Urgent Updates: Palestinian Prisoners’ Hunger Strike – Diab and Halahleh in crisis; Sa’adat hospitalized; Repression escalates; Solidarity Needed

30 April 2012

Palestinian prisoners’ heroic hunger strike is continuing as strikers enter their 14th day of the “Battle of the Empty Stomachs,” launched on April 17, Palestinian Prisoners’ Day. Palestinian prisoners are demanding an end to isolation and solitary confinement, administrative detention/imprisonment without charge, and access to family visits, education and media. These prisoners have explicitly called for international solidarity – act now to support their struggle! Send a letter to Israeli authorities demanding full implementation of the prisoners’ demands.

Tweet Now: May 1 Strike for #PalHunger Strikers #AhmadSaadat #BilalDiab #ThaerHalahleh Act: http://samidoun.net/?p=997

Palestinian prisoners Bilal Diab and Thaer Halahleh, administrative detainees now on their 63rd day of hunger strike, face serious and severe health deterioration, while national leader, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine General Secretary Ahmad Sa’adat, has been moved to Ramleh prison hospital. Sa’adat had issued an earlier letter speaking of prisoners’ high morale. Palestinian Legislative Council member Jamal al-Natshe is also facing increasingly dangerous health threats.

Prisoners have rejected various attempts to divide them or undermine their demands, including a proposed modified isolation, and an attempt to bargain for Sa’adat’s release from isolation in exchange for PFLP prisoners leaving the hunger strike. Nevertheless, repression against prisoners has continued, as numerous prisoners have been moved from prison to prison; prisoners are fined 250-500 New Israeli Shekels daily; and Addameer lawyers are barred from the prisons.

Nonetheless, the resistance continues. The prisoners’ Higher Leadership Committee issued a new Statement No. 2, vowing to continue until their demands are met. Calls are echoing throughout Palestine and on social media around the world for a general strike May 1, for International Workers’ Day and the prisoners. A protest will take place outside Ramleh prison hospital, where hunger strikers are held, on Thursday May 3, while daily pickets will take place in London in solidarity with the prisoners.

Successful and growing protests are taking place around the world and throughout Palestine – but more action is urgently needed as the prisoners’ lives, health and bodies are on the line for their rights, dignity, and their cause and people.

TAKE ACTION!

1. Sign a letter demanding the Israeli state implement all of the demands of hunger striking Palestinian prisoners. Tell the Israeli Prison Services that the world is watching! Click here to sign.

2. Join a protest or demonstration for Palestinian prisoners. Join in the call for May 1 actions – include prisoners in your May Day activities. Organizing an event, action or forum on Palestinian prisoners on your city or campus? Use this form to contact us and we will post the event widely. If you need suggestions, materials or speakers for your event, please contact us at samidoun@samidoun.net.

3. Contact your government officials and demand an end to international silence and complicity with the repression of Palestinian political prisoners. In Canada, Call the office of John Baird, Foreign Minister, and demand an end to Canadian support for Israel and justice for Palestinian prisoners, at : 613-990-7720; Email: bairdj@parl.gc.ca. In the US, call the office of Jeffrey Feltman, Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs (1.202.647.7209). Demand that Jeffrey Feltman bring this issue urgently to his counterparts in Israel.

4. Write to the International Committee of the Red Cross and demand they uphold their duties to protect the rights of Palestinian political prisoners. Click here to sign a one-minute letter and make your voice heard!

5. Distribute materials, including factsheets and videos, telling the story of Palestinian prisoners. Click here for videos and here for factsheets.

NEWS LINKS:

May 1 calls echo for general Palestinian strike to support prisoners

30 April 2012

ArtuyB5CEAEoK2v — Widely circulated Twitter graphic for May 1 strike

Prisoners’ organizations inside and outside Israeli occupation prisons called for a general strike in Gaza, the West Bank, and in exile and diaspora on May 1, 2012 to coincide with International Workers’ Day and the 15th day of the open hunger strike by thousands of Palestinian prisoners inside the Israeli jails. Calls for the general strike issued widely on Twitter, including the hashtag #May1Strike.

Nashat Alwaheidi, general coordinator of the Popular Movement for Support of Prisoners, said that Palestinian prisoners had sent a letter calling for national and Islamic leaders to unite in a general strike in parallel with the prisoners’ hunger strike, saying that a mass rally will take place in the Field of the Unknown Soldier in Gaza on May 1,

Alwaheidi said that the prisoners’ struggle is a serious responsibility as prisoner are central to the cause and the narrative of the Palestinian people and the first on the front lines to defend the Palestinian and Arab cause. He urged that ther must be no waiting to act with the prisoners, and there is no time to wait so long as Palestinian prisoners languish in the jails of the occupation.

A series of events will take place in Gaza in the coming week, including a march Monday, April 30 at 10 AM by Palestiniaan families to the International Committee of the Red Cross, the mass march and rally on Tuesday May 1, Wednesday, May 2 at 11 am, a raly in solidarity by the National and Islamic Forces in Nusseirat, Thursday, May 3 a strike in Gaza from 10 am to 11 am, followed by 11 am march organized by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Friday, May 4, Friday prayers and rally for the prisoners, and Saturday, May 5, 11 am mass rally in the Field of the Unknown Soldier.

Video: Jerusalem conference in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners

30 April 2012

Over 150 people gathered in Jerusalem in mid-April to show their support and solidarity with Palestinian political prisoners. It is estimated that over 4,600 Palestinians are currently being held in Israeli jails. This week, over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners continued an open-ended hunger strike, in protest of their mistreatment and lack of basic rights in Israeli prisons. For more information, visit http://alternativenews.org

Prisoners reject Israeli intelligence offer of modified isolation

30 April 2012

NEGEV, (PIC)— Palestinian prisoners refused to end their hunger strike in return for an Israeli intelligence offer to end the isolation of about 20 Palestinian prisoners by grouping them in one ward.

Fuad Al-Khafsh, the director of Ahrar center for prisoners’ studies and human rights, said on Sunday that the offer, tabled by an intelligence director in one of the prisons, also stipulated that those prisoners should not have any contact with activities outside the prison walls and should refrain from making statements.

He added that the prisoners told the intelligence director that the offer was not accepted since isolation of prisoners was in violation of the international law and that they would not accept compromises but rather want all their demands met and that isolated prisoners should return to ordinary wards without any condition attached.

Khafsh noted that 50 new prisoners joined the hunger strike in Megiddo jail on Sunday while 120 others joined the strike in Ofer jail.

He said that the number of hunger strikers in all jails has now reached more than 3000 and the number is expected to increase within the few coming days.

For his part, Riyadh Al-Ashqar, a researcher specialized in prisoners’ affairs, said that the Israeli occupation and the Israeli prison service were afraid that all prisoners would eventually join the strike especially when Fatah prisoners, who have not so far joined the strike, announced that they would join it on 1st May.

He said that the IPS fears that it would no longer be able to control the prisons and that it would in the end accept the prisoners’ demands.

Ashqar noted that the health condition of many prisoners deteriorated after 13 days of hunger strike and were carried to hospitals, adding that the prisoners were adamant on carrying on with the strike despite the IPS quelling measures against them. He called for greater solidarity with the prisoners and not to let them alone in face of the IPS cruel measures.

Meshaal: Israel violated October 2011 agreement to end solitary confinement and isolation

30 April 2012

Khaled Meshaal, Hamas leader, on Monday denounced the Israeli state for ignoring its commitments and agreements in the October 2011 prisoner exchange. Meshaal said that “the occupation reneged on its commitments in the agreement…on improving the conditions of prisoners and an end to isolation,” an agreement made through the auspices of Egypt. Meshaal is in Cairo meeting with Egyptian officials about the prisoners’ struggle, calling for Arab, regional and international pressure on Israel to end the policy of isolation against the prisoners.

The Palestinian Information Centre reported: Political bureau chairman of Hamas Khaled Mishaal discussed with Arab League Secretary General Nabil Al-Arabi and Egyptian foreign minister Mohammed Omar Palestinian reconciliation and the issue of Palestinian prisoners.

Political bureau member of Hamas Ezzet Al-Resheq told the PIC that the discussions in the two meetings on Sunday tackled the issue of the Palestinian prisoners, who are on hunger strike in Israeli jails, and the importance of supporting their cause.

The discussion also tackled Palestinian reconciliation and the importance of expediting the formation of the Palestinian government according to the Doha declaration.

Mishaal, who is visiting Cairo at the head of an official delegation, hoped that Egypt would assume its role in obliging Israel to abide by its commitments according to the Egyptian-brokered prisoners’ exchange deal.

Updates: Addameer lawyers barred from visits, prisoners fined and arbitrarily transferred, hundreds more join strike

30 April 2012

Addameer, the Palestinian Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association reported today that all of Addameer’s lawyers continue to be barred from visiting prisoners on hunger strike, with the excuse that the prison is in a “state of emergency.” Addameer lawyers have been repeatedly blocked from visits with prisoners on hunger strike, in the current strike and former strikes. Addameer also reported that 3 additional hunger strike leaders have been moved into isolation in Bir Saba prison as part of the ongoing policy of isolation and retaliation against hunger strikers.

Addameer also reported that prisoners are being fined 250-300 NIS (New Israeli Shekels) daily for their participation in the hunger strike. Despite these repressive measures, 150 prisoners in Ofer and 50 prisoners in Mejiddo joined the over 2000 Palestinian prisoners on ongoing strike on April 29. 30 of the prisoners in Ofer were then transferred to unknown locations. Sudki al-Maqd, the longest-held Syrian prisoner from the Golan Heights, who has served 25 years in occupation jails, joined the strike along with 15 Palestinian prisoners from occupied Palestine ’48, including Hafez Kundus and Mahmoud Jabarin, who are held in Gilboa prison, also joined the strike.

Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Palestinian prisoner and hunger striker Ahmed Haj Ali was transferred from Mejiddo to Shata on Sunday, April 29. Haj Ali is being held under administrative detention, and has been denied several lawyer visits in recent days while engaging in hunger strike. His son issued a statement through the Change and Reform legislative bloc, noting that his father is elderly and his health fragile, and saluting all of the striking prisoners.

Addameer also reported that a number of hunger strikers from Mejiddo were transferred to Shata prison, while strikers from Shata were transferred to Gilboa prison, and Ahrar Centre also reported that the prisoners in Section 5 of Mejiddo prison were transferred to the rest of the sections, seemingly to transfer prisoners from Gilboa to Mejiddo. Fuad al-Khfash of Ahrar Centre said that all of these mechanisms are designed to repress, confuse and fatigue the prisoners as they are physically weakened through hunger strike.

Daily London protests in solidarity with hunger strikers

30 April 2012

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (UK) has announced daily pickets, from Monday through Saturday, at Whitehall opposite Downing Street in London, from 6-7 pm, calling for pressure on the British government to act to end administrative detention. Join the Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/350372708344652/

May 3: Protest at Ramleh Prison Hospital in Israel

30 April 2012

Thursday, May 3 at 5:30 pm, there will be a mass protest outside Ramleh Prison Hospital inside Israel. There is a call-out to all in occupied Palestine 48 and Jerusalem to join in this protest, to let the prisoners on hunger strike hear your voices as they are chained to their hospital beds. Let them know that you stand with them in this fight.

Khader Adnan calls for urgent action as Diab and Halahleh’s health declines

30 April 2012

Freed prisoner Khader Adnan called out for emergency night marches and rallies in support of Bilal Diab and Thaer Halaleh, following reports that Bilal and Thaer’s health has deteriorated greatly as they enter their 63rd day of hunger strike. Jawad Boulos of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society reported that Bilal Diab fainted suddenly today during a legal visit at the prison hospital.

Diab issued a statement, saying “We call upon all of the progressive forces of the world and all of our people who care for our national cause, and ask all human rights organizations and medical associations to urgently visit Ramle prison hospital to see with their own eyes the untold suffering around the clock. I thank all who have stood with us in the battle of the flesh and the sword…On day 63 of the hunger strike, I am aware that I am in the final phase of this battle of “biting the fingers” and that we are holding our position seriously and responsibly….I will continue the strike until freedom or martyrdom.”

Boulos also reported that Thaer Halahleh, also in Ramle prison hospital, had been kept on the hospital floor for five hours, and was cursed and threatened by the on-call physician, who wished him dead, and then briefly transfered to a hospital off-site before being returned to Ramle. Halahleh is feverish, vomiting bile and bleeding from the mouth. He called upon the United Nations to act, saying “I am in my 63rd day of hunger strike, I call on you for immediate intervention to save life in the face of the danger of imminent death at any moment. According to doctors, I am aching all over my body and have lost my immune system. Before it is too late, end continued administrative detention against me and all prisoners held without charge. This is contrary to international law, and you consider yourselves protectors and observers for their implementation, and ask states to apply the Geneva Conventions. Why do you not ask this of the occupier Israel, is this state a state above international law that is not held accountable for its crimes? Is it not your motto that human rights are most precious?”

The Prisoners Society also reported that hunger striker Muhammad Halas was moved to the prison hospital after 12 days without food, while Ahrar Centre for Prisoners Studies director Fuad al-Khafsh said, as reported by the Palestine Information Centre, that hunger striker Mohammed Suleiman al-Aruri’s health is deteriorating, as he is not only on hunger strike since April 12 but also refusing medications for Thalassaemia, to protest his confinement under administrative detention. He emphasized the seriousness of al-Aruri’s medical state, saying that he must be released immediately in order to receive treatment, and called for international attention to his case. Aruri’s administrative detention was extended a third time with no charge or trial on the 5th of April, prompting his strike. He has been denied family visits and Red Cross doctor’s visits since 2011.

Women’s activist on hunger strike in solidarity with prisoners

30 April 2012

Amal Abu Sbeitan, a feminist activist in Gaza who works with the Palestinian Working Women’s Association for Development, has bee on hunger strike for 10 days in solidarity with the open hunger strike of Palestinian prisoners since April 17, as reported by Ma’an. Abu Sbeitan, of Deir al-Balah camp in the Gaza Strip, has three children and is deeply involved in organizing marches and solidarity tents with the prisoners, seeking to organize other women to build solidarity with the prisoners. She said that her strike was to protest the silence and weakness of official and public support of the prisoners’ struggle.

Abu Sbeitan said that she will continue her open hunger strike alongside the prisoners and called for action in all international forums, saying that Israel spent millions of dollars advocating for Gilad Shalit, while we have nameless thousands of prisoners who are unknown. “We must promote them and their cause everywhere in the world,” she said, “particularly Western media where little is known.”

Follow us on Instagram @samidounnetwork