pain in the digestive system and intestinal infections. In addition, the prison administration committed to allow his 12-year-old daughter to visit him, visits which had been denied.

Da’na is currently held in Ramle prison hospital. He has been imprisoned since July 2003 and is serving a 20-year sentence.

Thaer Abdu ends hunger strike after 53 days due to declining health

9 January 2014

Thaer Abdu, held in administrative detention without charge or trial, ended his hunger strike on January 7, reported his family, after 53 days of strike.

He was transferred from Assaf Harofe hospital to Ofer prison. He ended his strike after severe deterioration of his physical and mental health. Jamal Khatib, a lawyer from the Center for Prisoners Studies called for the immediate release of Thaer in Ofer’s military court, which declared it would announce its decision in several days.

During his strike, Abdu consumed only water and salt, and was punished by occupation prison authorities by removing his belongings, isolating him, and holding him in a cold cell while denying extra blankets, coats or warm clothes. At times even the water was undrinkable due to cold.

He lost 15 kilograms of weight during the strike, stomach pain and heart weakness. He is being held under a six-month administrative detention order after his seizure by Israeli forces on October 27. Abdu, 27, is married with one child.

Palestinian political prisoners confront occupation – and illness

9 January 2014

Palestinian political prisoners suffering from severe illness continue to resist and struggle despite the severity of their condition, reported Palestinian lawyers and human rights organizations. For example, the following cases:

Ibrahim Bitar, a Palestinian political prisoner from Khan Younis in Gaza, has seen serious deterioration in his medical condition in recent days. He has been diagnosed with blood disorders and was told by prison doctors at Ramle prison clinic that he has leukemia. Bitar has lost over 27 kilograms of weight, going from 75 kg to 48 kg. He has severe pain and is bleeding following the removal of a tumor from his lower back.

Murad Abu Maliq continues to suffer from severe intestinal infections and 60% of his large intestine has been removed in surgery at Assaf Harofe hospital and has been told more of his intestine will be removed in future surgery. He has lost 10 kg of weight.

Yousry al-Masri, held in Eshel prison and suffering from thyroid cancer, is struggling to have a private doctor allowed to enter and examine him, saying he has no trust in the prison doctors who did not diagnose his cancer until two years of medical complaints.

Moatassem Raddad, 31, is suffering from colon cancer and needs surgery urgently. A request for his release was brought before the military court on January 9, but a decision on the request was postponed by the committee reviewing it.

Alaa al-Hams launched a hunger strike on January 6. He is suffering from tuberculosis and a tumor of the lymph nodes, and is striking demanding immediate treatment, saying that the prison authorities are not providing treatment and are killing him slowly through medical neglect.

Thaer Halahleh, former long-term hunger striker who was re-arrested in April 2013 today is suffering from hepatitis C, obtained during a dental operation in Askelan prison performed with unsterile implements. He launched a hunger and medicine strike as well, saying that he has received little to no medical treatment for his worsening condition.

Ibrahim Hamed transferred to Ohli Kedar prison from Nafha

9 January 2014

The Palestinian political prisoner, Ibrahim Hamed, sentenced to 57 life sentences, was suddenly removed from Nafha prison to Ohli Kedar prison on January 9.

The transfer included only Hamed and no other prisoners; it is the ninth transfer since he was released from isolation in 2012 as part of the agreement to end the mass prisoners’ hunger strike in April-May 2012.

Fouad Khuffash said that the occupation is deliberately continually transferring Hamed in order to prevent him from developing relationships or stability in any particular place, and that this is a retaliatory action often suffered by prisoners with high sentences, and that there is unrest in Nafha prison following the transfer.

Hamed is a member of the senior leadership of Hamas and was sentenced to one of the longest sentences ever given to a Palestinian prisoner.

Administrative detention of Ayman al-Tabeesh extended, breaking hunger strike agreement

9 January 2014

Ayman Al-Tabeesh, who engaged in a hunger strike for 104 days in 2013 in protest of his administrative detention, has had his detention renewed by the occupation authorities for an additional three months.

Al-Tabeesh is from the town of Dura, near al-Khalil. He launched his hunger strike on May 23, 2013, protesting his detention without charge or trial. On September 4, he ended his strike with a written agreement that his administrative detention would not be further renewed.

The Palestinian Center for Prisoners Studies reported that the occupation authorities reneged on the written agreement and returned and issued an new administrative detention order.

Al-Tabeesh, 33, was arrested by occupation forces on May 9, 2013. He was previously detained for 11 years in occupation prisons, including three years in administrative detention from 2009 to 2012. Mohammad Al-Tabeesh, his brother, is imprisoned in Ofer prison.

January 10, Toronto: Celebrate the Freedom of Samer Issawi

9 January 2014

Palestine House is holding a community celebration of the freedom of Samer Issawi!

Friday, January 10
8:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Palestine House, 3195 Erindale Station Road
Mississauga, ON

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/561166773969169/

Join Palestine House to celebrate the freedom of Samer Issawi and many others. The celebration will include a special video message from Samer and his family directed to the Palestinian community in Canada, recorded especially for Palestine House.

The evening will also include a few words from Palestine House and friends, Dabkeh and Music

Detention of Palestinian political prisoner Zaher Shishtary extended

8 January 2014

The occupation military courts extended the arrest and detention of Zaher Shishtary, coordinator of the committee of Palestinian factions in Nablus and spokesperson for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, on January 8. Shishtary was seized on October 4, 2013 as offices and homes were raided in the Nablus area by occupation military forces.

Palestinian activist Myassar Atyani reported that the Salem military court extended his detention until his next hearing on February 5. He is being held in Megiddo prison.

Sireen Khudiri released: Report from Solidarity Movement for a Free Palestine

8 January 2014

The following report on Sireen Khudiri’s abduction and release was issued on Facebook by Solidarity Movement for a Free Palestine:

08 January 2014: Sireen Khudairi released after enduring a day of relentless questioning

SFP is pleased and relieved to announce that Sireen was released today at 17:15 from Salem Military Court to the safety of her family.

Sireen was brought to the Courtroom at 10:30am after being made to stand outside for an hour with her hands and feet shackled and without a jacket.

Once brought into the Courtroom Sireen endured a relentless questioning until 17:00. During this time her feet remained shackled and she was made to stand throughout with no jacket in a freezing courtroom.

An international was present throughout the proceedings and was also able to observe several other Court proceedings of kidnapped Palestinians.

Sireen was brought to Salem at 08:00am after being kept at Huwwara military camp until 12noon on the day of her kidnapping. At Huwwara military camp she was made to stand outside in the freezing cold with no jacket, blindfolded, shackled (hands and feet) and with no shoes for several hours. She was then taken to another camp the location she was uncertain of but it was 15 minutes from Huwwara, before being returned to Huwwara And then transferred to Hasharon prison overnight.

Sireen also stated that outside her home she was told by the Shabak that they would not handcuff her if she came quietly. This was in the presence of a British citizen. As soon as she was outside and out of sight of her international friend she was handcuffed, shackled and blind folded.

The international observed another court hearing today of two men kidnapped from Tulkarem, Imad and Shadi. Shadi was visible in severe pain. The Court ignored this. Despite his obvious injuries, which appeared not to have been treated, the Army claimed that they attacked and beat soldiers. The Court accepted the word if the soldiers, despite the evidence to the contrary and transferred the men to prison. SFP will keep informed of their case and the health of Shadi.

Throughout the Court proceedings there was an assumption of guilt on the part of the Court, with the Judge presiding heavily bias against Palestinians. The whole process is designed to be dehumanizing and biased.

The Palestinian lawyers that serve their clients did so with the utmost professionalism despite the odds against them and a clear over workload.

SFP stands in solidarity with all Palestinian prisoners and will continue to work for their freedom.

N.B. Please note this report was written by an international who is not trying to speak for the Palestinians. The observations she makes are from an outside perspective and once Sireen has had time to rest we will ask her for her account and feelings.

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