Tag: International Committee of the Red Cross - Page 3

Photos: Palestinians rally in Gaza Red Cross against Israel’s detentions and Italy ties

3rd December 2013 | International Solidarity Movement, Marco Varasio | Gaza, Occupied Palestine

Like every Monday morning, relatives and friends, as well as local and international activists, gathered at the International Committee of the Red Cross in solidarity with the Palestinian political prisoners.

The rally started with the protesters chanting slogans, especially about their homeland Palestine and the political prisoner Marwan Barghouti.

Wives and mothers of the detainees stood in the middle of the tent holding pictures and banners of their imprisoned relatives.

After the weekly ceremony in support of the prisoners, Isra W. Almodallal, spokeswoman of the Palestinian government in Gaza, and Italian ISM activist Rosa Schiano spoke against Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Italy.

In their speeches, they highlighted how the agreements signed in the day’s bilateral meeting between Italy and Israel are violations of human rights and international law. They warned against the dangers of the military and scientific cooperation between the two countries and called for BDS campaigns as alternatives to cooperation with war criminals.

BDS directly affects Israel’s detention of Palestinians, since one of the companies targeted by BDS, the British-Danish G4S, operates inside Israeli prisons and detention facilities.

“I’m very happy now beside my family,” newly freed prisoner says at Gaza rally

26th November 2013 | International Solidarity Movement, Marco Varasio | Gaza, Occupied Palestine

On Monday morning, relatives and friends of Palestinian detainees, as well as Palestinian and solidarity activists, rallied at the International Committee of the Red Cross’ Gaza office to demonstrate their support of the Palestinian prisoners.

Families and supporters of Palestinian detainees sit in the Gaza Red Cross. (Photo by Rosa Schiano)

The rally started with the chanting of slogan about the need of freedom for the Palestinian prisoners.

Omar Massoud greets Um Ibrahim Baroud, a co-founder of Gaza’s Monday protest for detainees, and other supporters outside his home in Gaza's al-Shati ("Beach") refugee camp on 31 October. (Photo by Gal·la López) — Omar Massoud greets Um Ibrahim Baroud, a co-founder of Gaza’s Monday protest for detainees, and other supporters outside his home in Gaza’s al-Shati (“Beach”) refugee camp on 31 October. (Photo by Gal·la López)

Omar Massoud, an ex-Palestinian prisoner released earlier this month after more than 20 years in Israeli jails, attended the rally this week. “Life in Israeli jail is very hard, but we don’t care,” he said. “Freedom is more important. I’m very happy now beside my family and I hope all Palestinian prisoners will get their freedom as soon as possible.”

A rally organized by the Wa’ed Society took place outside, with women and political representatives speaking.

Like every Monday, all attenders asked for the liberation of Palestinian political prisoners detained in the Israeli jails.

The family of Mohammed Abu Ataia, a Palestinian detainee held by Israel for eight months, sit among supporters in the Gaza Red Cross. (Photo by Rosa Schiano)

The wife of Ibrahim El Friany, a Palestinian detainee held by Israel in Bier Sabaa prison for five months, sits with their daughter Noor, age four, and supporters in the Gaza Red Cross. (Photo by Rosa Schiano)

Palestinians hold solidarity vigil to remember prisoners in Israeli jails

25th November 2013 | Corporate Watch, Tom Anderson and Therezia Cooper | Gaza, Occupied Palestine

Palestinians hold their weekly vigil at the ICRC in Gaza City in solidarity with prisoners in Israeli jails. (Photo by Corporate Watch)

Palestinians held a demonstration at the offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza City today in solidarity with Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails. The demonstration has been held every week since 1995 to remember the prisoners and is a focal point for organising prisoner solidarity campaigns.

The weekly vigils were initiated by Um Jaber and Um Ibrahim, two women who both had sons imprisoned by Israel and wanted to do something to act in solidarity. To read more about the weekly vigil click here.

International companies are profiting from providing services to the Israeli prison system. One such company is G4S, the British/Danish security firm which has held a contract to provide services to the Israeli Prison Service since 2007.

For more information on G4S see Corporate Watch’s company profile.

Hussam Association, a Gaza based organisation of current and former Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails, has recently released a statement calling for the prosecution of G4S.

Photos: Gaza families and supporters rally for Palestinians detained by Israel

19th November 2013 | International Solidarity Movement, Gaza Team | Gaza, Occupied Palestine

Families and supporters of Palestinian detainees gather in the Red Cross' Gaza courtyard every Monday morning. (Photo by Joe Catron) — Families and supporters of Palestinian detainees gather in the Red Cross’ Gaza courtyard every Monday morning. (Photo by Joe Catron)

On Monday morning, families and supporters of Palestinian detainees held a weekly sit-in in the courtyard of the International Committee of the Red Cross’ Gaza office.

The regular event, launched by two detainees’ mothers in 1995, demands the freedom of Palestinian prisoners and an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

Photos: Gaza’s weekly rally in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners

11th November 2013 | International Solidarity Movement, Rosa Schiano | Gaza, Occupied Palestine

Families and supporters gather weekly in the Red Cross courtyard. (Photo by Rosa Schiano)

On Monday morning, many relatives of Palestinian detainees, political representatives and solidarity activists attended the weekly rally at the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza City.

In the first part of the sit-in, families of Fateh prisoners commemorated the ninth anniversary of Yasser Arafat’s death. Some of them held portraits of Arafat, waved Palestinian flags, and chanted slogans in homage to Arafat.

During the second part, women from Hamas rallied outside the Red Cross building.

Women rally for Palestinian detainees and martyrs in Gaza. (Photo by Joe Catron)

Speakers praised the steadfastness of prisoners currently held in Israeli prisons and detention facilities and denounced the suffering from torture, medical negligence and human rights violations in Israeli jails. On 5 November, detainee Hasan Abdul-Halim Toraby, 22 years old, died at the Al-‘Affoula Israeli Hospital, after being denied necessary medical treatment. He suffered from leukemia, and was not provided the specialized treatment he urgently needed.

Rawda al-Najjar holds a picture of her detained son, Mohammed Ismail al-Najjar. (Photo by Rosa Schiano) — Rawda al-Najjar. (Photo by Rosa Schiano)

Like every Monday, mothers, wives, sisters, sons and daughters showed the pictures of their relatives, some of whom they hadn’t seen for years. “Mohammed has been in prison for six years,” said Rawda al-Najjar, mother of Mohammed Ismail al-Najjar, as she held his picture. “I have only seen him twice.”

Despite current negotiations and the recent release of some prisoners, Israeli forces are still kidnapping and arresting Palestinians, included children, and using administrative detention. On 10 November, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine organized a protest in solidarity with Palestinian academic and administrative detainee Ahmad Qatamesh and all administrative detainees in occupation prisons.

Palestinian families in Gaza will continue demanding the release of all prisoners, especially sick ones and administrative detainees.