Tag: Prisoner Hunger Strike

In Photos: Palestinians unite to support prisoner hunger strike

12 October 2011 | International Solidarity Movement, West Bank and Gaza

On Tuesday the 27th of September, an open-ended hunger strike was initiated until the fulfillment of 9 demands by Palestinian prisoners, which include the right to family visits, end to the use of isolation as a punishment against detainees, and profiteering of Israeli prisons from financial penalties charged against prisoners.

Approximately 3000 prisoners are taking part in the strike including all the different political fractions from eight different prisons.

Hebron (click here for more on the story):

On the sixth day of the hunger strike of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, major political factions joined in Hebron and united in support for human rights for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, victims of Israeli collective punishment tactics.

Hebron Solidarity with Prisoner Strike – Click here for more images

Gaza (click here for more on the story):

Over a thousand Palestinians converged on the International Committee of the Red Cross building in Gaza, Palestine, continuing a tent protest that began outside the walled compound on October 2nd, bolstering a weekly sit-in by the families of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons.

Prisoner Solidarity in Gaza – Click here for more images

Beit Ummar (click here for more on the story):

On the tenth day of the hunger strike of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, a crowd of around a hundred people took to the streets for a planned demonstration in the village of Beit Ummar, Hebron.

Beit Ummar Demonstration in Solidarity with Prisoners – Click here for more images

Ramallah (click here for more on the story):

Over 100 students from Bir Zeit University marched to the gates of Ofer Prison, near Ramallah on October 5th, to demonstrate solidarity with Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli jails. It is thought that there are between 9 to 10 prisoners in Ofer prison on hunger strike.

Students march to Ofer Prison in solidarity with hunger strike – Click here for more images

Nablus (click here for more on the story):

Protesters converged outside the Red Crescent building in Nablus at 11:30 AM on October 3rd where several speakers, including the Mayor of Nablus and the Chairman of the Popular Committee to Support Palestinian Rights, spoke from a makeshift stage mounted on the back of a truck to call for Israeli to recognise the Geneva Conventions and respect prisoner rights in accordance with international law.  They also called on the international community and Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki Moon, to pressure Israel to end the illegal occupation of Palestinian territory.

Nablus joins West Bank and Gaza in support of prisoner strike – Click here for more images

Ramallah continues to rally support for Ofer prisoners

12 October 2011 | International Solidarity Movement, West Bank

On Tuesday October 11, about 200-300 Palestinian and solidarity activists held a non violent demonstration near the Israeli Ofer prison, near Ramallah, in support of the demands of prisoners on hunger strike since September 27. The action began at 12:00 PM, as those in solidarity joined the parents and relatives of prisoners. The demonstrators held pictures of the captives and chanted slogans for those inside the prison to hear.

After few minutes the Israeli Army and the border police started to throw tear gas canisters directly at the protesters, in an act forbidden by international law. The canisters came from the soldier’s arms and from a new machine which, on the top of the jeeps, could fire from 5 to 15 teargas canisters at the same time. Whenever the demonstrators tried to come back to Ofer’s gate, the militar forces started to shoot at them with canisters and rubber coated steel bullets.

The result was a great number of people injured in their legs, arms, and the belly, besides a lot of cases of asphyxia due to gas inhalation. The new sound arm, referred to as “The Scream,” was also used.

Dozen of white balloons were released by Palestinians. The protest went on until 4 pm.

Ofer prison is just one of the 22 detention centres where Palestinians political prisoners are held under Israeli custody, both in Occupied Palestine and within the 1948 borders.  All detention centres are extremely overcrowded, according to reports by non governmental organizations. In Ofer, Israel also holds child prisoners.

Ramallah continues to rally support for Ofer prisoners - Click here for more images

Palestinian prisoners started the hunger strike in protest against confinement and other forms of torture and abuse, increased by they  Zionist government throughout the years, especially since June 2011.

The strike, started by detainees of PFLP (Popular Front for Liberation of Palestine) yet has now spread to thousands of adherents, including the relatives of prisoners and those in solidarity. In Ramallah alone dozens of internationals and Palestinians continue their own hunger strikes in solidarity.

Israel has affirmed it won’t attend to the detainees’ demands,  while the administration of one prison has made some concessions, but not related to the captives’ priorities.

Demonstrations have been held in a lot of cities through West Bank, Gaza and Israel proper, and permanent tents in support of the hunger strike were installed in the center of Palestinian districts. The prisoner’s health has been deteriorated day by day, and the prison authorities have just increased the repression and the punishment. Palestinians are calling for international support to raise awareness and to show solidarity.

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Detainees & Ex-Detainees Affairs, there are 6,000 Palestinian political prisoners in 22 different detention centres inside Israel proper. This number, however, is contested by Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, which informs, in its website, that there are actually 8,383 imprisoned.

Among these there are 285 minors and 28 women, as well as 270 Palestinians under “administrative detention” (without trial and without convictions, for unespecified periods of time). From the detainees,143 have spent more than 20 years in prison, and 20 are at the moment in solitary confinement.

 

A letter from Nariman Tamimi to the world

7 October 2011  | International Solidarity Movement, West Bank

On 27 September 2011 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons announced the start of a campaign of disobedience to protest an escalating series of punitive measures taken against them by the Israeli Prison Service. Today marks the 8th day of their hunger strike.

A call for Solidarity actions around the world has been issued for this friday 7/10 where you can find your local initiatives here.

Today outside a sit-in at the Red Cross in Ramallah I met with Nariman Al Tamimi from Al Nabi Saleh village.

Bassem Tamimi photo: ActiveStills

Nariman is an ex-prisoner herself and the wife of the political prisoner Bassem Al Tamimi. As a resident of the village her family has been suffering from the Israeli occupation on a daily basis. In the space of 5 years she has been shot a total of 7 times, while her eldest son Wa’d who is 14 years old has been shot with rubber bullets over 10 times. Furthermore, their house faces the threat of immediate demolition by Israeli forces.
Due to her history Nariman has become a symbol of “somoud”- steadfastness- to many Palestinians. Despite the endless tragedies she is continually facing, she never wavered from demanding for her and her people’s full legitimate rights. Today from the sit-in in Ramallah, Nariman wished to send a message to the world urging them to take solidarity actions with the hunger strikers in Israeli jails.

I want to tell the world about international law and all the human rights resolutions that are meant to protect including the rights of prisoners of war. I would like to ask why these laws are not protecting our prisoners? Why are the human rights activists not doing anything regarding the Israeli violations? Why is the world still silent?

All we want is to be able to see our sons, daughters, husbands, fathers and mothers. We want them to be treated according to International Law. We want to have our rights like anyone else around the world. I am sure most of you heard about the Israeli captured militant ‘Gilad Shalit,’ but I wonder if you heard about the 8000 Gilad Shalits in Israeli jails? Most of the them are civilians, including children and women. I call all human rights organizations and activists to take the side of justice and save our prisoners.

Statistics of Palestinian Political Prisoners:
-340 Palestinian children are being held in Israeli Prisons
-There are well over 120 women in Israeli prisons, 17 of these women are mothers. 2 have given birth in prison. The youngest female currently held is 12 years of age.
-The majority of these detainees are being held in violation of the IV Geneva Convention in prisons outside of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

(Source: Addameer, Human Rights Centre and prisoners support)

Say NO to injustice and take part of the solidarity actions with Palestinian Prisoners. Visit here for more details.