Videos: The Testimony of Palestinian Prisoner Dr. Abdul-Aziz Omar

15 April 2012

Palestinian former political prisoner, Dr. Abdul-Aziz Omar, from Jerusalem but deported/banished to Gaza in the recent prisoner exchange in October 2011, shared his thoughts with international activists in Gaza on the occasion of Palestinian Prisoners’ Day. These videos are suitable for screening, web distribution and more. Dr. Omar discusses his experience with arrest, torture, solitary confinement, interrogation, medical abuse, and calls for action.

Full Version (40 minutes)

Condensed Version (16 minutes)

Quick Version (6 minutes)

New Factsheets for Distribution on Palestinian Prisoners’ Day!

15 April 2012

New factsheets for distribution at your Palestinian Prisoners’ Day event or action are now available from the global coalition for Palestinian Prisoners’ Day. Please download your factsheets below:

General Palestinian Prisoners’ Day Factsheet (PDF)
US Palestinian Prisoners’ Day Factsheet (PDF)
Canada Palestinian Prisoners’ Day Factsheet (PDF)

Palestinian Prisoners’ Day Call to Action and Karameh Strike Handout (PDF)

Palestinian Prisoners’ Day Events and Actions – Tell us about yours!

15 April 2012

Cities and communities across Palestine and around the world are holding events to commemorate Palestinian Prisoners’ Day in 2012. Please let us know about your own events and activities!

Palestinian Prisoners’ Day Events

Toronto: Palestinian Prisoners’ Day – Perspectives on the current struggle

Tuesday, April 17
7:00 PM
Beit Zatoun, 612 Markham St., Toronto, ON
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/352427434794172/

April 17th is International Palestinian Prisoners Day. As of 1 March 2012, there were 4,637 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli prisons and detention centers, including 183 children. Just like Hana Shalabi and Khader Adnan, 320 prisoners are held–without charge or trial–under administrative detention. More details…

Speakers:
Ameena Sultan, Shaira Vadasaria, Issam Al Yamani

Vancouver: Rally and Speak-Out for Freedom for Palestinian Prisoners

Tuesday, April 17, 2012
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
CBC Building, 700 Hamilton St (Hamilton and Georgia), Vancouver
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/134719799989932/

Nearly 5,000 Palestinian political prisoners are held in jails in Israel, including 170 children and 6 women. 310 prisoners are held – without charge or trial – under administrative detention. Palestinian prisoners include over 20 lawmakers and national leaders, like Ahmad Sa’adat, Marwan Barghouthi and Aziz Dweik.

On April 17, 2012, Palestinian Prisoners’ Day, people around the world will respond to the call to take action for Palestinian political prisoners. In Vancouver, Join us on April 17 to support Palestinian prisoners, demand their freedom, and call for justice. More details…

Chicago: Hungry for Justice – Fast in Solidarity with Palestinian Political Prisoners

Join CMPR for a community dinner and discussion with prisoner rights activist Bekah Wolf

Tuesday, April 17, 7:00pm
CAIR-Chicago Gallery
28 E. Jackson Blvd, Suite 1700
Chicago, IL 60604
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/301360836599124/

**Free and open to the public, but space at the venue is limited. To ensure a seat, please RSVP to [email protected] as soon as possible.**

Since 1974, April 17 has been commemorated annually as Palestinian Prisoners’ Day. Currently there are more than 4500 Palestinians in Israeli prisons and detention centers; nearly 200 of these prisoners are children. Just like Hana Shalabi and Khader Adnan, 320 prisoners are held – without charge or trial – under administrative detention. Here in Chicago, the Chicago Movement for Palestinian Rights (CMPR) is calling on people of conscience to fast from sunrise to sunset on April 17 in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners. According to latest reports from prisoner rights group Addameer, 8 prisoners are currently on hunger strike. More details…

Speaker: Bekah Wolf

Glasgow: March for the Karameh Hunger Strikers, March for Palestine

Tuesday, April 17 – 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
George Square, Glasgow
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/353500491364265/

On Palestinian prisoners day, Tuesday 17th of April, the Palestinian prisoners movement will launch the Karamah (Dignity) hunger strike. The magnitude of the 1600 Palestinian prisoners embarking on the Karamah hunger strike must be met with a significant international response. This means mass mobilisations to question the impunity of the Israeli state and our own governments involvement. As the resistance of the prisoners escalates, our actions in turn must escalate. This demo is called for by ‘We Are All Hana Shalabi’. More details..

Brussels: Protest for Palestinian Prisoners

Manifestatie in Brussel
dinsdag 17 april 2012
12u00-14u00
Europese Commissie te Brussel (Schuman-Rotonde)

en een

Solidariteitsavond
18 tot 22 uur
film (25 min.): “Libres dans la prison de Gaza”
Chris Den Hond en Mireille Court (2012)

More details…

Den Haag: Picket at Israeli Embassy

http://www.palestina-komitee.nl/agenda/693
The Hague, picket line at Israeli embassy, address: Buitenhof
Time: 12.30 – 13.30h

In Den Haag bij een picket van 12.30 – 13.30 uur bij de Israelische ambassade (Buitenhof).

Bradford: Day of Action and Education

Bradford United 4 Palestine will be in Student Central at the University of Bradford, in Bradford City, UK, all day, Tuesday, April 17, with information about Palestinian Prisoners’ Day and the struggle of Palestinian prisoners.

Pisa: International Solidarity On the Day of the Palestinian Prisoner

Tuesday, April 17
7:00 pm
Via S. Lorenzo 38
Pisa, Italy
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/412627942097315/

The Initiative of International Solidarity for the Palestinian Prisoners will feature a talk by Shoukri Hroub of the Arab Palestinian Democratic Union (UDAP), as well as a brief overview of the intervention of the Mossad in some Latin American countries, including Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Colombia and Guatemala.

This event is sponsored by UDAP-Tuscany, Collective April 25, BRISOP, and Cobas Confederation Pisa. More details…

Athens: Picket in Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners

There is a protest April 17, 2012 at the Israeli Embassy in Athens, Greece at 6:30 in solidarity with the Karama Hunger Strike and the Palestinian prisoners.

Dublin: Lunchtime Picket with Palestinian Prisoners

To mark Palestinian Prisoners’ Day 2012, on Tuesday 17th April from 1-2pm the IPSC will be holding a symbolic lunchtime demonstration outside EU House, Molesworth Street (Dublin 2) to highlight the European Union’s ongoing facilitation of Israel’s apartheid policies and war crimes – including the imprisonment of over 4,400 political prisoners.

Following the demo, activists will move to Grafton Street and conduct an information stall between 2.30 and 5.30pm, distributing information about Palestinian political prisoners. More details…

Sydney: International Day of Action for Palestinian Prisoners

Tuesday, April 17
6 pm – 8 pm
Sydney town Hall
Sydney, Australia

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/275990525816065/

Students for Justice in Palestine invites you to a rally from 6pm to 8pm onTuesday, April 17, on Palestine Prisoners’ Day. Meet outside Sydney Town Hall. Our lips will be silenced with tape, symbolising the purpose of ‘administrative detention’, which is to silence Palestinian resistance against Israeli apartheid. More details…

Montreal: Sumoud – An Evening of Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners

Thursday, April 19
6:30pm until 9:30pm
Concordia University Hall Building, Room H-110
1455 de Maisonneuve West Metro Guy-Concordia
Montreal, Quebec

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/273290676089860/?ref=ts

Please join us for a panel discussion and screening to highlight prisoner struggles, affirm our support and stand in solidarity with Palestinian political prisoners. Featuring speakers: Issam Al-Yamani, Serin Atiani, and a screening of a video produced by Addameer, featuring an interview with Suha Barghouti, wife of Palestinian writer, scholar and political prisoner Ahmed Qatamesh. More details…

Oppression shall vanish…And chains are certain to break

15 April 2012

The following statement was issued by the Palestinian Youth Movement to mark Palestinian Prisoners’ Day, April 17:

This year we commemorate Palestinian political prisoners’ day as Palestinian prisoners wage “the battle of empty stomachs.” We pay special tribute to those who are under administrative detention, to the martyrs of the prisoners’ national movement, to those serving life sentences, and to those who are in solitary confinement in the Zionists’ jails. On this day we recall the glorious and heroic struggles of the prisoners’ national movement since 1948, a date which is marked with bloodshed, suffering and steadfastness. No statement can do justice to the heroic sacrifices of the Palestinian prisoners, which include countless women, men and children.

The Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) salutes all political prisoners of the national movement and all Arab prisoners in the jails of the occupiers.

We are convinced that the freedom of all prisoners will not be won through the wishful thinking and diplomacy of our current leadership that was ushered in following the Oslo accords, as this so-called “peace process” has not been able to secure the release of even one prisoner—old or young. On this day we call for the unity of the prisoner’s movement in order to focus the efforts of the prisoners so that we may reach the goals we all aspire to; justice, dignity and liberation. The prisoners’ issue is of no less importance than the issue of refugees, the integrity of Jerusalem and self-determination.

On this occasion we also emphasize the need for adopting a national program based on the complete liberation of Palestine, a principle and goal that countless prisoners and martyrs struggled for, a national program that is not dictated by distractions such as representation, legitimacy and political differences, which led to divisions among our ranks. The division has taken a lot of the energy and weakened our efforts to face the Zionist military and political machinery.

We in the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) reject the forced exile of freed prisoners and call upon our great people to stand against this practice and to support the prisoners’ movement. We also call for the development of a resistance strategy based on the goals of freedom and liberation and against all forms of passiveness and normalization.

The prisoner’s national movement was and still is the flame that lights the path of our struggle against the Zionist colonizer. Let us revitalize the prisoners’ national movement through collaboration and unification of the efforts for the freedom of all prisoners. Let us refuse all options that detract from the fundamental right to resist and fight for decent living for our families and people.

Oppression shall vanish…And chains are certain to break

A phrase known to generations old and young. A slogan used by the prisoners’ national movement in its continuous struggle against the Zionist occupation.

Let us work together for return and liberation making this slogan visible in our actions, work and approach.

Freedom to all prisoners and strugglers for freedom and dignity!

Until Return and Liberation,
International Central Council
Palestinian Youth Movement

8 Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike – 1600 to join April 17

15 April 2012

According to information collected by the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights from detainees’ families, and initial information from the Ad-Dameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association and the Palestinian Prisoners Association, there are currently eight Palestinian prisoners on open-ended hunger strike, who have been identified as follows.

Mahmoud Kamel Mohammed As-Sersik, 25, from the Ash-Shaboura neighborhood in Rafah, was arrested by the IOF on 22 July 2009 while on his way to join the Balatta Youth Sports Club. As-Sersik is a member of the Palestinian national soccer team. On 23 August 2009, the IOF extended his detention under Israel’s Unlawful Combatant Law. No evidence was provided in justification of his detention, and the term of detention was not specified. He has been on hunger strike for 21 consecutive days in protest against the continuation of his detention without charge or trial. On 8 April 2012, he was transferred from Negev prison to solitary confinement in Eshel prison in Beer Sheva.
Thaer ‘Aziz Mahmoud Halahla, 33, from Kharas village in Hebron district in the West Bank, was arrested in his home on 27 June 2010. On 5 March 2012, his term of administrative detention was extended for six months. He has now been on hunger strike for 44 consecutive days in protest against his detention without trial. On 28 March 2012, he was referred to the Ar-Ramla prison hospital due to the deterioration of his health.
Belal Nabil Sa’eed Diyab, 27, from Kafer Ra’i village in Jenin district in the West Bank, was arrested on 17 August 2011. On 14 February 2012, his term of administrative detention was extended for six months. He has now been on hunger strike for 45 consecutive days in protest against his detention without trial. On 28 March 2012, he was referred to the Ar-Ramla prison hospital due to his deteriorating state of health.
Ja’far Ibrahim Mohammed Eiz Ad-Din, 41, from ‘Arraba village in Jenin, was arrested by the IOF on 21 March 2012. On the same day, he was placed under an order of administrative detention for a term of six months. He is now on hunger strike for the 22nd consecutive day in protest against his detention without charge. On 28 March 2012, he was transferred from Megiddo prison to solitary confinement in Al Jalama prison. His family reports that they have received information that he has since been transferred to Ar-Ramla prison hospital.
Ahmed Nabhan Da’san Saqer, 48, from ‘Asskar refugee camp in Nablus, was arrested on 20 November 2008. On 24 January 2012, his term of administrative detention was again extended for a period of four months. He is now on hunger strike for the 31st consecutive day in protest against his detention without charge. He is being held in Shata prison.
Mohammed Rafeq Kamel At-Taj, 40, from Toubas in Nablus district, was arrested in his home on 19 November 2003. He was sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment. He has now been on hunger strike for 29 consecutive days.
Hasan Zahi As-Safadi, 34, from Ein Al Maa’ refugee camp in Nablus, was detained on 29 June 2011. On 29 January 2012, his term of administrative detention was extended for another four months. He is now on hunger strike for the 39th consecutive day. On 6 April 2012, he was referred to the prison hospital in Ar-Ramla due to the deterioration of his health.
Omar Mousa Mesleh Shalaeil, 45, from Nablus, was detained on 15 August 2011 while he was on his way to perform the ‘Umrah, a pilgrimage to Mecca. On 15 February 2012, his administrative detention was extended for another six months. He is now on hunger strike for the 41st consecutive day. On 4 April 2012, he was referred to the prison hospital in Ar-Ramla due to his deteriorating state of health.

Al Mezan Centre reports:

It is worth noting that Israel began issuing administrative detention orders in 1967, as part of its policy of restraint and collective punishment policy against residents of the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). Israeli authorities and courts continue to arrest and detain Palestinians under the Emergency Law of 1945, which was in force during the British Mandate over Palestine. This law allows Israeli authorities to detain Palestinians without bringing them to trial, or even providing reasons for their detention, and to repeatedly extend terms of detention by default procedures. The Israeli authorities have also ratified the Unlawful Combatant Law of 2000, which allows the IOF to detain Palestinians without charge or disclosure of the term of detention. The number of Palestinian administrative detainees has increased over the past year. According to the Palestinian Prisoners Association, the number of administrative detainees rose from 219 in January 2011 to 320 at the end of February 2012.

Administrative detention amounts to arbitrary detention in violation of the law when the detainee is not presented with the reason for his detention, made subject to criminal charges, or informed when he will be released. Administrative detainees are brought before an Israeli military judge who can approve terms of imprisonment relying on secret evidence presented by the military prosecutor. Neither the detainee nor his lawyer is given access to the evidence used. Though a sentence of administrative detention is limited to a term of six months, the detention can be extended for an indefinite number of terms. This means that Palestinians can be jailed for many years merely because the IOF claims that they are dangerous to Israeli security, without any evidence sufficient to demonstrate this before a regularly constituted court.

The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights pays tribute to Palestinian prisoners’ struggle against injustice and the violation of their human rights, and for the attainment of freedom and dignity. Palestinian prisoners are risking their lives in protest against the IOF’s practice of administrative detention. Al Mezan strongly condemns the continuing practice of administrative detention of Palestinian prisoners, and the cruelty and ill-treatment they suffer in detention. Al Mezan emphasizes that the IOF is systematically violating the most basic of human rights principles, particularly the right of detainees to dignity and to fair trial.

Al Mezan also expresses its concern for the detainees’ health and lives, and holds the international community responsible for their well-being. Al Mezan calls on the international community to intervene, and asserts that the latter’s silence in the face of ongoing Israeli violations of international human rights law has only encouraged Israel to carry out further violations, including ratification of racist laws which contradict the norms of international justice. Al Mezan likewise calls on civil society groups, national and international human rights organizations, political parties, and friendly countries to express their solidarity with Palestinian detainees, to expose Israel’s violations of international humanitarian law, and to oblige Israel to uphold its legal responsibilities. This includes guaranteeing that detainees are not subjected to torture and ill-treatment, provision of health care, and respect of the right to family visitation. Al Mezan also calls for international action to secure the prompt release of women and children detained without trial, as a step towards releasing all Palestinian detainees.

American Muslims for Palestine: Call-In Day in Support of Palestinian Prisoners

15 April 2012

(CHICAGO 04/12/2012) – The American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) is participating in a global action of support for Palestinian Prisoners Day by asking our supporters to call the U.S. Department of State from 1 to 3 p.m. CST on Tuesday, April 17.

Palestinian Prisoner Day comes this year at a time when administrative detention prisoners achieved considerable victories against the Occupation Forces through their hunger strikes.

Political prisoner Khader Adnan underwent a 66-day hunger strike that ended in February. Israeli military authorities were holding him without charge or trial in administrative detention, which is against international law. Adnan conducted his hunger strike to protest the use of administrative detention and to raise awareness about the deplorable conditions Palestinian political prisoners must endure in Israeli prisons.

Hana Shalabi also forced the Israeli Occupation Forces to release her on her 43rd day of her hunger strike, although she was tricked into receiving a three-year exile in Gaza away from her family. Now there are more than 24 prisoners undergoing hunger strikes to end this use of brutal detention. A prison system-wide one-day strike was held on March 24.

Administrative detention allows Israeli military authorities to hold Palestinians without charge or trial for six-month periods, which are renewable indefinitely. Prisoners are held on purported “secret evidence,” which is presented to a judge but never to prisoners or their lawyers. The prisoners are not told why they are being held. They are prohibited from looking at this so-called “evidence” and they receive no trial. In perpetuating these measures, Israeli occupation forces violate the basic principles of human rights and internationally recognized norms of judicial conduct and this is un-American.

According to Samidoun, the Palestinian Prisoners Solidarity Network, 320 Palestinians currently are being held under administrative detention, including a number of members of the Palestinian Legislative Council. Some have been held for more than four years. Today, 4,637 Palestinian political prisoners languish in the jails of the Israeli occupation, 30 of whom continue to be held in isolation, from Palestinian national leaders and Palestinian children – all of whom are demanding freedom. More action is urgently needed to mobilize global support for Palestinian political prisoners.

Take Action Now

The American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) find the resounding silence by the United States about Israel’s violation of international law to be absolutely deplorable and in direct contradiction to the values of due process and also human rights, which we cherish. AMP calls on its supporters and all those who support human dignity and social justice to call the office of Jeffrey Feltman, Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs, in the State Department and demand the US intervene to force Israel to release all political prisoners.

National Call In Day: Call Mr. Feltman from 1 to 3 p.m. EST on Tuesday, April 17 to demand justice for Palestinian political prisoners.

Contact Info

Call the office of Jeffrey Feltman, Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs at 202.647.7209

Talking Points

State your name and the city and state where you reside. Be polite but firm.
The fact that Israeli occupation forces deny due process to Palestinians is racist and indicative of an apartheid state. U.S. support of the Israeli occupation in light of these facts hurts American interests abroad and undermines our status in the Arab and Muslim world. Furthermore, this is in direct contradiction to American and universal values of justice, freedom, equality, and liberty for all. The US should demand that Israel uphold the basic values of life, liberty and dignity inherent to all human beings.
The US should demand that Israel release all Palestinian prisoners. Once you call, please email AMP at [email protected] with Palestinian Prisoner Day in the subject line. Please tell us when you called and what state you reside in.

1600 Detainees To Declare Hunger Strike on April 17th

15 April 2012

by Saed Bannoura

From imemc website

1600 Palestinian political prisoners, held by Israel, declared they will be starting an open-ended hunger strike on April 17th in protest to their illegal detention, and demanding basic rights.

Palestinian Minister of Detainees in the West Bank, Issa Qaraqe’, stated that the situation of the detainees in Israeli prisons is very difficult, and dangerous, especially amidst the ongoing Israeli violations and attacks against them.

Qaraqe’ added that the detainees are fighting a battle to defend their dignity and to improve their living conditions.

He further called for massive solidarity campaigns, and called for declaring April 17, the Palestinian Prisoners Day, as a day for solidarity and massive nonviolent protests in all parts of the occupied territories.

The Maan News Agency reported that a committee formed by the Israeli Prison Authority, headed by Yitzhak Gabai, visited a number of detention facilities, listened to the demands of the detainees, and “promised” respond to these demands this coming week.

Some of the demands presented by the detainees are;

1. Ending Administrative Detention.
2. Ending Solitary Confinement.
3. Reinstating the right to education.
4. Halting all invasions targeting detainees’ rooms and sections.
5. Allowing family visitations, especially to detainees from the Gaza Strip.
6. Improving medical care to ailing detainees.
7. Halting the humiliation, and body-search of the families of the detainees.
8. Allowing the entry of books and newspapers.
9. Halting all sorts of penalties against the detainees.

Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons are subject to harsh and illegal treatment that violates International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention to which Israel is a signatory.

The Palestinians started marking April 17 as the Palestinian Prisoners Day, on April 17, 1974, the day Israel released Mahmoud Bakr Hijazi, in the first ever prisoner-swap deal.

202 Palestinian detainees died after being kidnapped by the Israeli forces since 1967, following Israel’s occupation to the rest of Palestine (The West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights).

Hundreds of detainees died after they were released suffering from serious illnesses and medical conditions resulting from extreme torture and abuse in Israeli prisons.

70 detainees died in prison due to extreme torture, 74 were executed by the soldiers after being arrested, 51 died due to the lack of medical treatment, 7 detainees died due to excessive force by the soldiers, and after being shot while in prison, former political prisoner, head of the census department at the Ministry of Detainees, Abdul-Nasser Farawna reported.

Glasgow, April 17: March for the Karameh Hunger Strikers, March for Palestine

15 April 2012

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/353500491364265/

Tuesday, April 17 – 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

George Square, Glasgow

On Palestinian prisoners day, Tuesday 17th of April, the Palestinian prisoners movement will launch the Karamah (Dignity) hunger strike. They will place the true oppressive nature of the Israeli state under the spotlight once again. In a courageous move, highlighting the steadfastness of Palestinian resistance to occupation, 1600 prisoners will embark on an indefinite hunger strike demanding their basic rights as political detainees.

The magnitude of the 1600 Palestinian prisoners embarking on the Karamah hunger strike must be met with a significant international response. This means mass mobilisations to question the impunity of the Israeli state and our own governments involvement.

As the resistance of the prisoners escalates, our actions in turn must escalate.

On the 17th April, we will begin the escalation by marching for the liberation of Palestine and the dignity of the hunger strikers.

The intifada that is stirring in the Zionist jails must resonate beyond the prison walls

This demo is called for by ‘We Are All Hana Shalabi’ supported by: students Pal Socs in Scotland, Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Friends of Al Aqsa Scotland, and the Glasgow Lebanese community

Karameh hunger strike launched for April 17, Prisoners’ Day, throughout Israeli jails

15 April 2012

The following statement has been issued by Palestinian Prisoners in Israeli jails. Prisoners from a number of different political currents have organised the ‘Karameh’ (Dignity) Hunger Strike. Protest action will be stepped up on a daily basis until the 17th of April (Palestinian Prisoners Day) when an indefinate hunger strike will be launched.

The statement has been translated from Arabic, and appeared on the Ajnad news website:

The various political currents in the prisoners movement who are held in the zionist jails have reached an agreement to escalate the ongoing hunger strikes in order to achieve the human rights which Israel have denied prisoners for many long years.

Prisoners will begin an indefinate hunger strike this month. This means they will refuse all forms of food and liquid (with the exception of water) until their demands are met. The hunger strike has been initiated because this is the the the only tool that the Palestinian prisoners have to achieve their rights. We must pressurise the occupying government and force it to negotiate on the demands the prisoners movement has been striving to achieve. The hunger strike is supported by the prisoners movement as a whole, with agreement amongst all member parties.

The demands of the Karameh Hunger Strike are:

1. An end to the policy of solitary confinement and isolation which has been used to deprive Palestinian prisoners of their rights for more than a decade.

2. To allow the families of prisoners from the Gaza Strip to visit prisoners. This right has been denied to all families for more than 6 years.

3. An improvement in the living conditions of prisoners and an end to the ‘Shalit’ law, which outlaws newspapers, learning materials and many TV channels.

4. An end to the the policies of humiliation which are suffered by prisoners and their families such as strip searches, nightly raids, and collective punishment.

The aim of the hunger strike is to shift local, regional and international public opinion. It aims to put pressure on the occupying government and hold it responsible for the health of all prisoners.

Palestinian Prisoners are calling on free people across the world to to do everything in their power to support them in their struggle for rights.

بيــان صادر عن الأسرى الفلسطينين في سجون العـدو الصهيوني ,, مطالب الأسرى في إضراب الكرامة القادمبيان صادر عن الأسرى في سجون الاحتلال الصهيوني، يوضحون فيه مطالبهم العادلة، التي يخوضون من أجلها خطوات احتجاجية، تتصاعد لتصل في يوم الأسير الفلسطيني 17/4، إلى خطوة الإضراب المفتوح عن الطعام، وهذا نص البيان:

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

على مدار ثلاث سنوات مضت، سعت الحركة الأسيرة في سجون الاحتلال الصهيوني، بكافة أطيافها السياسية على التواصل والتنسيق فيما بينها لبلورة خطوة الإضراب المفتوح عن الطعام، لنيل الحقوق الإنسانية البديهية، التي تنكرت لها حكومة الاحتلال على مدى سنوات طويلة مضت، إلى أن تكللت هذه الجهود بالتوافق على خوض إضراب مفتوح عن الطعام، في منتصف شهر نيسان من هذا العام .الإضراب المفتوح الذي سيخوضه الأسرى الفلسطينيون: هو إضراب أقرته الحركة الأسيرة، بكافة أطيافها السياسية، يقضي بالامتناع عن الطعام والشراب، عدا الماء حتى تتحقق كافة المطالب، التي انطلق من أجلها الإضراب. والإضراب هو الوسيلة الوحيدة التي يمتلكها الأسرى الفلسطينيون لنيل حقوقهم، والضغط على حكومة الاحتلال ودفعها للتفاوض مع الوفد، الذي تشكله الحركة الأسيرة لهذا الشأن والرضوخ لمطالبه.المطالب الرئيسية من إضراب الكرامة “نيسان”:

1.إغلاق ملف العزل الانفرادي، الذي يقضي بموجبه أسرى، مضى على عزلهم أكثر من عشر سنوات متتالية، في زنازين انفرادية تفتقر لمقومات الحياة البشرية والنفسية والمادية

.2. السماح لأهالي أسرى قطاع غزة بزيارة أبنائهم في السجون، الذين حرموا منه منذ ست سنوات متتالية. فمنذ ذلك الحين لم تقم ولا زيارة واحدة لأي أسير غزي

.3. تحسين الوضع المعيشي في السجون، الذي تداعى بقرارات سياسية وقوانين جائرة، مثل ما يسمى “بقانون شاليط” الذي حرم الأسرى من أبسط الحقوق، كالتعليم ومتابعة الإعلام من خلال سحب العديد من القنوات الفضائية وكل الصحف المكتوبة.

4. وضع حد لسياسة الإهانة والإذلال التي تقوم بها مصلحة السجون بحق الأسرى وذويهم، من خلال التفتيش المهين العاري، والعقوبات الجماعية، والاقتحامات الليلية

.معادلة الإضراب:يرتكز الإضراب بشكل مباشر على تحريك رأي عام محلي وعربي ودولي، يضغط على حكومة الاحتلال، ويهدد مصالحها وعلاقاتها السياسية، ويحملها كامل المسؤولية عن حياة الأسرى الفلسطينيين المضربين عن الطعام، إضافة إلى إلقاء الكرة في الملعب الحكومة الصهيونية، وإجبارها على تحمل عواقب تضييقها على الأسرى وسلبها حقوقهم.نداء بالأمل:على ضوء المعادلة، سابقة الذكر، يتوجه الأسرى الفلسطينيون إلى كافة أحرار العالم، من دعاة ومفكرين ومثقفين وفعاليات وصحافة وإعلام وأحزاب، لبذل الجهود والعمل على مساندة ونصرة الأسرى، في إضرابهم المفتوح عن الطعام . الأسرى الفلسطينيين في سجون الاحتلال

Reham Alhelsi:Palestinian Prisoners on Hunger Strike: The Struggle for Freedom, for Justice, for Palestine Continues

15 April 2012

The following important piece was published and written by Reham Alhelsi at A Voice from Palestine:

In messages to the Palestinian people and the free people of the world, Palestinian administrative detainee Ja’far Izz Iddin called for more support and solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners, particularly with administrative detainees, until they are all free. Determined to continue his open-ended hunger strike, Izz Iddin said that he will not be broken or defeated and that it is either victory and freedom or martyrdom: “Our detention is unjust and illegal just like the occupation is illegal, thus I will not retract from the battle for freedom until administrative detention is abolished … Because our demands are legitimate and just… Because administrative detention is void and prohibited by international humanitarian law, we are determined to resist it and to reject it… it is either victory and freedom or martyrdom”.[1] Today, Ja’far Izz Iddin is on his 23^rd day of open-ended hunger strike in protest of his detention without charge or trial. When on 21.03.2012 his house was raided and he was kidnapped blindfolded and handcuffed, the Israeli occupation army officer who dragged him from the midst of his family told Izz Iddin:”you organize solidarity activities with Khader Adnan, and today we will send you to jail to join him in solidarity”[2]. Izz Iddin is only one of at least 13 Palestinian prisoners and detainees currently on an open-ended hunger strike in Israeli dungeons. The latest to join the struggle for freedom is isolated prisoner Abdallah Barghouthi who started his hunger strike today to protest the policy of isolation. According to Palestinian prisoners’ sites, the following prisoners/detainees are on hunger strike:

1 Bilal Thiab: 43 Days of Hunger Strike to Protest Administrative Detention.

On 01.03.2012, administrative detainee Bilal Thiab, 27 years old from Kufr Ra’i, Jenin, started an open-ended hunger strike in solidarity with Hana’ Ash-Shalabi and against administrative detention. He has been in administrative detention since August 2011. After preventing him from meeting his lawyer, Thiab stopped drinking water as a second phase of his hunger strike. His health is deteriorating and he is currently in Ramleh prison “hospital” and can only move on a wheelchair. Thiab was detained several times, spending a total of 7 years in Israeli jails, and one year in administrative detention, which has been recently renewed.

2 Tha’ir Halahleh: 43 Days of Hunger Strike to Protest Administrative Detention.

On 01.03.2012, administrative detainee Tha’ir Halahleh, 33 years old from Kharas, Hebron, started an open-ended hunger strike in solidarity with Hana’ Ash-Shalabi and against administrative detention. On 05.04.2012, and despite prior coordination between the Israeli prison authority and the Red Cross, Halahleh’s family was not allowed to visit him. After the long journey, the family was told by the Israeli prison authority that Halahleh is prevented from visits until June 2012. His health is deteriorating and he is currently in Ramleh prison “hospital”. More recently, his lawyer was prevented from seeing him. Halahleh was detained several times, spending a total of 9 years in Israeli dungeons, 6 of which in administrative detention without charge or trial. With his latest detention, he has been held without charge or trial since 22 months.

3 Hasan As-Safadi: 38 Days of Hunger Strike to Protest Administrative Detention.

On 05.03.2012, administrative detainee Hasan As-Safadi, 34 years old from Nablus, started an open-ended hunger strike to protest administrative detention. On 04.04.2012 As-Safadi was transferred from Majido prison to Al-Jalameh interrogation centre and locked up with Israeli criminals. Two days later, he was transferred to Ramleh prison “hospital” after his health deteriorated. He suffers from unconsciousness and at one time fell and injured his leg badly. As-Safadi also stopped drinking water and suffers from severe headache and stomachache, low sugar and blood levels and lost 24 kg. To force As-Safadi to break his hunger strike, Israeli jailors told him that he will be fined 1000 NIS for every strike day and that family visits will be prohibited. On 10.04.2012, he was reported to be in coma as his health continues to deteriorate. As-Safadi was administratively detained for 10 years, during which he was released twice and rearrested. According to his sister, the Israeli prison authority offered him deportation in exchange for captivity but he refused. His current administrative detention has been repeatedly renewed since 30.06.2011.

4 Omar Abu Shallal: 38 Days of Hunger Strike to Protest Administrative Detention.

On 05.03.2012, administrative detainee Omar Abu Shallal, 54 years old from Nablus, started an open-ended hunger strike to protest administrative detention. His health deteriorated rapidly and he is currently in Ramleh prison “hospital”.

5 Ahmad Nabhan Saqer: 28 Days of Hunger Strike to Protest Administrative Detention.

On 18.03.2012, administrative detainee Ahmad Nabhan Saqer, 47 years old from Askar RC, Nablus, started an open-ended hunger strike in protest of the arbitrary so-called administrative detention. He is longest serving administrative detainee and has been locked up behind Zionist bars without charge or trial since 28.11.2008. Saqer is currently held captive in Shatta prison. His current administrative detention ends on 24.04.2012, and he threatens to stop drinking water in case his administrative detention is renewed for the 14th time. Saqer lost 17 kg due to the hunger strike and he suffers from heart problems and pain in the limbs.

6 Mohammad At-Taj: 27 Days of Hunger Strike to Demand Recognition as POW.

Palestinian prisoner Mohammad At-Taj, 44 years old from Toubas, is on his 27th day of hunger strike. He started an open-ended hunger strike to demand Israeli prison authority treat him as Prisoner of War (POW). At-Taj was sentenced to 18 years in Israeli captivity. He has been in isolation in Majiddo prison since his hunger strike, before recently being transferred to Shatta prison, where he continues his hunger strike.

7 Faris An-Natour: 24 Days of Hunger Strike to Protest Administrative Detention.

Administrative detainee Faris An-Natour, from Nablus, has been on an open-ended hunger strike since 24 days in protest of the arbitrary so-called administrative detention. He is currently held captive in isolation cells in Al- Jalameh prison.

8 Ja’far Izz Iddin: 23 Days of Hunger Strike to Protest Administrative Detention.

On 22.03.2012, administrative detainee Ja’far Izz Iddin, 41 years old from Arraba, Jenin, started an open-ended hunger strike to protest the arbitrary so-called administrative detention. Izz Iddin suffers from severe headache, low blood pressure and low sugar levels and pain in the limbs and kidney and he lost 11 kg. Despite isolation in Al-Jalameh and his deteriorating health, Izz Iddin told his lawyer: “I will not be broken or defeated… either freedom and victory or martyrdom”. For refusing to break his hunger strike, Izz Iddin was punished with a fine of 1500 NIS and deprived of family visits. In protest, he decided to stop drinking water. More recently, his lawyer was prevented from seeing him. Izz Iddin was kidnapped from his home on 21.03.2012 at 3 am, handcuffed, blindfolded and dragged half naked to Dotan illegal Zionist colony and left in the cold from 4 am till 9 am, before being transferred to Majiddo prison. Next day he was ordered into administrative detention. According to latest reports, Izz Iddin was transferred to Ramleh prison “hospital” after his health deteriorated rapidly.

9 Oday Daraghmeh: 21 Days of Hunger Strike to Protest Administrative Detention.

Administrative detainee Oday Daraghmeh, from Toubas, is on his 21^st day of hunger strike to protest the arbitrary so-called administrative detention. He is currently held captive in Al-Jalameh prison.

10 Abdallah Barghouthi: 1 Day of Hunger Strike to Protest the Policy of Isolation.

Today, 12.04.2012, Palestinian prisoner Abdallah Barghouthi, 39 years old from Beit Rima, and held captive in Israeli dungeons since 2003, started an open-ended hunger strike to protest the policy of isolation. He will continue his hunger strike until he is released from isolation and allowed to see his father, his wife and children. According to former detainee Ahlam At-Tamimi, Barghouthi said that all isolated Palestinian prisoners held captive in Israeli dungeons will join the hunger strike on 15.04.2012 to demand an end to isolation. Currently, Barghouthi is held captive in Ramleh isolation cells.

In addition, other reports add the following Palestinian detainees to the list of hunger striker:

Mahmoud As-Sirsik: 21 Days of Hunger Strike to Protest Administrative Detention.

Administrative detainee Mahmoud As-Sirsik, 25 years old from Rafah RC, Gaza, has been on hunger strike since 21 days to protest his illegal detention. He was detained on 23.08.2009 while on his way to Balata RC to join the football team with which he had signed a contract as player. Since then, his detention has been renewed without charge or trial. On 08.04.2012, he was transferred from Naqab prison to the isolation cells of Eshel prison.

Mohammad Sleiman: 3 Days of Strike to Protest Administrative Detention.

To protest his illegal detention without charge or trial, Palestinian prisoner Mohammad Sleiman, from Aroura, is on strike since 3 days by which he refuses to take blood units. A Thalassemia patient, Sleiman is currently held captive without charge or trial in Ofer since over a year. On 06.04.2012, his administrative detention was renewed for the 3^rdconsecutive time despite his illness and need for blood units every 2 to 3 weeks.

Ahmad Haj Ali

On 02.04.2012, Ahmad Haj Ali, 74 years old from Nablus, stopped his hunger strike which lasted 15 days after the Israeli prison authority promised not to renew his administrative detention and to release him on 06.04.2012. He had been illegally detained without trial or charge since 07.06.2011. Some reports mention that he already resumed his hunger strike on 09.04.2012 after the Israeli prison authority extended his administrative detention till 05.05.2012. Other reports say that he will resume his hunger strike on 17.04.2012. Haj Ali, the eldest administrative detainee held captive in Israeli dungeons, is one of 27 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) held captive by Israel, and has been in a renewed administrative detention in Majiddo dungeon since 9 months. Al-Haj Ali suffers from various ailments including diabetes and heart problems.

On 07.04.2012, Palestinian Prisoner Society reported that at least 36 Palestinian detainees were punished by Israeli prison authority for their solidarity with their fellow comrades on hunger strike. They were each fined a sum of 420 NIS, their prison section is to be closed for 2 months to restrict their movement and their interaction with other prisoners and are not to be allowed any family visits for 2 months. According to latest statistics, there are 4700 Palestinian prisoners held captive in Israeli dungeons, including 185 children, 9 female prisoners, 322 administrative detainees and 27 MPs.

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