El-Masri: Policy of medical negligence leads to 2 years of untreated cancer

17 November 2013

Palestinian political prisoner Yousry el-Masri, 30, from Gaza, is suffering from cancer of the thyroid after years of deliberate medical negligence, reported Palestinian Prisoners Society lawyer Shereen Nasser after a visit to Ramle prison clinic.

In two years in Nafha prison, el-Masri suffered from pain in his abdomen, severe headache, hot flashes and sweating; blood tests were conducted, yet he received only painkillers for treatment of what was actually thyroid cancer.

El-Masri said that this was part of a policy of medical neglect against prisoners that dismisses prisoners’ pain and suffering and refuses to provide appropriate medical testing, examination or treatment.

El-Masri was finally sent to Soroka hospital after severe deterioration in his health, where a tumor was discovered in his thyroid and enlarged lymph nodes. It took several months to receive approval for surgery to remove his thyroid. He was kept shackled despite his surgery and severe illness during his recovery.

Nasser said that El-Masri reported that the prison administration transferred the doctor and clinic director from Nafha prison, saying that this took place due to their responsibility for his health condition and suffering. El-Masri said that the prison authorities handle prisoners’ health isues with careles indifference. El-Masri is now awaiting proper treatment and chemotherapy.

Myassar Atyani released on November 13

17 November 2013

Myassar Atyani, Palestinian activist imprisoned with comrades on August 15, 2013, was released on November 13.

Myassar Atyani is a former detainee who was seized by occupation police with her friends and comrades, former prisoners Linan Abu Ghoulmeh and Leena Jawabreh, in August. They were accused of entering Palestine ’48 without a permit. Linan was released one month ago and Leena two months ago. Myassar is a prominent women’s and prisoners’ rights activist. Thousands of people around the world joined in the call for their freedom.

Release of Imad Batran, former hunger striker

17 November 2013

Palestinian political prisoner Imad Batran was released on Thursday, November 14 after 2 years in administrative detention without charge or trial. Batran was on hunger strike for over 105 days, from May 3 to August 20, demanding an end to his administrative detention; he finally ended his strike with an agreement to not renew his detention after serious health impacts from the strike.

Batran is from Ethna village near al-Khalil.

Al-Fassisi enters 50th day of hunger strike as detention renewed

17 November 2013

Palestinian administrative detainee Akram al-Fassisi, 30 of Ethna village, west of al-Khalil, is entering his 50th day of open hunger strike in protest of his administrative detention, as his detention has been renewed by occupation authorities for an additional 3 months.

He launched his strike on September 29, 2013 in Ofer prison in protest of the renewal of his administrative detention without charge. He is currently held in the Ramle prison clinic, and has been in administrative detention since November 16, 2012. He was previously detained for a year and a half in Israeli prisons.

He told Palestinian lawyer Hanan al-Khatib that he is continuing his strike in the prison clinic and is refraining from taking vitamins, taking only water and salt. He also said that he is being held in isolation and that his cell is invasively searched and raided 3-4 times weekly. His electronics have been confiscated and he is being denied family visits.

Palestinian lawyer Ahmad Safia reported that Al-Fassisi will have a hearing in Ofer military court on Monday, November 18,
after the Israeli authorities renewed his administrative detention for 3 months.

Al-Fassisi said that he would boycott medical treatment in Ramle clinic because he does not trust the Prison Administration’s doctors, and called for broader action to demand an end to administrative detention.

London, Nov. 24: 200 Days of Alaa Hammad’s Hunger Strike, 200 Days of BBC Silence

17 November 2013

Protest: Alaa Hammad – 200 Days of Hunger Strike, BBC – 200 Days of Silence
Date: Sunday 24th November 2013, 1pm – 3pm
Location: BBC Broadcasting House Portland Place, London W1A 1AA (Oxford Circus Tube)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/553385031398949/

Alaa Hammad is a Palestinian father of six young children – 3 boys and 3 girls. They have not seen their father for 7 years as he rots in an Israeli dungeon after being severely tortured. As his act of resistance in demanding his freedom from an illegal occupation prison he started a hunger strike. 17th November will be his 200th day on hunger strike. Yet the BBC, which describes its mission as one to “inform” and “educate” and the news as “providing trusted World and UK news..”, has refused to cover his story.

The search engine Google has indexed nearly 20 million articles from the BBC website yet it returns no results from the BBC for Alaa Hammad. Alaa Hammad has never once been mentioned by the BBC – those 20 million articles.. empty of any reference to the Palestinian hunger striker who is nearing death after nearly seven months without food.

This bias by the BBC is not new – it was only after months of protesting outside the BBC over their silence of the hunger strikers Samer Issawi and Ayman Sharawna that they final mention their names.. even then they only mentioned “Samer Issawi” 6 times and “Ayman Sharawna” 5 times.

If we do a quick search on Google for Israeli prisoner “Gilad Shalit”, the soldier in the Israeli occupation force who was captured by Hamas in 2006, it brings back 998 articles from the BBC which includes articles from this year – two years after he was released and yet he is still news worthy for the BBC. They even did a special article to commemorate the anniversary of his release!

The Shalit release anniversary article reports of his “ordeal”, the “psychological effects”, “trying to come to terms with his fame” the ordeal of the media following “his first bicycle ride after he returned home.. [his] trip to Paris to visit President Nicholas Sarkozy and a meeting with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.. at a concert of the popular singer, Shlomo Artzi, who dedicated a song to him; at various sports events and on the set of the US television drama series, Homeland..” Contrast this ‘ordeal’ which the BBC finds newsworthy to the ordeal Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike are going through TODAY.
Alaa Hammad after 200 days without food is in critical condition. His vision is going – he cannot see more than one foot in front of him, there is pain through out his body and he cannot walk, and there is blood in his urine suggesting his kidneys may no longer be functioning properly. Two months ago he had already lost 30kg in weight, we do not have recent figures as following abuse at the hands of the Israeli prison guards and doctors he has refused all medical examinations as his last resort to protest his inhuman treatment. On occasion Alaa Hamamd has lost consciousness for 5 hours, ignored by Israeli doctors.. they say if a hunger striker falls into coma then they will force feed him.

Alaa Hammad started his hunger strike on 2nd May 2013 along with 4 other Palestinian political prisoners. The Israeli prison guards have brutally attacked the hunger strikers – throwing them off their beds in hospital on to the concrete floor before beating and kicking them; and they have used the denial of medicine as a weapon against the prisoners to force them to stop their hunger strike. After 100 days of enduring such abuse the other 4 hunger strikers suspended their strike after the Israeli prison service agreed to allow family visits for the first time. Some of them have not been allowed to see their families for 13 years. Three months later however, its clear Israel has reneged on the deal with not a single prisoner being allowed to see their family. The father of prisoner Abdullah Al-Barghouti is in critical condition in hospital with only one wish – to see his son before he dies. The families have been left in limbo, their hope now rests with the sole remaining hunger striker Alaa Hammad.

Lack of international attention was the primary reason the four hunger strikers gave as to why they ended their hunger strike, so it is imperative that pressure is put on our media to cover their story, to give voice to their suffering. The BBC is principally funded by television licence fees – £3.7 billion last year. Such blatant bias by omission in its reporting is unacceptable and we as TV licence holders demand the BBC follow its remit to inform and educate by covering the issue of Palestinian hunger strikers and in particular Alaa Hammad. There will be a protest in Jordan (Alaa Hammad’s family is in Jordan) this Sunday to mark Alaa Hammad’s 200th day of hunger strike, and we in the UK will continue with one the next Sunday, on 24th November. We will protest outside the BBC Headquarters on Portland Place, W1A 1AA (closest tube is Oxford Circus) at 1pm-3pm, please join us.

Organized by Inminds Palestinian Prisoners Campaign: http://inminds.com/caged

BDS South Africa: Trauma Centre cancels contract with G4S

17 November 2013

Release from BDS South Africa: After being approached by BDS South Africa, the renowned Cape Town based “Trauma Centre” has terminated its ties and contract with the controversial security company G4S. James Taylor, the Chairperson of the Trauma Centre, in an official statement posted online, explains the organisation’s decision:

“The Trauma Centre…is committed to creating a society free from violence and torture and committed to a culture of human rights…we therefore note with great concern the serious allegations leveled against the security company G4S of complicity in the illegal incarceration and torture of Palestinians in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories…such acts would violate the very principles which form the basis of our existence as a human rights organisation. It is because of these serious concerns, which violate our fundamental values, that the Board of the Trauma Centre has decided to terminate our organisation’s relationship with G4S.” Click here for the full statement by the Trauma Centre..

In the statement, Taylor also adds that the board of The Trauma Centre considered, in taking its decision to drop G4S, the recent allegations of torture at the G4S-run Mangaung correctional centre in Bloemfontein.Welcoming the decision by The Trauma Centre, Kwara Kekana of BDS South Africa commented: “That a South African organisation with such a history and importance as the Trauma Centre has taken the principled decision to terminate relations with G4S due to the company’s complicity in Israeli prisons and human rights abuses should set an example and precedent for all South African organisations, businesses, universities and other entities that have contracts with G4S. We are calling on, in particular, the Airports Company of South Africa, the South African Post Office, and the Universities of Cape Town and Stellenbosch –who all have contracts with G4S– to immediately end their relations with the company.” Click here for a statement that was issued by the ANC Youth League in the Western Cape also welcoming the Trauma Centre’s decision to drop G4S.G4S, the world largest security company, has been the target of several successful international boycott actions and campaigns in recent years due to its complicity in Israel’s illegal detentions and torture of Palestinian political prisoners. The termination by The Trauma Centre is the first South African victory for the Palestinian BDS/boycott of G4S campaign (click here for further info).

TIMELINE OF SOME RECENT VICTORIES IN THE BDS/BOYCOTT CAMPAIGN AGAINST G4S SECURITY

According to the international activist-petition website, Avaaz.org,G4S contracts in Israel account for only 1% of G4S’s global revenues. There is a price (reputational and other) for G4S to pay for its complicity in (and profiteering from) Israel’s oppression of the Palestinians. We in the international community can make it costly for G4S for as long as it operates in Israel.

Click on the arrows below for more information.

——–> In November 2010, the Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims (RCT) in Denmark ended its contract with G4S. Pat Nissen of RCT explaining the RCT decision said: “G4S as a company is helping to facilitate torture.”

——–> In October 2011, the Edinburgh University Student Association (EUSA) overwhelmingly passed a motion through its Student Council to block their contract with G4S in protest of G4S’ involvement in “Israeli Apartheid”.

——–> In January 2012, Amnesty International in Denmark terminated its contract with G4S (after initially trying to influence G4S policies). “We do not want to work with G4S because the company’s global activities do not live up to Amnesty International’s requirements in relation to human rights,” commented Amnesty International secretary Lars Normann Jørgensen.

——–> In April 2012, the European Union refused to renew its contract (service contract number 118611-2012) with G4S following concerns raised by MEPs and human right organizations (including Jews for Justice for Palestinians [JJFP] and Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods [JBIG]) about the role G4S plays in Israel in violation of international law.

European Union has declined to renew a contract with private security company G4S amidst concerns raised by MEPs and campaign groups about the role the company plays in equipping Israeli prisons in which Palestinian political prisoners are held in violation of international law.

G4S has provided security services to the buildings of the European Parliament since 2008 but the contract award notice (service contract 118611-2012) published on the EU official tenders’ website on April 13th shows that G4S hast lost its contract with the European Parliament.

– See more at: http://www.bdsmovement.net/2012/g4s-loses-its-contract-with-the-european-parliament-8901#sthash.MWMTAS0u.dpuf

——–> In July 2012, the general director of Danish Church Aid (DCA) announced that his organization would not renew its contract with G4S due to the company’s continued activity in Israel’s illegal Jewish-only settlements.

——–> In August 2012, Denmark’s Merkur Bank terminated its contract with G4S. Spokesperson Karl Johnsen, said that the bank had canceled its contract “because of G4S’ s involvement in the Israeli occupation of Palestine.”

——–> In September 2012, the UK energy firm, good Energy, ditched G4S adding that “feedback from customers” was one of the reasons behind its decision.

——–> In October 2012, the United Nations SpecialRapporteur for Human Rights made special mention of G4S as one of the international companies that should be boycotted for their involvement in Israel. In a news release, the UN Special Rapporteur, Richard Falk, said: “My main recommendation is that the businesses highlighted in the report – as well as the many other businesses that are profiting from the Israeli settlement enterprise – should be boycotted”.

——–> In November 2012, over 20 Norwegian organizations, trade unions and NGOs including Amnesty International, Norwegian People’s Aid and the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) wrote an open letter to G4S calling on the company to withdraw from Israel.

——–> In December 2012, two Dutch charities refused to accept any future donations from G4S after they were informed about the company’s role in Israel’s detention of, specifically, Palestinian children.

——–> Also in December 2012, the University of Oslo voted to end its G4S contract over G4S’ support for “Israeli apartheid”.

——–> In January 2013, G4S was nominated by civil society organisations for the Public Eye’s “World’s Worst Company Award” due to its role in Israel’s illegal detention centers, torture facilities and incarceration of Palestinian political prisoners.

——–> On the 05th of June 2013, Avaaz.org, the global petition-site operating in over 190 countries launched an online petition against G4S (just ahead of the G4S AGM). The petition drew over 12 000 signatures within 24 hours.

——–> On the 06th of June 2013, in an action strikingly similar to protests during the 1980s against companies involved in Apartheid South Africa (see left hand column),activists staged a picket and sit-in at the G4S AGM in London.Click here to watch the video.

——–> On the 20th of September 2013, the East London Teachers Association (ELTA) in the UK passed a motion condemning G4S’ complicity in Israel’s prison system, “unlawful detention and torture [of Palestinians]” which it termed as “profoundly unethical”.

——–> On the 01st of October 2013, the Norwegian trade union, Industri Energi, ended its G4S contract as an “act of solidarity” with the Palestinians.

——–> On the 02nd of October 2013, the Grand Mufti and Imam of Jerusalem issued an official edict against G4S and called on Saudi Arabia to cancel its G4S Hajj contract.

——–> On the 06th of October 2013, South Africa’s largest trade union federation, COSATU, called on the South African government to end all its contracts with G4S. In a strongly-worded statement COSATU said: “It is worrying that G4S (a British-Danish private security company that provides services and equipment to Israeli prisons, Israeli checkpoints, Israel’s Apartheid Wall and the Israeli police) has now been courted by our government to milk tax payer’s money in order to finance its controversial operations in the Apartheid State of Israel.”

——–> On the 11th of October 2013, Dave Prentis the General Secretary of one of the UK’s largest trade unions, UNISON, called for G4S to pull out of Israel. Writing directly to G4S, Prentis said: “I understand that your [G4S] activities in Israel only account for approximately one percent of G4S profits. However, I believe that the reputational risks that these activities pose for your company are far greater [than profit]”.

——–> On the 21st of October 2013, the Dutch Green Left Party (DGLP) became one of the first political parties to end its contract with G4S. The party bureau of the DGLP considered cooperation with G4S as “conflicting with its political principles”; this was communicated to G4S.

——–> On the 27th of October 2013, from South Africa’s historic Robben Island, BDS South Africa singled-out G4S in its address at the “Free Marwan Barghouti and All Palestinian Political Prisoners” campaign launch with Ahmed Kathrada and others (click here for footage from a follow up Robben Island event).

——–> On the 31st of October 2013, the University of Bergen became the second Norwegian university to not to boycott G4S. Significantly, G4S presented the lowest priced offer in the security tender proposals but the Norwegian university added an estimated loss of 2,5 million NOK (R4,1 million rands/ $400 000 dollars) related to potential reputational damage that the University would suffer if they chose to award their security contract to G4S due to the involvement of G4S in Israel’s illegal detention facilities, torture centers and incarceration of Palestinian political prisoners.

——–> On 06th of November 2013, the Trauma Centre in Cape Town ended its contract with G4S. Welcoming the move, COSATU, South Africa’s largest trade union federation noted:“the progressive decision by the Trauma Centre to [also] use this as an opportunity to bring part of its security in-house (instead of outsourcing). This pro-worker position should be commended and sets a precedent for other businesses, companies, universities and indeed government. Security, and other services, should not be outsourced!”

Tension in Ramon prison following transfer of Ahmed Qatamesh

12 November 2013

Palestinian political prisoners, particularly those affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, in Ramon prison are in a state of tension and anger following the transfer of Ahmed Qatamesh, Palestinian academic held in administrative detention, from Ramon to Megiddo prison, the Palestinian Center for Prisoners Studies reported on November 12.

Allam Kaabi, former prisoner, spoke about the transfer last week, warning of the danger to Qatamesh’s health, and calling for his freedom as well as a campaign of support for Qatamesh and his fellow administrative detainees. Qatamesh is recognized as a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International.

Qatamesh’s transfer to Megiddo took over 12 hours, during which he was held in the “Bosta,” the prisoner transport vehicle used by occupation forces, in which the prisoner is shackled to a hard iron chair in a stuffy and poorly ventilated vehicle. Amina Tawil of the Center said that prisoners in Ramon have been threatened that any protest actions they take will be harshly suppressed.

Raddad’s family marks his birthday with calls for release

12 November 2013

The family of Palestinian prisoner Moatassem Raddad, suffering from bowel cancer that has spread through his body, celebrated his birthday in a public event in solidarity with Raddad and his fellow prisoners on November 11.

The commemoration of Raddad’s birthday became a solidarity rally with the sick prisoners inside Israeli jails, attended by family members of Palestinian prisoners, student activists, and Palestinian leaders in Tulkarem.

Raddad’s cancer has recently spread throughout his body. His family is campaigning for his release at this critical time. His mother demanded that official Palestinian bodies and international organizations carry out their responsibility to her son and his fellow prisoners.

To call for release for Raddad and his fellow sick prisoners, take action here.

7 teens among Palestinians detained across West Bank in raids

11 November 2013

Ma’an reported that Israeli forces detained seven teenagers in arrests raids across the West Bank overnight Sunday, locals and Israel’s army said.

Witnesses told Ma’an that over 10 Israeli military vehicles raided the al-Jabal al-Shamali, Khilleh al-Amoud, and al-Maajeen neighborhoods of Nablus and detained Bara Ghassan Thawqan, 18, Asem Mustafa al-Shinar, 16, and Yazan Zameer al-Nouri, 18.

In Tuqu village, southeast of Bethlehem, Israeli forces detained Moath Ibrahim al-Oumour, 18, Baha Aref al-Oumour, 18, Omar Sulaiman al-Oumour, 18, and Ahmad Mohammad al-Oumour, 18, locals said.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said 13 people were detained across the West Bank for engaging in “illegal activities.”

Four were detained in Tuqu, six in Ramallah, one in Nablus, one in Tulkarem and one in Jenin, she added.

In March, a report by the UN Children’s Fund described mistreatment of Palestinian children in Israeli prisons as “widespread.”

UNICEF’s March report, entitled “Children in Israeli Military Detention,” said Israel was the only country in the world where children were systematically tried in military courts and gave evidence of practices it said were “cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment.”

“Ill-treatment of Palestinian children in the Israeli military detention system appears to be widespread, systematic and institutionalized,” it concluded, outlining 38 recommendations.

Over the past decade, Israeli forces have arrested, interrogated and prosecuted around 7,000 children between 12 and 17, mostly boys, UNICEF found, noting the rate was equivalent to “an average of two children each day.”

Dirar Abu Sisi suffering partial paralysis in his leg

11 November 2013

Palestinian political prisoner Dirar Abu Sisi’s health has deteriorated significantly, reported Palestinian lawyer Rami Alami, who visited Abu Sisi in Eshel prison. His leg is suffering partial paralysis and it is very difficult to move; in addition, he is suffering heart and kidney disease and requires an asthma inhaler. He also has a damaged disc in his back and is receiving only painkillers from the prison hospital, he reported.

Abu Sisi had been held in isolation for over two and one-half years since his kidnapping in the Ukraine in February 2011. He was held in solitary confinement until only a few weeks ago, and during that time received very little medical care for his serious health issues.

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