Hassan Safadi’s message after his hunger strike

30 September 2012

Ma’an reported that Hassan Safadi addressed a letter to the Palestinian people, all their institutions and forces, in particular all of the free and honourable people who supported the prisoners in their open hunger strike.

Safadi, held in arbitrary administrative detention without charge or trial, engaged in an open-ended hunger strike from June 21, 2012 until September 21, 2012 when his administrative detention was not renewed and it was confirmed that he would be released in October.

The message reads as follows:

In the name of God, the most merciful…

At this time of victory, wrenched from body and spirit through hunger, among heroic colleagues who shared commitment, steadfastness and pride in the battle for freedom and dignity, I extend my salute and appreciation to the Palestinian people, free and proud. I greet all of the free institutions, honourable and conscientious lawyers who stood alongside us and supported us through their struggle and activities and fought for our just and legitimate rights. This is a triumph over darkness and the oppressors, and a triumph of freedom and all prisoners and detainees, and a victory for our hopes and dreams, our martyrs and wounded. My own long hunger strike has been suspended, but the prisoners’ battle is not over. Samer al-Issawi and Ayman Sharawna continue to strike against the policy of arbitrary detention, prisoners continue to languish in jails of medical negligence, and assaults, attacks on our rights, and humiliation continues. I have learned that God’s will and the will of steadfastness and faith is stronger than the will of the torturers and the racist policies.

I held first to my promise, pledged my soul to God and relied on God in struggle, convinced that the very foundation of my arrest is unjust and void, and that the policy of administrative detention must stop, it is a guillotine on the necks of thousands of prisoners.

Therefore I urge all international bodies and human rights organizations to continuously advocate and pressure to end arbitrary detention that violates the principles of humanitarian and human rights law.

Greetings to my ill mother, my steadfast and patient mother who has been a constant source of patience, strength and determination, and to the memory of my brother, the martyr Fareed, and all of the martyrs who have come before us on the road to freedom and justice. We will, God willing, soon see the hour of the dawn of freedom.

Hassan Safadi
September 26, 2012

Ahrar Centre launches action campaign for isolated Abu Sisi and al-Saidi

30 September 2012

Ahrar Center for Prisoners Studies and Human Rights launched a large electronic campaign in solidarity with isolated captives Dirar Abu Sisi and Awad al-Saidi, from the Gaza Strip.

Fouad Khuffash director of Ahrar Center said that the aim of the campaign is to highlight the suffering of these isolated captives and to expose the occupation procedures against Palestinian prisoners, including isolation amid extremely difficult circumstances.

Khuffash said that the occupation violates all international laws and conventions that prevent isolating the prisoners, noting that the occupation has been legitimizing its actions through presenting the isolated prisoner at a kangaroo court every six months and renewing his isolation, based on reports by Israeli Shin Bet.

The human rights center said that this campaign is aimed at supporting the Palestinian captive movement’s steps which demand the implementation of terms of the agreement signed after the last mass hunger strike and which requires the release of all isolated prisoners from solitary confinement.

The Center stated that everyone can participate in the campaign through logging on to the center’s website and show solidarity through words and attitude.

Mother of two Palestinian prisoners placed on house arrest

30 September 2012

Occupation authorities arrested Sahar Nimer, the mother of prisoners Ahmad Nimer and Murad Nimer, and placed her under house arrest after she was released after being held for 24 hours.

She was required to pay five thousand shekels bail. Nimer, 52, was arrested as she went to visit her imprisoned son Ahmed in Eshel prison near Beersheba after he was held in isolation for 2.5 months as retaliation for his refusal to be strip searched in Ramon prison. The occupation officials claimed she intended to smuggle a cell phone for her son.

Her son Murad has been jailed for three years of a ten year sentence and Ahmed is serving a term of four years in occupation prisons.

Prisoners’ health deteriorating, says new report

30 September 2012

The Palestine Information Centre reported that there are one thousand and four hundred patient Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, “suffering from deliberate medical neglect that is leading to the deterioration of their health.”

“Ansar al-Asra” Organization warned, in a report released on Saturday, of the seriousness of the prisoners’ health conditions, which has been recently deteriorating.

It called on the Arab and international world to take an effective and firm move to pressure the occupation government to provide the necessary treatment for patient prisoners and stop all repressive measures against them.

The organization stated that 22 patient prisoners are being “isolated” in Ramle Hospital, which is lacking constituents of medical care and specialized medical crews.

It also noted in its report the prisoners are being transferred, handcuffed and under tight guard, to receive treatment in Ramle hospital where they are exposed to raids, sanctions and continuous searches, as revealed by one of the patient captives.

The report added that some prisoners have been suffering psychological illnesses as a result of torture by Israeli intelligence and the prison administration during the interrogation and the long isolation in solitary confinement.

PPS reports Issawi remains on open hunger strike for two months

30 September 2012

The Palestinian Information Centre reported that a Palestinian Human Rights organization reported the deterioration of the health situation of Jerusalemite prisoner Samer al-Issawi, on hunger strike since 59 days.

Prisoner al-Issawi, 38, has launched an open ended hunger strike on 1st August in protest at his re-arrest by the occupation authorities to continue his sentence of 30 years after being released in a prisoner-exchange deal.

Palestinian Prisoner Society said in a press statement on Friday that the Israeli prison administration is continue its repressive measures against prisoner al-Issawi in an attempt to force him to halt his hunger strike.

According to the statement, the Jerusalemite captive has been suffering extremely serious health deterioration, a constant headache and pains in the muscles and joints, as he became unable to walk normally and lost 15 kilograms of weight.

The Prisoners Club quoted Samer Tarek al-Issawi as saying that the prison administration has insisted on holding him in a cell with six other prisoners who are not on hunger strike in an attempt to undermine his determination. However, he stressed that he will continue his strike until his release.

Over 75,000 Palestinians arrested since beginning of Al-Aqsa Intifada

30 September 2012

by Saed Bannoura – IMEMC & Agencies

Former Political Prisoner, Palestinian Researcher, Abdul-Nasser Farawna, issued a report marking the 12th Anniversary of the Al-Aqsa Intifada (September 28 2000), and said Israeli soldiers conducted more than 75.000 arrests, and deported hundreds of residents.

Farawna said that more than 9000 children were kidnapped by the army in addition to nearly 940 women, including four who gave birth in prison; the army also kidnapped dozens of disabled and wounded Palestinians, in addition to dozens of elected legislators, ministers and officials.

Israel also issued more than 22.000 Administrative Detention orders to forcibly imprison thousands of Palestinians without charges.

He added that, currently, there are 4500 Palestinians who are still imprisoned by Israel including 198 children, eight women, 14 legislators, 115 Administrative detainees and hundreds of ailing and disabled Palestinians.

Farawna stated that the arrests carried out by the army targeted all sectors of the Palestinian society, including wives and mothers of political prisoners, and added that these arrests are not concentrated in one area. and are carried out on a daily basis.

He said that Israel is still holding captive the remains of dozens of Palestinians killed during the Al-Aqsa Intifada and hundreds who were killed before the Intifada started.

The researcher added that the arrest ratio dropped over the last five years, yet, the violations carried out against the detainees witnessed a serious escalation.
Israel also reopened several prisons such as the Negev detention camp and Ofer, and built new prisons, such and Ramon; these prisons are used to detain hundreds of detainees under strict and harsh conditions. The large number of arrests also pushed Israel to expand existing prisons.

Farawna stated that there are 23 detainees who were kidnapped and imprisoned since more than 20 years, including some detainees who have been detained since more than 25 and 30 years.

79 detainees have died in prison since the beginning of the Al-Aqsa Intifada due to torture, medical negligence, excessive use of force by the soldiers and interrogators, in addition to several detainees who were executed by the arresting officers.

A total of 202 detainees died or were killed in Israeli prisons since 1967; dozens of detainees also died after they were released due to diseases they encountered in prison or due to complications resulting from extreme torture and bad conditions in prisons.

Farawna further stated that the Prisoner Swap deal that was carried out in October of 2011, managed to secure the release of 1027 detainees in exchange for the release of Israeli corporal Gilad Shalit.

He also saluted the repeated hunger strikes and the ongoing struggle carried out by the detainees demanding their internationally guaranteed rights.
Also, Israel deported more than 280 West Bank detainees to the Gaza Strip, in addition to dozens of detainees who were forced into exile.

Although the Israeli Authorities deported dozens of detainees throughout the years since Israel occupied Palestine, the occupation stepped-up its illegal policy on May 2002 when it forced into exile 39 detainees who were taken prisoner after taking shelter in the Nativity Church in Bethlehem when Israel surrounded the church for 40 days.

13 of the exiled detainees were sent to a number of European countries, and 26 were deported to the Gaza Strip under a Palestinian-Israeli deal that ended the siege, but its full details were never made public despite the fact that 10 years have passed since then.

Following the deal, Israel reinstated its illegal deportation policies and forced into exile 40 detainees who were released under the Shalit swap deal, and addition to 163 West Bank detainees who were deported to the Gaza Strip.

Farawna voiced an appeal to human rights groups around the world to intervene and act on obliging Israel to respect International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention.

It is worth mentioning that the Israeli army, and armed settlers, shot and killed more than 5000 Palestinians since the beginning of the Al-Aqsa Intifada, including 1077 children and 244 women. Two Egyptians were killed by Israeli army fire in 2002, two international peace activists killed in 2003, one British activist was killed by Israeli fire in 2004, and two Egyptians killed in 201. Dozens of thousands of Palestinians were wounded, including thousands who suffered permanent disabilities.

The ongoing Israel assaults since September 2000 led to the total destruction or more than 5694 homes and caused partial damage and destruction of approximately 8000 homes.

Addameer: Remaining hunger striker held in limbo while his health continues to deteriorate

26 September 2012

Ramallah, 26 September 2012—Addameer and Al-Haq are deeply concerned for the life of the remaining Palestinian hunger striker in Israeli prison, Ayman Sharawna, who is now on his 88^th day of hunger strike. Ayman was visited on 24 September by Addameer lawyer Fares Ziad at Ramleh prison medical center, who reported that there has been a serious deterioration in his health.

In response to the refusal of the Israeli authorities to release him and to further escalate his strike, Ayman decided to stop drinking water for five days from 16-20 September, during which time he lost seven kilograms in weight. The deterioration in his health includes loss of sight in his left eye and the loss of all feeling in his right leg.

As previously reported, Ayman has already lost 80 percent of his vision in his right eye, which means that Ayman has become almost totally blind. He continues to suffer from severe kidney problems and has begun to suffer from partial memory loss. Ayman also continues to suffer from pain in his back, which remains untreated as the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) has said it will only give him pain relieving medication if he ends his strike.

According to Adv. Ziad, Ayman did not want to start drinking water again but reluctantly did so out of fear for the deterioration in his health, particularly with his loss of eyesight and feeling in his legs. If he is not released, Ayman has declared that he will once again refuse water starting this Friday, 28September. Ayman was re-arrested in January after being released in the prisoner exchange deal in October 2011. He is currently held without charge and the military committee has not yet reached a decision regarding whether or not Ayman will be returned to his prior sentence.

Adv. Ziad also visited Hassan Safadi who suspended his hunger strike on 21 September after 93 days of renewed hunger strike. Following an appeal on 20 September against his continued administrative detention by Israel, the military judge ruled that his current administrative detention order, which is due to expire on October 29, would not be renewed after that date.

Adv. Ziad was unable to meet Samer al-Barq, who reportedly also suspended his historic 123- day renewed hunger strike on 21 September, following negotiations between the Palestinian Authority and Egypt, which resulted in Egypt agreeing to accept Samer if he is released by Israel. To date Israel has not made any announcements regarding his transfer.

Addameer and Al-Haq salute the courageous hunger strikes of Hassan and Samer and hope for a just resolution to Ayman’s case as soon as possible. Nevertheless, while the potential release of Samer from administrative detention should be welcomed, Addameer and Al-Haq are obligated to highlight their concerns with aspects of the proposed agreement that are fundamentally at odds with international law. Samer’s proposed release is conditional on his deportation to Egypt.

There are numerous examples of similar agreements made by Israel regarding the forced transfer or deportation of Palestinian political prisoners or “wanted” persons. Most recently, former hunger striker and administrative detainee Hana Shalabi was forcibly transferred to the Gaza Strip for a period of three years. In the October 2011 prisoner exchange deal, 18 West Bank prisoners, including those from East Jerusalem, were also forcibly transferred to the Gaza Strip for a period of three years while an additional 146 were forcibly relocated there on a permanent basis as conditions of their release. An additional 41 prisoners were deported outside of the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).

The terms of these expulsions violate Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits forcible transfers and deportations of protected persons, a proscription that is part of customary international humanitarian law. Unlawful deportation or transfer also constitutes a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention (GC IV) and therefore qualifies as one of the most serious war crimes. Given the stark asymmetry in power, resulting from the belligerent occupation, between the Palestinian and Israeli parties involved, neither the potential “consent” of the prisoner, in this case Samer Al-Barq, nor the fact that these deals have been negotiated by a Palestinian authority can serve as justification for the deportation as this contravenes the spirit of articles 7, 8 and 47 of the GC IV concerning the inviolability of the protections afforded by the Convention.

Addameer and Al-Haq reiterate that forcible transfer and conditional release is not an alternative to Israel ending its practice of administrative detention. It is imperative to demand a permanent resolution to Israel’s practice of arbitrary detention, in compliance with international humanitarian law. Addameer and Al-Haq call on the international community to intervene and demand that Israel immediately comply with its legal obligations, cease its policy of administrative detention and provide adequate and trusted healthcare for all hunger striking prisoners.

Hadarim prisoners plan to escalate solidarity with hunger strikers

24 September 2012

Prisoners in Hadarim prison declared on September 24, 2012 that they would begin escalating solidarity actions with the prisoners on hunger strike.

The Palestinian Prisoners Society confirmed that prisoners confirmed in a visit with a PPS lawyer that they plan to return their meals once weekly and take further steps against the prison administration so long as it refuses to implement the agreement of May 2012 ending the mass hunger strike, in particular ending the continued isolation of Dirar Abu Sisi and Awad al-Saidi.

The prison administration has transferred several prisoners to Gilboa prison in recent days, including Bassam Abu Akar, Maher Younis, Nihad Sabih and Bilal Damra.

Prisoners Club: Safadi and al-Barq suspend their hunger strikes

23 September 2012

The following article reports that, as per the Palestinian Prisoners Club, Samer al-Barq and Hassan Safadi have suspended their hunger strikes pending the confirmation of their releases/transfers. Ayman Sharawna and Samer al-Issawi remain on hunger strike.

RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories — Two Palestinian long-term hunger strikers have ended weeks-long fasts after deals expected to secure their release, the Palestinian Prisoners Club said on Sunday.

“Hassan Safadi and Samer Barq have suspended their hunger strikes,” Amani Sarahna, a spokeswoman for the Club, told AFP.

“Safadi will be released on October 29, at the end of his detention period. Barq will be held until the Israelis and Egyptian reach an agreement (on his transfer). If they don’t reach a deal, he will resume his hunger strike.”

Israeli prison spokeswoman Sivan Weizman confirmed the two had ended their hunger strike, and said they were still under medical supervision, describing their medical condition as “adequate.”

Amnesty International said last month that Safadi and Barq had refused food since May 22 and June 21 respectively to protest their administrative detention.

Administrative detention orders are issued without trial or conviction by a military court, and can be renewed indefinitely for periods of six months.

Barq was transferred to intensive care earlier this month, and the International Committee of the Red Cross issued a statement warned that he, Safadi and a third fasting prisoner, Ayman Sharawneh, were close to death.

More than 1,500 Palestinian prisoners, including Safadi, in May ended a mass hunger strike for better conditions in a deal with prison authorities.

One of the terms of the accord was that those held without trial in administrative detention would go free at the end of their current terms, unless fresh evidence emerged against them.

Safadi went back on hunger strike after his detention order was renewed.

Egypt has reportedly offered to host Barq, who holds Pakistani citizenship, under a deal with Israel that would see the prisoner ultimately transferred to Pakistan. But the deal has not yet been finalised.

Addameer Board Chair Abdul Latif Ghaith barred from leaving Jerusalem

21 September 2012

Abdul Latif Ghaith, 70, the Chair of the Board of Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, former administrative detainee, and longtime activist, was once again prohibited from travelling outside Jerusalem in a military order renewed on September 15, 2012.

The order, signed by Nitzan Alon, a commander of the Israeli Occupation Forces in the West Bank, prohibits Ghaith from entering the West Bank for undeclared “security reasons.” The order is in effect until March 15, 2013. It is important to note that Ghaith received an order from the Israeli Ministry of Defense prohibiting him from travel abroad approximately one month ago.

Ghaith, responding to these orders, said that “the occupation is targeting national, community, religious, and academic leaders in Jerusalem, in order to intimidate Jerusalemites and empty the city of its leading advocates. These racist orders are part of the total war waged by Israel on Jerusalem, a systematic policy of ethnic cleansing.” Ghaith added that “it is time for all of the forces of the international community, and all who claim to care about human rights and democracy in America and the colonialist West to end their silence and compel Israel to respect, apply and implement laws, international conventions and agreements, instead of supporting Israel as a state above the law.”

Addameer and the Association of Democratic Journalists will hold a vigil in support of Ghaith, who, in addition to his leadership with Addameer is a co-founder of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate and the Association of Democratic Journalists, on Monday, September 24 at 11 am in Ramallah, in front of the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights office.

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