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Palestinian political prisoner Jaafar Abu Salah released from occupation prisons

jafar-abusalahPalestinian political prisoner Jaafar Fawzi Abu Salah was released on Sunday, June 16 from occupation prisons. Abu Salah, 47, is one of the leaders of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in the Jenin area. He was released after the expiration of his 20-month sentence in occupation prisons.

He was arrested in November 2011 as part of a series of raids by the occupation military. He had previously been arrested in 1981, 1984, 1990 and 2005.

A reception greeted Abu Salah at a checkpoint near his village, where he was awaited by comrades, friends and relatives carrying Palestinian flags and PFLP banners. They paraded through the streets of Jenin city and then proceeded to visit the homes of several prisoners with lengthy sentences and ill prisoners from the town of Arraba.

The procession then marched to his home where he reunited with his family and received well-wishers greeting him upon his release. Abu Salah expressed his greetings to the Palestinian people, who continue to be steadfast in the face of all challenges and obstacles. He urged reconciliation of internal Palestinian divisions and called for increased efforts to support prisoners’ struggle for dignity and freedom, noting in particular the case of imprisoned PFLP General Secretary Ahmad Sa’adat.

 

Lawyer: Barghouthi threatened with stripping of Jordanian citizenship

al-_brghoooootheee_340_230Mohammed Shayeb, a lawyer with the Ministry of Prisoners, Detainees and Ex-Detainees, said that occupation prison authorities are using psychological pressure to attempt to stop the hunger strike of prisoner Abdullah Barghouthi, who is isolated in a hospital in Afula. He has been on hunger strike with 4 other prisoners who carry Jordanian citizenship since May 2, 2013.

Shayeb, who visited with Barghouthi, said that prison officers had threatened him with working behind the scenes to strip him of his Jordanian nationality. Shayeb said this threat was a blatant interference in Jordanian sovereignty. He also said that Barghouthi reported that prison guards hold dining tables and grill food directly in front of his room in order to pressure him.

Barghouthi also said that Israeli authorities had agreed to grant him family visits once monthly, but he refused this offer as it ignored all of the other demands of the Jordanian strikers, including their return to Jordan.

It is noteworthy that the five Jordanian prisoners are still continuing in their hunger strike their health has deteriorated very seriously, and all are being held in hospital. (reported by PNN Arabic)

Addameer: 9 prisoners currently on hunger strike in occupation prisons

hungerstrikeAddameer reported that nine prisoners are currently on hunger strike in occupation prisons as of June 17, 2013 – 4 Palestinian prisoners being held under administrative detention and 5 prisoners who are Palestinian and hold Jordanian citizenship. The striking prisoners are as follows:

1. Ayman Hamdan of Bethlehem, on hunger strike for 51 days, since April 28, 2013, in Ofer prison; protesting his administrative detention.

2. Emad Al-Batran of Hebron, on hunger strike for 42 days, since May 7, 2013, protesting his administrative detention; he is currently in Ramle prison clinic since May 26 due to the deterioration of his health.

3. Ayman Al-Tabeesh, 33, of the Hebron area, on hunger strike for 26 days since May 23, 2013, when a 4-month administrative detention order was issued against him following his arrest on May 9, 2013. He is currently in Ofer prison.

4. Adel Hareebat, 38, also of Hebron area, has been on hunger strike for 26 days since May 23, 2013 when a 6-month administrative detention renewal was issued for him. He had already been held for 6 months prior since his detention in November 2012. He is currently held in Ofer prison. He has previously spent 10 years altogether in occupation prisons, including 3 years in administrative detention.

Five prisoners who hold Jordanian citizenship have been on hunger strike for 47 days, in one collective strike with three collective demands. All are currently held in Ramle prison clinic due to their health deterioration as a result of the strike.

Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association’s lawyer‪, Faris Ziyad‪, visited the clinic in Ramleh Prison‪ on 2 June 2013. where he met with two Palestinian prisoners who hold Jordanian citizenship‪, Abdallah Barghouthi and Muhammad Rimawi‪. They are both on hunger strike along with three other Jordanian prisoners: Hamza Othman, Alaa Hamad, and Munir Mar’i.

5. Abdallah Barghouthi, 41, is from the village of Beit Rima in the governorate of Ramallah and holds Jordanian citizenship. He began his hunger strike on 2 May 2013 while in Gilboa prison‪; he wwas transferred to a prison section with civilian prisoners for 14 days, and  then transferred to Al‪-Jalameh Prison on 15 May 2013 for interrogation concerning his hunger strike‪. On 19 May 2013‪, he was brought to the hospital in Ramleh Prison‪. He refused water for the entirety of his interrogation in Al‪-Jalameh‪. Barghouthi received the highest sentence handed down by a military court in the history of the Israeli occupation ‪(67 life sentences‪) and has been detained since 5 March 2003‪.

6. Muhammad Rimawi, 47, is from the village of Beit Rima in the governorate of Ramallah‪ and holds Jordanian citizenship. His open hunger strike began on 2 May 2013 in Ramon Prison‪. He was transferred to Al‪-Ramleh hospital on 22 May 2013 and has only been drinking water‪. With respect to his health, Rimawi clarified that‪,before the hunger strike‪,he suffered from inflammation of the lungs and the intestines, as well as Mediterranean fever‪. As a result of the hunger strike‪, he is currently suffering from extreme fatigue‪. He confirmed that the prison administration is refusing to provide him with the medication he requires for these pre-existing health complications unless he stops his strike‪, an offer that he has categorically refused‪. Rimawi has been detained since 19 October 2001 and was given three life sentences.

7. Hamza Othman holds Jordanian citizenship and has been on hunger strike since 2 May 2013; he is currently in Ramleh prison clinic.

8. Alaa Hamad holds Jordanian citizenship and has been on hunger strike since 2 May 2013; he is currently in Ramleh prison clinic.

9. Muneer Mar’i holds Jordanian citizenship and has been on hunger strike since 2 May 2013; he is currently in Ramleh prison clinic.

Barghouthi and Rimawi confirmed to Ziyad of Addameer that the the 5 Jordanian prisoners who announced their hunger strike on 2 May 2013 from Ramon‪, Naqab‪, and Gilboa Prisons are united in their demands‪, asserting the strength of their resolve and their willingness to engage in a prolonged battle‪. He said that they will not stop their hunger strike until their demands are met‪. Their protest was sparked by the repeated refusal of family visits.

The demands of the Jordanian hunger strikers are as follows‪:

1‪. That they be released from Israeli prisons and serve their sentences in Jordanian prisons according to the Wadi Araba Agreement between Jordan and Israel. This agreement was previously applied to the case of prisoner Sultan Al-Ajouli, who was transferred to Jordanian custody in accordance with the agreement.

2‪. That the Occupation disclose the whereabouts of missing Jordanian prisoners, of which there are 20.

3. That the Occupation remove martyrs from the ‘numbered graves’, where prisoners who died in custody are currently kept in nameless graves.

Palestinian prisoner and hunger strike veteran Thaer Halahleh facing serious illness after prison medical malpractice

thaer-halahlehThe mother of prisoner Thaer Halahleh, 34, from Hebron has appealed for an urgent and rapid intervention to save her son. Halahleh was arrested for the eighth time on April 10, 2013, less than a year after his release in June 2012 following a 77-day hunger strike. Halahleh has served over 6 and one-half years in Israeli prisons. He has never been charged with or convicted of any crime; he has always been held without charges or in administrative detention.

Addameer reported that Halahleh was told by a doctor in Ofer prison that he had contracted Hepatitis C. Halahleh was not ill before being imprisoned. During a dental operation at Askelan prison, non-sterile tools were used, and it is believed that this instance of medical malpractice is when Halahleh contracted the blood-borne illness.

Director of Ahrar Center, Fuad Al-Khuffash, stressed that Thaer Halahleh wasn’t suffering from any illness before his detention and added that if Halahleh is left untreated‪, this disease will lead to serious health deterioration. He said that the Israeli prison administration has a policy of delaying the treatment and release of sick prisoners, calling for pressure to be applied to the Israeli state to force it to stop this policy of medical abuse of Palestinian prisoners.

Autopsy of Abu Hamdiyyeh shows Israeli medical neglect responsible for his death from cancer in prison

maysaraThe International Middle East Media Centre reported on Sunday, June 16 that Dr. Saber al-‘Aloul, Head of the Palestinian Forensics Center, stated that the final findings of the forensic report regarding the cause of death of detainee Maisara Abu Hamdiyya, revealed that he suffered from a fourth stage carcinoma, exacerbated by medical neglect and lack of treatment in Israeli prisons. Abu Hamdiyya died more than 2 months ago.

Abu Hamdiyya suffered a fourth stage Carcinoma center in his lung lymphatic, liver and spine, throat cancer extending to his vocal cords, and brain tumor, Al-‘Aloul said during a press conference at the Government Media Center in Ramallah.

Despite the seriousness of his condition, the Israeli Prison Administration did not grant Abu Hamdiyya the needed specialized and urgent medical treatment, until it was too late.

During a press conference in Ramallah, Al-’Aloul stated that Abu Hamdiyya did not receive any treatment, not even one chemotherapy session, an issue that led to spread of cancer to various vital organs.

He held Israeli directly responsible for the death of Abu Hamdiyya, and said that Israel deprives the Palestinian detainees from adequate medical treatment, and imprisons them under very harsh inhumane conditions.

During the press conference, Palestinian Minister of Detainees, Issa Qaraqe’, stated that Abu Hamdiyya is the latest victim of Israel’s ongoing violations against the detainees.

He said that 204 Palestinian detainees died in Israeli prisons and detention center since 1967, and that 52 of them died due to the lack, or absence, of medical attention.

Qaraqe’ added that the forensic experts who examined the body of Abu Hamdiyya demanded forming a joint local and international committee to visit the detainees in various Israeli prisons, and provide the sick with the needed medical attention.

Head of the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS), Qaddoura Fares, stated that there is no doubt that Abu Hamdiyya died due to the lack of medical attention.

Fares called for translating the autopsy report of Abu Hamdiyya into different languages, and to submit it to various international organizations, including the United Nations.

He said that ailing detainees in Israeli prisons are facing gradually deteriorating medical conditions due to Israel’s illegal policies and practices.

Abu Hamdiyya’s sister stated that, in 2007, he suffered hemorrhaging blood from his stomach, and was moved to the Ramla Prison Clinic, but no tests or diagnostics were carried out.

He died on April 2 this year, at the Intensive Care Unit of the Soroka Medical Center in Be’er As-Sabe’ (Beersheba). He was only moved to the medical center after a sharp and very serious deterioration in his health condition.

Elderly Palestinian man kidnapped by occupation forces outside Hebron after settler attack

Occupation forces clearing Palestinian land in Hebron area for expansion of Karmiel settlement
Occupation forces clearing Palestinian land in Hebron area for expansion of Karmiel settlement

The International Middle East Media Centre reported that on Sunday, June 16, Israeli soldiers kidnapped an elderly Palestinian man, Suleiman Eid Al-Hathaleen, age 75, after a group of extremist Israeli settlers attacked shepherds in a Palestinian village, south of the southern West Bank city of Hebron.

Local sources have reported that a number of settlers of Karmiel settlement, assaulted several Palestinian shepherds from Um Al-Kheir village, before the army invaded it.

The sources added that an elderly man, identified as Suleiman Eid Al-Hathaleen, 75, was kidnapped by the invading soldiers.

Furthermore, a number of settlers attacked dozens of local shepherds, and prevented them from entering grazing lands that belong to the village.

The settlers have escalated their attacks against the villagers in Um Al-Kheir as they are trying to expand their settlement on nearly 500 Dunams (123.5 Acres) of Palestinian lands in the area.

Abu Sisi isolated for over two years in Israeli prisons after kidnapping from Ukraine

abu_sisi_copy_340_220The Palestine News Network and Ahrar Centre reported that the family of prisoner Dirar Abu Sisi, 43, from Gaza strip is concerned about her son who is in solitary confinement for over two years and is currently held at Eshel prison.

Abu Sisi’s wife told Ahrar center for Prisoners Studies and Human Rights that the occupation continues to move her husband between prisons, although his health is deteriorating, the occupation moved him three times from Ashkelon prison, to Holikdar and then to Eshel prison.

She added to the center that her husband suffers heart disease, Asthma, problems in vision and his weight decreased.

Director of Ahrar Center, Fuad Al-Khuffash said that Dirar was kidnapped from a train on 18 February 2011 in Ukraine, his wife’s country where he was seeking citizenship. After weeks of mystery, he later showed up in an Israeli prison and he is still in custody.

Dirar has Ph.D in electrical engineering. He is father of six children who live with their Ukrainian mother in Gaza strip.

UFree Network is coordinating an international campaign for Abu Sisi’s release. ** Sign petition, click here:http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/supportdirarabusisi

Palestinian women political prisoners’ experiences explored in new article

sumoudkPalestinian writer Linah Alsaafin’s article at Al-Monitor, focusing on the experiences of Palestinian women political prisoners, includes interviews with Sumoud Karajeh and Addameer’s Ehteram Ghazawneh:

In October 2009, Sumoud Karajeh stabbed an Israeli soldier at Qalandiya checkpoint, the main military barrier that separates the West Bank from Jerusalem and the 1948 Palestinian territories. Karajeh was arrested on the spot and, after a lengthy interrogation, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for attempting to kill a soldier.

Now 25, Karajeh lives with her family in the village of Saffa, near Ramallah, one of the more than 1,000 prisoners released in exchange for one Israeli soldier in the October 2011 prisoner swap between Hamas and Israel. Yet the memories of the difficult two years she spent in an Israeli prison will forever be seared in her mind.

Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/06/israel-palestinian-women-prisoners.html

Prisoners in Asqelan prison attacked by Israeli units raiding their wards

ashkelonMa’an reported on Saturday, June 15 that Palestinian prisoners held at Israel’s Ashkelon prison have been assaulted by special Israeli units ransacking their wards several times last week.

Karim Ajweh, who works for the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society, quoted representative of prisoners in Ashkelon Nasser Abu Hmeid as saying that wards 11 and 13 were stormed and “brutally inspected” for several hours by special squads.

Ajweh highlighted that “Ashkelon prison looks like a hospital as 60 out of 120 Palestinian inmates are sick.”

The prisoners, he added, have made it clear to the Israeli prison service that provocative inspection raids are an “unacceptable show of force.” They threatened to carry out protests if such behavior continues, the lawyer said.

 

8 prisoners announce plans to launch hunger strike Monday

prisonerstransferMa’an News reported that eight prisoners held at Rimon prison are planning a hunger strike beginning Monday, June 17:

Eight prisoners, held in solitary confinement at Rimon prison, threatened to start an open hunger strike Monday protesting solitary confinement.

One of the prisoners, Jihad Dweikat, says they asked to be moved to another prison in the north closer to their families. The Israeli prison service has promised to move them for three months, but nothing happened.

Dweikat identified the other seven as Said Maslama from Salfit, Abdullah Barham from Qalqiliya, Ahmad Halamneh from Jenin, Ali Hassan from Qalqiliya, Shadi Suqiya from Jenin, Mousa Jumaa from Qalqiliya and Muhammad al-Bulbul from Gaza.