The torment of an isolated captive’s family continue 21 years on

AL-KHALIL, (PIC)-- Palestinian captive Rizk Abdallah Muslim Rajoub from Dura south of Al-Khalil spent 11th month in the solitary confinement in "Ohali Kidar" prison. Rajoub spent  twenty-one years in occupation jails on aggregate so far.
Rajoub's wife says that the occupation did not stop arresting her husband repeatedly since 1980 (two years after their marriage) that marked the beginning of the family's suffering and deprivation.
She explains to "Quds Press" reporter that her husband (55 years) is now suffering from serious health problems such as anemia as a result of repeated detentions and that on his last arrest in 25th November 2009, he was sentenced to three years and a half from which he spent 11 months in solitary confinement deprived of his family's visits.
The family's torment was augmented by occupation's arrest of their eldest son Ahmad at the age of eighteen years, in addition to administrative detention for most of Rajoub's extended family members whose only guilt was knowing "Abu Ahmed". Yet, the wife stressed on the family’s steadfastness and readiness to confront the occupation until their last breath.

Aruri: Israel's exile of prisoners strategic mistake

[ 25/10/2011 - 12:58 PM ]

DAMASCUS, (PIC)-- Senior Hamas official in charge of the prisoners' file Saleh Al-Aruri said Israel makes a strategic mistake when it exiles Palestinian prisoners from their occupied homeland. "The occupation's decision to banish prisoners cannot break their determination in terms of their insistence on struggling and fighting against the occupation, but on the contrary, this strengthens them and make them stronger and more motivated to resist and fight," Aruri said in a press release. He pointed out that the second batch of the swap deal, due to be completed within two months, would include the release of longtime prisoners jailed for alleged security reasons and they would return to their homes without any exile. In a related incident, Maariv newspaper said on Monday the majority of Palestinian prisoners released as part of the swap deal with Hamas Movement refused to sign a pledge not to return to resistance activities against Israel. A few hours before implementing the swap deal, Shabak officers visited the jails from which those prisoners were released and failed misrably to force them to sign a written plegde to give up their activities against Israel, according to Maariv.

Qaraqe' Describes Prisoners-Swap Deal As Unilateral, Party-Oriented

Monday October 17, 2011 12:42 by Majd Qumsieh - IMEMC & Agencies

The Minister of Detainees and Ex-detainees Affairs, Issa Qaraqe’, stated on Monday the 17th of October, that the deal is unilateral and party-directed, the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) reported.

Image From www.ncr-iran.org

He explained in a speech with the “Voice of Palestine”, broadcast on Monday, that the deal excluded old detainees like Kareem Younis, in addition to several leaders who exude strong symbolism, like Ahmad Saadat and Marwan Al-Barghouthi.

He added that Hamas started negotiations about the deal in a secret manner, and did not consult anybody, nor asked for further information about the detainees.

Qaraqe' also stated that "it is unfair that the deal did not secure the release of all female detainees from Israeli prisons".

Furthermore, the minister warned that the situation of the hunger-striking detainees is gradually deteriorating. pointing out that the Ministry of Detainees has asked the Red Cross to visit Ahmad Saadat, who was brought to hospital last night, after his health took a turn for the worse.

Resheq: Exchange deal an historic accomplishment

[ 13/10/2011 - 10:01 AM ]

DAMASCUS, (PIC)-- 315 prisoners serving life sentences would be among those released in the exchange deal with Israel, political bureau member of Hamas Ezzet Al-Resheq said on Wednesday. He told the PIC that the deal, which he described as an historic accomplishment for the Palestinian people and resistance, would include prisoners from all Palestinian factions and areas in addition to the Syrian Golan Heights. He said that the deal accomplished 90% of the movement’s demands, adding that some of the “senior prisoners” could not be included in the deal, however. Resheq said that Hamas leadership had to choose between going ahead in the deal or face delays for several others years or maybe forgetting about the deal altogether. He said that after intensive meetings the leadership decided to go ahead with the “honorable” deal after securing more than 90% of the movement’s demands and conditions. The Hamas leader affirmed that his movement would continue to seek the release of all remaining Palestinian prisoners. For his part, another Hamas leader in Gaza, Dr. Salah Al-Bardawil, said that the deal would be implemented by next Monday or Tuesday maximum. He said that Hamas hoped that all “heavy weight” prisoners were released but he said that securing 95% of demands was a success in view of what he described as “ferocious rounds of negotiations”. Bardawil revealed that the oldest serving prisoner in the world Nael Al-Barghouthi would be among those released, but noted that Ahmed Saadat, secretary general of the popular front, and Marwan Al-Barghouthi, a senior Fatah leader and MP, would not be among those released.

Sources: the first stage will see the release of all female captives

[ 12/10/2011 - 09:22 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- Well-informed sources said that the first stage of the prisoner-exchange deal which will be implemented in a few days will see the release of 450 male captives and all 27 female captives. The sources informed PIC correspondent that the amongst the 450 captives to be released in the first stage there are 315 who were serving life sentences and 135 serving long sentences. The sources also said that five of the female captives are serving life sentences, including Ahlam al-Tamimi and Qahera al-Sa'di. The first group to be released will also include 45 captives from Jerusalem, 5 captives from 1948-occupied Palestine, 1 captive from the Golan, 131 from the Gaza Strip and 268 from the West Bank, according to the sources. The second stage will see the release of 550 captives.

Striking Palestinian Detainee Suffers Health Deterioration

Monday October 03, 2011 22:46 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

The health condition of Palestinian detainee Akram Mansour, 52, witnessed a sharp deterioration Monday as he continues his hunger strike along with hundreds of detainees imprisoned by Israel.

Held in Asqalan prison, Mansour suffers from a brain tumor and repeatedly loses consciousness. The Israeli Prison Administration is still refusing to provide him specialized medical treatment.

Around twenty detainees in Asqalan Israeli prison recently announced they would
join the open-ended hunger strike declared by most detainees in Israeli prisons last Monday. Mansur also decided to join the strike.

The detainees are demanding that Israel stop its violations against them, including the solitary confinement policy, random and violent searches and attacks against their rooms, and all other violations such as denying detainees medical treatment and humiliating families during visitations.

Mansour is the third oldest detainee in Israeli prisons; he was kidnapped and imprisoned by Israel more than 32 years ago.

Palestinian detainees enter 25th year in Israeli jail

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Two Palestinians entered their 25th year in Israeli prison on Saturday, the Hamas ministry of detainee affairs said.

Muhammad Ziyadeh and Mukhles Burghal are from Lod in central Israel. They are both serving life sentences.

Ziyadeh is affiliated to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. He is married with seven children and suffers from diabetes.

He was accused of attacking an army vehicle with a Molotov cocktail, causing no injuries.

Burghal is held at Shatta prison, where he was moved to solitary confinement after guards accused him of smuggling a letter to his mother. His father died during his imprisonment.

He achieved a Masters in Democracy while in prison.

Bethlehem man marks 20 years in prison

GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- The Gaza City detainees center announced Thursday the upcoming 20th anniversary of a Bethlehem man in Israeli custody.

Adnan Al-Afandy, 40, from the Ad-Duheisheh refugee camp, was detained on May 13, 1992. He has another 10 years to serve on his sentence, on charges of belonging to the Islamic Jihad movement and of stabbing two settlers during the First Intifada.

His first 70 days of detention were spent in interrogation, during which period he was kept in solitary confinement

He has served most of his time at Israel's Ramon prison.

According to family, Al-Afandy completed his BA in prison, where he is a prominent leader.

MP Attoun calls for internationalizing issue of Palestinian prisoners

[ 19/04/2011 - 01:59 PM ]

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- Palestinian lawmaker Ahmed Attoun stressed the importance of internationalizing the issue of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and recruiting a galaxy of jurists to take every legal action against Israel for its ongoing violations against them. Attoun, one of three officials taking refuge at the Red Cross headquarters in occupied Jerusalem, stated on Tuesday that many Palestinian prisoners have spent long years of their life in prison and could be considered the world's oldest prisoners who serve such long terms behind bars. The MP criticized the Palestinian authority and its negotiators for ignoring the issue of Palestinian prisoners, saying the PA officials committed a crime against the prisoners when they overlooked their issue and did not give it priority. He pointed out that some sort of Arab and international moves in support of Palestinian prisoners, albeit belated, started to come to the surface lately, but unfortunately they are not yet as strong as the moves in solidarity with the captive Israeli soldier.

Abbas: No peace deal until political prisoners freed

RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- President Mahmoud Abbas said Saturday that no peace deal could be reached with Israel until all political prisoners were released.

Abbas' comments were made in a televised address ahead of Palestinian Prisoners' Day on Sunday.

The Palestinian Authority said around 6,000 Palestinians were currently in prison inside Israel and that Israel had detained over 70,000 Palestinians over the last decade.

Twelve Palestinian lawmakers are in jail in Israel, the government said in a statement.

UN Humanitarian Coordinator Maxwell Gaylard expressed concern over the treatment of Palestinian detainees and insisted that "the rule of law must be applied to all of the approximately 6,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention, in line with international human rights and humanitarian law," in a statement from his office.

"Israel's policies and practices regarding Palestinian prisoners raise a number of concerns, including a lack of clarity on the legal status of such prisoners, the location and conditions of their incarceration, the need for access to legal counsel and representation, the issue of administrative detention, and the prevention of family visits for detainees from Gaza," the statement said.

Gaylard noted that the practice of detaining Palestinians in Israel was contrary to the Geneva Conventions, and he expressed particular concern for the plight of Palestinian women and children detained in Israel.

The PA said Israel had "systematically violated the most basic rights granted by international and human rights conventions through inhumane treatment, restrictions on movements, killings, deportation, and detention," since Israel occupied the West Bank and Gaza.

Since 1967, Israel has detained more than 750,000 Palestinians, including women and children, a government statement said.

Over 200 Palestinians have died in Israel prisons. Of these, 74 were murdered, 70 died after being tortured and seven were shot dead by prison guards, the PA said.

The longest-serving political prisoner in the world was Palestinian, the PA said. Nael Al-Barghouti has been detained in Israel for 33 years. His brother, Fakhri, is also in an Israeli prison.

Fatah Youth called on the international community to protest Israel's violations of international law, particularly its imprisonment of Palestinian children, the long-term detention of Palestinians without charge or trial, the physical and psychological torture of political prisoners and the refusal to allow Gaza residents to visit their detained relatives.

In a statement, the youth movement noted that since 1967, around 40 percent of Palestinian men living in the occupied territories had been detained by Israel.

Detainee's father dies without seeing son

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- The father of a Palestinian detained in Israel died Thursday without seeing his son for over four years, a detainees center reported.

Israel refused to allow Salem Al-Bardini to visit his son Tayseer, who has been held in Israel prisons since 1994.

Tayseer Al-Bardini was accused of killing an Israeli settler in Rafah in southern Gaza.

Israel has banned Gaza residents from visiting their relatives in prison in Israel since militants in Gaza captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in a cross-border raid in 2006.

Prisoners on hunger strike for sick detainee

RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- Palestinians detained in Israeli jails announced Wednesday a hunger strike to be held on Thursday in solidarity with imprisoned cancer sufferer Akram Mansour.

The one day hunger strike protests the continued detention of Mansour, who suffers from a brain tumor and lacks appropriate treatment, and has two years remaining of his 33-year sentence, according to a statement from detainees in Ashkelon prison, in southern Israel.

The action comes in response to "medical negligence and slow killing that is carried out by the administration of prisons and their medical staff against the prisoners in the Israeli jails, and due to the health deterioration of Akram Mansour," the statement noted.

Akram Mansour, 51, from the West Bank city of Qalqiliya, was detained in 1980 and sentenced to life imprisonment, according to a detainees center.

In January, the center's lawyer said Mansour is not receiving treatment for his cancer and called for his release.

On March 25, Detainees' Affairs Minister Issa Qaraqe said Mansour had suffered a stroke, and that Israel's prison administration was responsible for Akram Mansour's life.

The prisoners called on human rights organizations to support their hunger strike and named April 7 the "Day of Freedom for imprisoned leader Akram Mansour."

Palestinian prisoners go on single day hunger strike

[ 07/04/2011 - 11:34 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- Palestinian prisoners in Israeli occupation jails go on hunger strike on Thursday to protest the continued Israeli repressive measures against them including medical neglect and solitary confinement. Sources following up the prisoners' issue told the PIC that the prisoners were also protesting the humiliating treatment of their relatives heading to visit them. The sources said that the precautionary strike is also in solidarity with prisoner Akram Mansour, the third oldest serving Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails who spent more than 30 years in captivity. He was set to conclude his term in three years time but the Israeli courts added a life sentence to his older verdict, they noted. He was convicted back in 1979 of killing an Israeli soldier and taking his weapon.

Israel keeps the Longest Serving Political Prisoner in the World

Monday, 04 April 2011 10:58

Via Wafa

Palestine, (Pal Telegraph) - The Palestinian Prisoner’s Club (PPC) said Sunday that Nael Barghouti, who on Monday begins 34 years in Israeli prisons, is considered the longest serving political prisoner in the world.

Barghouti was arrested on April 4, 1978 and was sentenced to life in prison for his anti-Israeli occupation activity at that time.

Barghouti emphasized in a letter to PPC on the importance of ending internal division between Fatah and Hamas.

He also called for his release and the release of all prisoners held in Israeli jails particularly the sick and those who have served a long sentence.

Barghouti lost his parents during his stay at prisoner. His sister is banned from visiting him since two years. His brother is also serving a prison sentence and has been in jail for more than 23 years.

Paralyzed detainee enters 22nd year in prison

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- A Palestinian detainee who has been paralyzed for three years entered his 22nd year in Israeli detention on Tuesday, Gaza's Detainees' Ministry said.

Israeli forces detained Ibrahim Mash'al, 47, in 1990. He was accused of possessing arms and developing weapons for Palestinian resistance fighters.

Masha'al is from Jerusalem and was 25 years old when he was imprisoned.

He suffers from heart disease and has been paralyzed since 2008. Israeli prison authorities allowed him to see a doctor, but he was not told what is condition was, the ministry said in a statement.

Palestinian detainee suffers stroke

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- A Palestinian man detained in an Israeli prison for over 30 years had a stroke on Friday, Detainees' Affairs Minister Issa Qaraqe said.

Qaraqe said Israel's prison administration was responsible for Akram Mansour's life. The 51-year-old from Qalqiliya was detained by Israeli forces in 1980.

The Ahrar detainees' center said Mansour also has cancer, and showed symptoms of a stroke on Thursday night.

Mansour's parents urged Israeli authorities to release their son.

133 Palestinians held in Israel's jails for over 20 years

GAZA (Ma'an) -- Gaza's Ministry of Detainees reported Monday that the number of prisoners held in Israeli jails for over two decades has increased to 133.

Ministry spokesman Riyad Al-Ashkar said 39-year-old Imad Al-Masri entered his 21st year in Israeli detention on Monday.

Al-Masri, from Tubas, was detained in March 1991 and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Al-Ashkar said Al-Masri had been in solitary confinement at Ramon jail for over seven months.

He has suffered from severe back pain and headaches for several years but Israeli prison authorities have denied him treatment, his lawyer said.

After many appeals, Al-Masri was taken to a prison hospital for x-rays, but he was never given the results or offered treatment, his lawyer added.

Israeli authorities will not allow the detainee visitors, and his mother recently died without seeing him, Al-Ashkar said.

Al-Masri's father is now seriously ill but Israeli authorities refuse to grant him a visitor's permit to see his son, the ministry official said.

Detainee enters 22nd year in Israeli jail

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- A detainee from Ramallah entered his 22nd year in an Israeli prison on Thursday, the Gaza government Detainees' Ministry said.

Hassan Yousef Mahmoud Ghafri, 40, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1990, accused of killing Israeli soldiers, ministry spokesman Riyad Ashqar said.

Ghafri received his high school diploma and learned English and Hebrew in prison, Ashqar said. He also excelled in writing poetry.

He enrolled at the Hebrew University but Israel's prison administration dismissed him from the program, the spokesman added.

Report: “280 Palestinians, Including 43 Children and Three Women, Kidnapped In November”

Sunday December 05, 2010 04:35 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

The Higher Committee for Supporting the Detainees stated that Israeli soldiers kidnapped in November 280 Palestinians, including 43 children and three women, in several areas in the occupied West Bank and in occupied East Jerusalem.

Two of the kidnapped residents are elected members of the Palestinian Legislative Council. The two are Nayef Rajoub from Hebron, and Mahmoud Al Ramahi from Ramallah.

The Committee stated that soldiers kidnapped a 55-year-old woman identified as Shaheera Borqan, from Hebron. It considered the kidnapping of Borqan as an Israeli illegal policy meant to blackmail her two detained sons.

Furthermore, soldiers kidnapped Abdul-Qader Masalma, 45, from Hebron, despite the fact the he is paralyzed due to extreme torture practiced by Israeli interrogators during a previous arrest; he spent seven years in prison.

Last month, soldiers released legislator Ayman Daraghma after he spent 20 months in administrative detention without charges or trial.

In related news, soldiers broke into the Al Ramla Prison Hospital, were 25 detainees are hospitalized, and searched it under the guise of searching for communication equipment.

Also, soldiers violently attacked and hit detainee Somoud Karaja, leaving her suffering from several bruises and concussions.

Referring to the health conditions of several sick detainees, the report revealed that detainee Mohammad Al Saleeby, 62, had to be transferred from Majiddo Prison to the Al Affoula hospital due to the seriousness of his condition.

Detainee Imad Al Masry, from Aqaba town near Jenin, is in urgent need for medical
attention as he suffers a kidney disease, sharp pain in his spine, right hand and teeth. The prison Administration is denying him the right to medical treatment.
Several detainees contracted a skin disease in a number of detention centers but were not provided with any medical treatment.

Furthermore, the Prison Administration is denying Chemotherapy to detainee Suleiman Al Saady, 41, from the Jenin refugee camp.

Meanwhile, the detainees in Shatta prison refused their visitation rights as the soldiers insisted to cuff and shackle them during visitation time.

Soldiers at the Ramon Prison attacked the families of several detainees injuring the wife of detainee Ala’ Qfeisha, and the mother of detainee Lo’ay Qfeisha.

Detainees at the Nafha Prison held a one-day hunger strike to protest repeated attacks and searches to their rooms.

Detainee Shadi Abu Al Hasseen declared he is resuming his hunger strike until his release, especially since he ended his 7-year term but was never released.

Detainee Jamal Abu Al Haija, a Hamas leader in solitary confinement at the Ayalon Prison, and detainee Aahed Ghalama, a leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, started a hunger strike demanding better living conditions, and visitation rights.

Detainees in all solitary sections at the Al Jalama prison conducted a hunger strike demanding an end to their solitary confinement that started three months ago.

There are more than 8000 detainees, including hundreds of children and women, imprisoned by Israel. At least 27 of them were kidnapped and imprisoned more than 25 years ago.

IOF soldiers detain Omar Barghouthi days after his release from PA jail

[ 24/10/2010 - 02:52 PM ]

RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Sunday arrested liberated prisoner Omar Al-Barghouthi, the brother of the longest serving Palestinian prisoner in occupation jails, only few days after his release from PA detention. Local sources told the PIC that IOF troops had stormed the house of Barghouthi in Kuwair town, Ramallah district, after midnight a few days ago but did not find him and left him a summons to Beit El on Sunday. He went there and was arrested. The PA in Ramallah had released Omar only a few days ago after his brother Na'el, who is still being held in occupation jails for 33 years, and his cousin Fakhri, the longest serving Fatah prisoner, and his son Shadi, who is serving 29 years sentence, declared a hunger strike in protest over his detention in PA jails. Omar was recently released from occupation prisons after serving 22 years in captivity and his detention by the PA then the IOF reflected the growing security coordination between the two parties.

Prisoners advocate says detainee's life in jeopardy

TUBAS (Ma’an) -- The detainees’ center in Tubas called human rights organizations and the Red Cross to intervene and save a sick detainee whose as his illness progresses in detention at Israel's Ramon prison.

Imad Al-Masri was detained 20 years earlier when he was sentenced to life in prison. Detainee advocates have accused the Israeli Prison Service of failing to offer adequate treatment for the undisclosed illness.

The head of the detainees’ center Mahmoud Sawafta said Israel was responsible for the man's life.