Hunger striking prisoners facing sharp repression and continue their demands

Samidoun

Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike are facing sharp repression from the Israeli Prison Administration. As reported by Addameer and others, Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike have reported confiscation of personal items and warm clothes. In response to these attacks, prisoners in Nafha are threatening to begin to refuse water as well.
One group of Palestinian prisoners associated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine at Eshel prison participating in the strike have been transfered to Ohalei Kedar prison in retribution, while Hamas prisoners at Eshel prison on hunger strike were separated from one another and moved into the rooms of Fateh prisoners, in an attempt to exacerbate factional tensions.
At Ramon prison, Palestinian hunger strikers have been moved into isolation cells and hunger strikers throughout Israeli prisons are being denied access to independent doctors. Addameer lawyer Samer Sama’an has been banned from visiting all prisoners from 6 months, the second time in recent months that such a ban has been applied to an Addameer lawyer during prison hunger strikes.
In response to these attacks, Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike issued another statement reiterating their demands:

Despite the threat of the executioner, and the strength of his weapons, we will

1 – end the policy of solitary confinement
2 – close the file of administrative detention
3 – Cancel the actions taken after the capture of Shalit and the most important of which prevent the prisoners of Gaza Strip’s (456) prisoners from visiting their parents
4 – Allow higher education.

On Prisoner’s Day, this will not be just another day of another year. Therefore, they are preparing to confront the torturers, the executioners, and their weapons, and despite the failure of the international community, we stand armed with only our empty stomachs and solid will derived from the heroic march of our people who continue to resist, and we have faith in victory and the justice of our struggle for freedom.

Adnan: Crowd's joy made me forget all suffering

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- “The happiness I saw on my peoples’ faces made me forget all the suffering I experienced when I was on hunger strike,” freed Palestinian prisoner Khader Adnan said Wednesday.

When he arrived in Jenin, instead of going home, Adnan chose to head to the sit-in tent in Arraba village to meet with parents of prisoner Jaafar Izz Addin who is now on hunger strike protesting Israeli policies against prisoners.

Hundreds of Palestinians gathered on Tuesday night to greet the former detainee, whose 66-day hunger strike inspired others to protest administrative detention.

Adnan proceeded to visit the al-Aridha family who have three brothers in Israeli jails. Amjad al-Aridha is serving a 20-year sentence, his brother Mahmoud is serving life sentence, and Raddad al-Aridha is also detained in Israeli jail.

As time ran out, Adnan insisted on visiting the sit-in tent in Kafr Raai village after midnight to meet with the mother of prisoner Bilal Thiab who has been on hunger strike for more than 50 days.

He arrived at 3 a.m. and told Thiab's mother that when her son bid him farewell he was chanting “Allahu akbar”. Other prisoners Thaer Halhla, Hasan Safadi, Omar Shallala and Mahmoud Siksik also chanted “Allahu Akbar” from inside their prison cells because they were not allowed to bid him farewell, Adnan explained.

Asked about the last moments before he left his cell in Ramla prison for freedom, Adnan said, “It looked like an uprising as all my hunger-striking fellow prisoners began chanting 'Allahu akbar.'

"I tried to bid them farewell," he added, "but I was denied that and was moved from one detention center to another until I finally arrived at Salem center in the northern West Bank.”

Adnan highlighted that his release was delayed 16 hours as he was moved from one place to another. He was not released from Salem center, but was handed to the International Committee of the Red Cross which took him to Arraba.

“When I noted that delay, I started a hunger strike again fearing the Israelis might go back on their word.”

“They detained me in the darkness so that nobody could see them, and when they released me they did it in the darkness so that nobody could welcome me. They failed in that because I had a reception which indicates that our people are still committed to the prisoners' cause and will support them until they are all freed,” Adnan said.

Adnan pointed out that Israeli prison authorities shut down the windows of all cells when they moved him to prevent other inmates from seeing him released.

With regard to the feasibility of hunger strikes, Adnan said it would be better if it is done in stages starting first with dozens or hundreds of prisoners, then gradually others join them until all prisoners are on hunger strike. The longer prisoners continue with hunger strike, the better they can expose the occupation’s policies and injustice to the world, he said.

As for the current situation with 1,600 prisoners on hunger strike, Adnan suggested that other prisoners join them in stages with 500 joining at each stage.

“My hunger strike was not a new form of hunger strike, but the long duration gave it special importance. This is like vertical expansion where you construct a building on a small area of land, but that building benefits everybody.”

Israel frees Khader Adnan

Khader Adnan's 66-day hunger strike inspired hundreds of prisoners to take
on Israel's policy of holding detainees without charge.

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli authorities released former hunger-striking administrative detainee Khader Adnan late Tuesday, a Ma'an correspondent reported.

Adnan arrived at his home in Araba in the northern West Bank to meet his family before returning to a tent reception where he spoke to well-wishers and officials in the village.

Hundreds of Palestinians chanted slogans in solidarity with prisoners as they welcomed the former detainee, whose 66-day hunger strike inspired others to protest administrative detention.

Under the provision, Israel can imprison suspects indefinitely, without ever informing them of the charges they face or presenting their lawyers with any evidence. Over 300 Palestinians are held without charge in Israel.

Inspired by Adnan's protest, a female prisoner, Hana Shalabi, refused food for 43 days before the Israelis decided to deport her to Gaza, barring her from returning to her native West Bank for at least three years.

On Tuesday, at least 1,200 prisoners in Israeli jails launched an open-ended hunger strike.

Hundreds joined the so-called "battle of empty stomachs" to coincide with Palestinian Prisoners' Day, when both the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip stage mass rallies in support of some 4,800 prisoners who are held in Israeli prisons.

The Israeli prisons' authority said 2,300 prisoners had announced they would reject their daily meal on Tuesday, while 1,200 indicated they were launching a formal hunger strike.

"The Israeli Prisons Authority has coped with hunger strikes in the past and is prepared to cope with it now," it added.

Palestinian officials said 1,600 prisoners were joining the indefinite hunger strike.

Human rights groups called on Tuesday for international accountability for the situation of Palestinian prisoners. Al-Mezan urged the international community not to work with security corporation G4S, which equips Israeli checkpoints and jails.

Meanwhile, al-Haq urged the world not to ignore four Palestinian hunger-strikers who have been hospitalized after refusing food for over a month.

Reuters contributed to this report.

320 International Organization Launches International Appeal to Support the Demands of the Prisoners on Hunger Strike

Euromid.org

The Eruo-Mediterranean Observer for Human Rights announced the launch of the biggest international appeal to support the demands of the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli prisons, with the support of 320 international and local human rights organizations.

The launch of the International Solidarity Appeal, which carries the name "Thirst for Freedom", comes in conjunction with the anniversary of the "Palestinian Prisoners' Day". In this day, 1600 Palestinian prisoners, in the prisons of the Israeli occupation, start the widest hunger strike movement to protest against the poor conditions of their detention, which in turn is part of the perpetuating policy of administrative detention and solitary confinement imposed against them.

The delegate of the Euro-Mid stated that 320 non-governmental organizations around the world responded to the Euro-Mid call to activate the issue of the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike on an international level and to pledge to work through the mechanisms of the international law to hold pressure on the Israeli occupation in order to achieve the fair demands of the prisoners. This statement came in the press conference held today at Beach Hotel in Gaza.

Some of the demands included in the International Solidarity Appeal are: "… we are calling for justice and law enforcement and, we are calling …to halt the inhuman policies of confinement against the detainees. … to allow the detainees of the Gaza Strip to meet their relatives, having been deprived from such visits since 2006 up till now… to stop the policies taken against them; such as, the sudden nocturnal inspection of their rooms; to stop the humiliating strip inspections, which is humiliating for them and their families during the social visits.”

Ms. Amnai Al-Senwar, the Regional Director of the Euro-Med in Amman, commented that: "The institutions signing the appeal are acting in this appeal as a united coalition with all the international institutions, especially the UN Human Rights Council and its committees, and pledges to take the necessary measures to support the demands of prisoners on hunger strike, according to the development of their strike and the response of the Israeli side to their demands.”

It is worth mentioning that the signature on the international appeal "Thirst for Freedom" is still open to all organizations and human rights organizations around the world that desires to join this appeal. The Appeal can be accessed through the website of the Euro-Mediterranean Observatory, or through direct contact with its headquarters in Geneva, or the regional administration in the Amman, Jordan

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Palestinian captives launch the "dignity strike"

WEST BANK, ( PIC)-- Thousands of Palestinian prisoners from a number of different factions who are held in the occupation jails launched, on Tuesday (17 April) which coincides with the "Palestinian Prisoners' Day",  an indefinite hunger strike referred to as the Karameh (dignity) strike,  declaring their determination to continue their strike until their demands are met.
The prisoners confirmed that after three years of communications, the various political currents in the prisoners' movement have reached an agreement to escalate the ongoing hunger strikes" to demand their rights which are ignored by the occupation government for many long years.
Thus, the prisoners launch on the 17th April (the Palestinian Prisoners' Day) "an open hunger strike. This means their refusal of all forms of food and liquid (with the exception of water) until their demands are met" The captives noted that the strike is the only tool that they have to obtain their rights, to put pressure on the occupation government and force it to negotiate with the prisoners' movement."
The main demands of Karameh strike are: first to end to the policy of solitary confinement under which some prisoners have been isolated for more than a decade, second to permit the prisoners' families from the Gaza Strip their right to visit prisoners which has been denied to all families for more than 6 years, third, to improve the living conditions of prisoners that has collapsed by unfair political decisions such as the ‘Shalit’ law, which outlaws learning, newspapers and many TV channels. 

Palestinian inmates launch 'battle of empty stomachs'

Published yesterday (updated) 18/04/2012 01:17

 

Palestinian children take part in a rally in front of the Red Cross headquarters
in Gaza City marking Palestinian Prisoners Day, April 17, 2012.
(Reuters/Suhaib Salem)

By Jihan Abdalla

RAMALLAH (Reuters) -- At least 1,200 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails launched an open-ended hunger strike on Tuesday, upping the stakes in a protest movement that has put Israel under pressure.

Israel has already struck deals with two Palestinian detainees this year after they staged prolonged hunger strikes and 10 other inmates have been refusing to take food in an ad-hoc campaign that has gathered unexpected momentum.

Hundreds more joined the so-called "battle of empty stomachs" on Tuesday to coincide with Palestinian Prisoners' Day, when both the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip stage mass rallies in support of some 4,800 prisoners who are held in Israeli prisons.

"I am afraid for the life of my son. I am afraid for all their lives. All the prisoners are as dear to me as my son is," said Gaza resident Zbaida Al-Masri, adding that her son, Yusri, was serving a 20-year-term for fighting against Israel.

The Israeli prisons' authority said 2,300 prisoners had announced they would reject their daily meal on Tuesday, while 1,200 indicated they were launching a formal hunger strike.

"The Israeli Prisons Authority has coped with hunger strikes in the past and is prepared to cope with it now," it added.

Palestinian officials said 1,600 prisoners were joining the indefinite hunger strike.

Prisoners in Ofer jail said all its inmates had joined the strike, and that Israeli prison authorities have threatened to forbid family visits, close amenities, and extend solitary confinement and transfer to other jails.

The hunger strikers have a long list of complaints, including the Israeli use of solitary confinement, the difficulty many having in securing family visits and the strip searches that are imposed on visitors.

Palestinians also denounce so-called administrative detention, whereby Israel can imprison suspects indefinitely, without ever informing them of the charges they face or presenting their lawyers with any evidence. Over 300 Palestinians are held without charge in Israel.

Divided

Although all the main Palestinian political factions said they were backing the action, divisions swiftly appeared, with prisoners belonging to the Fatah faction accusing the Islamist rivals Hamas of using the campaign to divert attention from its own internal divisions.

Attempts to end a feud between President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement, which holds sway in the West Bank, and Hamas, which governs Gaza, have so far failed to bear fruit.

Abbas urged the prisoners to remain united in their cause on Tuesday.

"The sole beneficiary of the Palestinian split is Israel, the occupying power," he said in a statement. "Preserve the unity of prisoners' movement, because you know what divisions and disagreements have done to our homeland and our just cause."

The president added that PA will seek formal prisoner of war status for high contracting parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to demand implementing the convention in the Palestinian territory, official PA news agency Wafa reported.

Human rights groups called on Tuesday for international accountability for the situation of Palestinian prisoners. Al-Mezan urged the international community not to work with security corporation G4S, which equips Israeli checkpoints and jails.

Meanwhile, al-Haq urged the world not to ignore four Palestinian hunger-strikers who have been hospitalized after refusing food for over a month.

The start of the mass hunger strike coincides with the expected release of Khader Adnan, 33, who refused food for 66 days before agreeing to a deal to secure his freedom.

Inspired by his protest, a female prisoner, Hana Shalabi, refused food for 43 days before the Israelis decided to deport her to Gaza, barring her from returning to her native West Bank for at least three years.

At the pro-prisoner rally in Gaza, boys in chains stood before the crowd as demonstrators set fire to an Israeli flag. On a nearby float, a dummy representing an Israeli soldier sat dejected-looking in an iron cage.

"We demand that the Palestinian resistance carries out a second prisoner swap deal," said Ahmed Bahar, a senior Hamas politician, hinting that militants should try to seize an Israeli soldier and use him to barter for Palestinians.

Israel agreed last year to free over 1,000 Palestinians in return for Gilad Shalit, a soldier held in Gaza for five years.

Ma'an staff in Bethlehem contributed to this report

Halhale slips into a coma

[ 17/04/2012 - 04:19 PM ] 

AL-KHALIL, (PIC)-- Thaer Halahle, who is on hunger strike in Israeli detention, has gone in a coma, his father, Aziz, told Quds Press on Tuesday.
He said that the health condition of his son greatly deteriorated over the past few hours after 50 days of hunger strike.
Aziz explained that his son was suffering from fainting ever since Monday night in addition to non-stop bleeding from his mouth and nose.

Thaer is between life and death, the father said, and called on the human rights groups and those concerned with prisoners’ affairs to immediately intervene to save his son’s life before it is too late.

Health of hunger strikers sharply worsens

JENIN, (PIC)-- A human rights group has held the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) responsible for the life of two hunger strikers whose health condition had sharply deteriorated.
Muhjat Al-Quds group said in a statement on Monday that Thaer Halahle and Bilal Dhiab have lost 18 kilograms of their weight after 49 days of hunger strike.
It said that both detainees were protesting their administrative custody without trial or charge, describing their incarceration as arbitrary.
The group noted that both prisoners were suffering low blood sugar, low blood pressure, pain in the kidney and stomach, difficulty in walking, and weakness in their eyesight, and repeatedly pass out.

Statement No. 1: Leadership Committee of Palestinian Prisoners on Hunger Strike

Sumidoun


The following statement, titled Statement No. 1, was issued on April 16, 2012 by the coordinating committee of Palestinian prisoners engaged in a massive hunger strike to launch on Palestinian Prisoners’ Day 2012. Translated from the Arabic.
 
The text of the statement follows:

Statement No. 1
Issued by the Higher National Leadership Committee of the Prisoners’ Struggle

Announcing the first spark of the intifada of the prisoners inside the cells of the occupation’s jails
To our great Palestinian people -
We believe in our right to liberty, our dignity, and the recovery of our stolen land and rights, and we announce the first spark of the battle in the occupation prisons (the battle to fulfil our promise) at the break of dawn on Tuesday, April 17, 2012, Palestinian Prisoners’ Day.
We promise to our martyrs and prisoners who have come before, and to all of our Palestinian people to continue this struggle until the full achievement of our rights and the end of the practice of solitary confinement, or until we die as martyrs.
Therefore, we call upon you to support us and our struggle locally and globally until we achieve victory or martyrdom. We have firm trust in you.
Victory for us, and for our great people!

Higher National Leadership Committee of the Prisoners’ Struggle

On Palestinian Prisoners Day, the Suffering of Palestinian Prisoners in Israeli Jails Doubles

PCHR

Tuesday, 17 April 2012 07:00

Ref: 45/2012

Today, 17 April 2012, marks the Palestinian Prisoners Day, which has been devoted by the Palestinian people to support the cause of Palestinian prisoners detained in Israeli jails.  Since 1979, Palestinians have commemorated this day, which marks the anniversary of the release of Palestinian prisoners in the first prisoner swap deal of 17 April 1974.

This year, the Palestinian Prisoners Day comes at a time in which the suffering of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails doubles as a result of violations of their rights.  These violations have recently peaked by the forcible transfer and deportation of prisoners, the latest of which was the forcible transfer of a female prisoner, Hanaa Shalabi, to the Gaza Strip on 01 April 2012.

These violations are part of a systematic policy adopted by Israeli occupation authorities against Palestinian prisoners, subjecting them to cruel, inhuman and degrading conditions, denying them access to medical care, constituting medical negligence which has caused deaths; practicing methods of torture against them; placing some of them in solitary confinement; depriving them of family visitation; and banning them from receiving academic education, according to a decision issued by the Israeli Prison Service on 20 July 2011.[1]

According to the figures and statistics PCHR possesses, more than 4,700 Palestinian prisoners are still held in Israeli prisons and detention facilities, mostly inside Israel, in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, particularly Article 76 which stipulates that “protected persons accused of offences shall be detained in the occupied country, and if convicted they shall serve their sentences therein.” The majority of the Palestinian prisoners are from the West Bank, and they include 9 women and 190 children, as well as 320 prisoners who have been placed under administrative detention; the latter category includes 27 Members of the Palestinian Legislative Council and former ministers. 

PCHR expresses its utmost concern for the continued deprivation of family visitation of at least 475 Palestinian prisoners from the Gaza Strip, lasting more than five years now and causing deterioration to these prisoners’ psychological and health conditions in violation of international human rights law.  At least 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in a number of Israeli jails are expected to start an open ended hunger strike to pressurize the Israeli Prison Service to heed to their demands, including abolishing the policy of solitary confinement; ending the application of the Shalit Law; stopping attacks against prisoners, providing prisoners with adequate health care; and allowing family visitation to Gazan prisoners.  It is worth noting that at least 10 prisoners have been on hunger strike in protest against the policy of administrative detention. 

On the Palestinian Prisoners Day, PCHR draws the attention to escalated violations of the rights of Palestinian prisoners and the deterioration of their conditions because of Israel’s insistence to adopt a series of measures against them, which violate human rights principles and the international humanitarian law, which Israel, as a party to the relevant treaties, must respect.  PCHR also draws the attention to the international silence regarding such violations, which proves suspicions towards the international community’s disregard of international humanitarian law.   

Since its establishment, PCHR has systematically and continually followed up the cases of thousands of prisoners in Israeli jails.  PCHR has provided legal aid to prisoners and their families, and has documented and reported on violations of their rights.  In this context:

1. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligations under the Convention;

2. PCHR calls upon international human rights organizations to follow up cases of Palestinian prisoners and request their governments to exert pressure on Israel to stop its illegal practices against Palestinian prisoners and release them;

3. PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that both sides must respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel. 

---------------

[1] See “PCHR Condemns Punitive Measures against Palestinian Prisoners in Israeli Jails,” Press Release, Ref: 70/2011, PCHR, 21 July 2011.

Palestinian female detainees tell horrific stories of abuse in Israeli prisons

Thursday, 08 March 2012

Women show their solidarity with Hanaa Shalabi, a Palestinian prisoner on hunger strike to protest her detention by Israel, at a rally in Palestine. (File photo)

 

 By Amjad Samhan
Al Arabiya Ramallah

Throughout the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, around 800,000 Palestinians have been arrested by Israeli authorities, more than 10,000 of whom are women. Many of those female detainees were subjected to several forms of abuse, sexual in particular, but very few were willing to talk. On the eve of International Women’s Day, however, some decided to break their silence.

S.H., who refused to disclose her full name, was arrested for a few days to put pressure on her husband, also detained at the time, and extract confessions from him.

“They striped me and the officer who was interrogating me sat beside me and tried to molest me but I resisted,” she told Al Arabiya.

Hanaa Shalabi, the 30-year-old prisoner who has been on a hunger strike for 21 days in protest of the humiliation to which she was subjected in detention, said that an officer in civil clothes claimed he was a nurse at the prison and asked her to take off her clothes so he could search her.

“When I refused, he called other officers who tied me up and started beating me,” she said in a statement to the Palestinian Prisoner Society.

Shalabi’s lawyer Mahmoud Hassan said that one of the female officers wanted her to take off all her clothes in front of the other interrogators for the search.

“She kept refusing until the officer had to search her in the bathroom but threatened to retaliate against her,” he said in statement, of which Al Arabiya obtained a copy.

Hassan added that his client’s hands and legs were illegally tied during the trial.
Shalabi, who has so far lost 10 kilos, vowed to go on the hunger strike until she is released. She was sentenced to six months in jail and the sentence was reduced to four months, but no clear charges were leveled against her.

According to former detainee Iman Nafea, Israeli authorities abuse female prisoners all the time if not physically then at least verbally.

“In many cases, they search female prisoners after forcing them to take off their clothes. This is very humiliating even if it is done by a female officer because it shows there are bad intentions.”

Nafea argued that Israeli officers do not need to get prisoners naked to search them properly because they have advanced equipment that can reveal what is under the skin.

Nafea added that Israeli officers do not necessarily harass Palestinian detainees through direct physical contact with them, but they use other forms of sexual abuse.

“I know of a Palestinian woman who was assaulted with a club and several others who were constantly threatened with rape.”

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, which is an official holiday in Palestine, Palestinian Minister of Social Affairs Magda al-Masry stated that women have always been an integral part of the Palestinian struggle for freedom.

“This struggle is manifested in the plight of female detainees like Hanaa Shalabi,” she told Al Arabiya.

Masry added that the Palestinian government should take a firm stance on the naked search of Palestinian female detainees.

“This violates all human rights laws and the world has to break its silence.”
All Palestinian women, stressed Masry, will mark International Women’s Day by declaring solidarity with Shalabi.

“We will all support her until Israeli occupation forces release her.”

Several Israeli human rights organizations filed 17 complaints on behalf of Palestinian female detainees who accused Israeli officers of sexual harassment.

According to the organizations, the Israeli military prosecution is currently looking into the complaints.

(Translated from Arabic by Sonia Farid)

Humilation Against The Detainees Continues

Saturday October 29, 2011 13:33 by Mais Azza - IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian detainees held by Israel at the Majiddo detention center, managed to leak a memo revealing that the violations against them have never stopped, adding that the Israeli Prisons Administration (IPA) is not abiding by vows it made to the detainees in order to end their hunger strike, the Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) reported Saturday.

Image By Palestine-Info

The detainees stated that the (IPA) is trying to degrade and humiliate them, and is still forcing several detainees into solitary confinement in addition to depriving them from their internationally guaranteed visitation rights.

Former political prisoner, Shaher Zayed, 23, resident of Al-Yamoun village, near the northern West Bank city of Jenin, stated that although the detainees have stopped their hunger strike, that lasted for three weeks, after negotiating with the (IPA) and reaching an understanding, no actual implementation ever took place.

Zayed spent thirteen months in administrative detention in Israeli jails without any charges.

The detainees at Majiddo voiced an appeal to human rights organizations calling on them to act on obliging Israel to stop its violations.

Eshel's captives await a reply

[ 25/10/2011 - 01:27 PM ]

RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- Palestinian Prisoner Society (PPS) on Tuesday said that most of the captives in Eshel who suspended their hunger strike, especially those affiliated with the PFLP, were returned to the prison wards. The PPS's lawyer who visited the prison said that a number of PFLP captives who were on hunger strike were moved to solitary at HaliKidar prison. Following the suspension of the hunger strike the captives, especially those in ward 10, sent letters to Israeli prison officials explaining that the suspension was in order to give the Israeli prison service time to improve the detention conditions. The captives have so far not received any replies.

Minister: Detainees suspend strike after deal on isolation

RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- Palestinians jailed in Israel suspended a three-week hunger strike on Monday, the minister of detainee affairs in Ramallah said.

Issa Qaraqe told the official Wafa news agency that prisoners ended the strike after Israeli prison authorities agreed to end the practice of solitary confinement.

Israel will stop holding detainees in isolation on Tuesday, immediately after releasing 477 prisoners in a swap deal to free captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, Qaraqe said.

Prisoners went on hunger strike on Sept. 27 to protest harsher conditions since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to toughen measures in June to pressure Hamas to free Shalit.

An end to solitary confinement was a key demand of the strikers.

The protest was started by detainees affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, whose leader Ahmad Saadat has been held in isolation for three years. Saadat, who joined the hunger strike, was one of several prominent prisoners left out of the swap deal.

PFLP central committee member Jamil Mizhir warned on Monday that the movement would take action against Israel after receiving reports that Saadat had been transferred to hospital.

Mizhir said in a statement that the group blamed Israel for his health condition,

"If Saadat's condition is at risk, the PFLP response will be very harsh," Mizhir warned.

According to recent estimates from the Palestinian Authority, there are currently 6,000 Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli jails.

PFLP warns against any harm befalling Saadat

[ 17/10/2011 - 10:37 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- Jamil Mizher, politburo member of the popular front for the liberation of Palestine, has held the Israeli occupation authority fully responsible for the life of the front’s detained leader Ahmed Saadat. He said in a press release on Monday that his front would retaliate harshly if Saadat’s life was threatened. Saadat was taken to Ramle prison hospital after his health condition worsened. He pointed out that Saadat suffered many diseases in addition to engaging in the hunger strike for 20 days. Mizher urged for persistence in the support campaign with the Palestinian prisoners who have been waging the hunger strike to demand better incarceration conditions. PFLP says it will respond if leader's health deteriorates Published today (updated) 17/10/2011 15:12 Palestinians participate in a protest in support of Ahmed Saadat, jailed leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, in the West Bank city of Nablus, on December 25, 2008. (MaanImages/Rami Swidan)   GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- PFLP central committee member Jamil Mizhir warned on Monday that the movement will take action against Israel if the health of their imprisoned leader deteriorates. Ahmad Saadat is on hunger strike as part of a mass prisoner protest against worsening Israeli prison policies launched on Sept. 27. The Popular Front leader had been held in solitary confinement for three years. Mizhir said in a statement that the group blamed Israel for his health condition, after receiving reports that Saadat had been transferred to hospital. "If Saadat's condition is at risk, the PFLP response will be very harsh," Mizhir warned. The PFLP official said the deal agreed last week for the release of over 1,000 prisoners in exchange for captured soldier Gilad Shalit will push the movement to continue resistance to eventually free all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jail. Mizhir said the group was concerned about Saadat and expressed support for the hunger strikers. Prisoners have refused food for 21 days to protest harsher conditions since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to toughen measures in June to pressure Hamas to free Shalit. Rights group Addameer called on Thursday for the international community to relaunch efforts to end what it called "collective punishment" of prisoners, as Shalit was set to be freed. Recent estimates from the Palestinian Authority say there are currently 6,000 Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli jails.

IOA isolates detained Palestinian MP

[ 17/10/2011 - 11:04 AM ]

TULKAREM, (PIC)-- The Israeli occupation authority transferred detained Palestinian MP Abdulrahman Zeidan from Megiddo jail to an isolation cell in Shatta jail. A statement by the office of Hamas lawmakers in the West Bank said that the transfer was a surprise step, apparently in a bid to abort the prisoners’ hunger strike that has been ongoing for the past three weeks. Zeidan was arrested in his home in Tulkarem last June in a fresh wave of arrests targeting Hamas MPs in the West Bank.

Prisoners group: Israel to end isolation policy

Lebanese and Palestinians carry banners and Palestinian flags as they take
part in a protest calling for the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli
jails, near the International Committee of Red Cross offices in Beirut, on
October 14, 2011. (Reuters/Sharif Karim)

RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- Israeli authorities told Palestinian prisoners they will end solitary confinement in jails with the exception of three Hamas-affiliated detainees, the head of the Palestinian Prisoners Society said Saturday.

Qadura Fares told Ma'an Israeli prison officers said they will completely end the policy of isolation cells, a key demand of a prisoners hunger strike that entered its 19th day on Saturday.

"This is a good sign that the issue of isolating (prisoners) will end and reach a resolution," Qadura said.

The prison administration will seek approval from Israel's internal security service, the Shin Bet. Officers in Israel's Ramon prison told detainees that the Shin Bet agreed to end isolation bar three Hamas cadres, he said.

Abdullah Barghouti, Ibrahim Hamed, and Mahmoud Issa -- members of Hamas's military wing -- will remain in solitary confinement.

Fares told Ma'an that the exceptions would block a solution to the issue. The three prisoners must be released from isolation, he said, adding that they should be released as part of an exchange deal agreed by Israel and Hamas this week.

The Hamas militants have not appeared on prisoner release lists under the deal to free over 1,000 Palestinians from Tuesday in exchange for captured Israeli solider Gilad Shalit.

Spokesman for the detainees ministry in Gaza Riyad al-Ashkar says more than 22 prisoners are currently in solitary confinement in Israeli jails.

Fares called for attention to the hunger strike and the impact it was having on detainees' health after 19 days without food.

Detainees launched the strike to protest worsening conditions in Israeli jails on Sept. 27, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to toughen measures against the 6,000 odd Palestinians in Israeli jail.

Rights group Addameer called on Thursday for the international community to relaunch efforts to end what it called "collective punishment" of prisoners, as Shalit was set to be freed.

Two Days after Prisoner Exchange Deal is Announced, Palestinian Prisoners Remain Steadfast in their Hunger Strike

 Addameer

Ramallah, 13 October 2011

As the world welcomed the conclusion of an extensive prisoner exchange deal between Israeli and Hamas authorities on 11 October, Palestinian political prisoners held in Israeli prisons resolutely entered their third week of a hunger strike, launched on 27 September in response to pronounced deteriorations in their detention conditions. Addameer is concerned that these prisoners’ dire health conditions and isolation will only be exacerbated over the next three days as Israeli prisons close during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.

Indeed, while the prisoner exchange deal will be thoroughly scrutinized over the next three days, it will be completely impossible for lawyers and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegates to visit Israeli prisons during the same period because of the Sukkot holiday. As a result, until at least Sunday 16 October, there will be no independent monitoring of, or contact with, the hunger striking prisoners, some of whom are already in dismal health. Furthermore, it will be impossible to verify whether salt has been returned to prisoners who have been on a hunger strike for more than 14 days, as is required by Israeli law, an illegal measure that could significantly impact the prisoners’ health. As of 12 October, which marked the sixteenth day of the hunger strike and the last time Addameer lawyers were able to undertake visits, administrations in the visited prisons had not returned the salt to the strikers. In addition, Addameer expects that lawyer visits will be further complicated by the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) during the entire period of the prisoner releases, with authorities likely to attribute this to the logistics of the releases.

Addameer is extremely concerned about the three-day period during which striking prisoners will be left completely isolated from the outside world, especially at such an advanced stage in their hunger strike. Addameer therefore urges the ICRC to intervene with the IPS to allow them to visit the prisons during the Sukkot holidays and further reminds the IPS that it will be held responsible for the striking prisoners’ life. Finally, it should be recalled that the punitive and collective measures imposed by the IPS on Palestinian political prisoners in recent months were taken directly following a speech by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. As such, with Shalit now set to be released within the next few days, Addameer demands that the international community rally to ensure that these politically-motivated measures, which constitute collective punishment, be immediately reversed and the prisoners’ legitimate demands granted.

Solidarity with Palestinians prisoners in the Israeli jails who went on a hunger strike

WOFPP

On 27 October 2011, political prisoners in Israeli jails have declared an open hunger strike. This means that the strike is unlimited and will go on until their just demands are fulfilled. They are protesting against the inhuman conditions of detention and against the deterioration of their conditions. Every day more prisoners join the strike.

Among their main demands:

• Stop holding Palestinians prisoners in isolation cells. Special call to stop the isolation of Palestinians leaders who, for years, have been held in isolation cells.
• Stop prohibiting prisoners' families from visiting them. For more than five years, the Israeli authorities have prevented all the prisoners' families from the Gaza Strip from visiting the prison, and also hundreds of prisoners' families from the West Bank are prohibited from visiting.
• Stop the harassments and humiliation by the Israeli occupation forces of the prisoners' families on their way to visiting the prison.
• Against the deterioration of the conditions in the prison, including the prisoners' right to study, against the blocking of television channels, and against the prohibition to let in books.
• Stop the frequent and humiliating searches, including searches in the nude.
• Against health neglect and for appropriate and professional health treatment, according to the prisoners' needs, including prisoners' dental care.

On 9 October 2011, four women political prisoners have joined the open hunger strike:

Duaa elJayusi, from Tulkarem, arrested on 7 May 2002.

Worud Kasem, from Tira in the Triangle arrested on 14 October 2006.

Somod Karaja, from Safa, Ramallah district, arrested on 25 October 2009.

Linan Abu Ghulme, from Furik, Nablus district, an administrative detainee, arrested on 15 July 2010.

WOFPP's lawyer, Taghreed Jahshan, visited in Damoon prison on 10 October 2011 and heard from the administrative detainee Linan Abu Gholme that:
the prison authorities punished the women prisoners who joined the hunger strike and took many things from their cell, including television, radio, hot plate, kettle, notebooks, books, pens and all the food that was in the cell, including sugar and salt. In addition, other punishments imposed on them: preventing family visits, shopping in the canteen, sending letters, going out from their cell except for one hour a day at 6:30pm.
The prison authorities also made a very rigid and humiliating search in their cell. During the search the guards created an atmosphere of fear: near every prisoner a guard was standing in a threatening way. The prison authorities threatened the prisoners who joined the hunger strike to transfer them to isolation cells.

We protest against the humiliation of the prisoners who are on a hunger strike and supporting their just struggle against the inhuman conditions in which the Palestinian prisoners are held in the Israeli jails.

Activities for solidarity with the prisoners on hunger stike are held every day.

We join the activities and call to join the activities of support and solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in the Israli jails.

Freedom to the Prisoners of Freedom!

UFree celebrates prisoner release, but calls for release of thousands left behind

UFREE
 

Oslo, Norway – Oct. 13, 2011 –  The exchange in which the Israeli government will free 1,027 Palestinian prisoners in return for soldier Gilad Shalit is welcome news, but work must continue unabated to end the suffering of the 5,000-plus individuals who remain in jail, says UFree,  the Oslo-based support network.

“The release of more than 1,000 prisoners, who for so long have been deprived of basic human rights such as education and visits by their family members, is reason to celebrate,” says Mohammed Hamdan, chairman of UFree. “However, more than 5,000 remain, and we must not forget them.”
According to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, more than 6,000 Palestinians are being held in Israeli prisons, including 180 minors – of whom 34 are between the ages of 12-15 – and 143 serving terms of more than 20 years. In its 2011 Annual Report on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Amnesty International stated, “Consistent allegations of torture and other ill-treatment, including of children, were frequently reported. Among the most commonly cited methods were beatings, threats to the detainee or their family, sleep deprivation, and being subjected to painful stress positions for long periods. Confessions allegedly obtained under duress were accepted as evidence in Israeli military and civilian courts.”
UFree has long worked to raise the awareness of the plight of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, launching petition campaigns among the general public and bringing the arbitrary arrests and poor conditions to the attention of European lawmakers and NGOs. For example, it appealed to international human rights organizations to pressure Israel to free AlJazeera journalist Samer Allawi (now released), and called on the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to push for release of the 21 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council held in Israeli jails for the last five years. It is unknown at this time whether any of these 21 will be among the 1,027 who will be released. However, it has been learned that one of the Palestinians’ key demands – that all of the 34 women prisoners be released – will be fulfilled.
Two weeks ago, a hunger strike was launched among the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, with about 2,000 now participating. Their demands include an end to arbitrary solitary confinement of Palestinian leaders and the right to pursue education and receive family visits.
“UFree calls for all humanitarian and international human rights organisations to use every legitimate means to press for the release of all Palestinian prisoners, and to support their hunger strike until their rights and dignity are restored,” says Hamdan. “Likewise, human rights organisations and the media must be granted access to these prisoners to assure that Israel is held accountable. Impunity must no longer be acceptable.”

Prisoners joining hunger strike

Palestinian woman walks next to photos of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli
jails, at al-Amari refugee camp in Ramallah, Oct. 12.
(Reuters/Mohamad Torokman)

RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- As the hunger strike in Israeli prisons enters its 17th day Thursday, 240 prisoners in Gilboa prison have officially joined the action to improve conditions, the prisoners minister in the West Bank said.

Issa Qaraqe said prisoners from Ofer prison have also set in motion a plan to gradually increase participation, while 30 Palestinians in Eshel jail are striking now along with 140 who will join within the week.

Qaraqe expects thousands of detainees to join the strike. The Israeli government continues to reject demands for humane and fair conditions, he said.

Palestinians jailed in Israel went on a mass hunger strike on Sept. 27 to protest harsh conditions. Thousands of demonstrators have staged rallies to support prisoners who are refusing food.

Palestinian singer and activist Rim Banna meanwhile has announced she is on hunger strike for a third consecutive day in solidarity with the detainees throughout the Israeli prison system.

Banna wrote on her Facebook page that she began "a hunger strike in a solidarity with the 6000 Palestinian and Arab political detainees in their struggle 'of the empty stomachs battle' in Israeli prisons."

"Please join and support the detainees to achieve their demands," she said.