Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses.

 
Thousands of Palestinian Political Prisoners on Hunger Strike, in Protest to Israeli Mistreatment

Detained Leaders Meet Prison Administration Head

Monday April 30, 2012 12:50 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

A report issued by the Palestinian Ministry of Detainees revealed that a meeting took place, at the Hadarim Israeli prison, between senior detained political leaders and the head of the Israeli Prison Administration, Aharon Franco, to discuss the demands of the hunger-striking detainees.

The detainees who met Franco are Marwan Barghouthi, Thabit Mardawi, Abdul-Nasser Issa, Kareem Younis, and Nasser Abu Surour.

The meeting was called for by Franco who stated that the special committee tasked with discussing the detainees’ demands concluded all of its work, and will respond to the demands within 10 days.

Barghouthi and other detained political leaders stated that some of the main demands are; ending solitary confinement policies, allowing visitations to Gaza Strip detainees, reinstating education to the detainees, providing the detainees with adequate health care, and voiding the “Shalit Law” that Israel imposed on the detainees while former captured soldier, Gilad Shalit, was in the hands of the resistance in Gaza.

The detainees are also demanding Israeli to quit its illegal naked body searches that it tries to enforce on the families of the detainees before they visit their detained loved ones.

The detainees said that should the Prison Administration reject their demands, they will be widening their strike that could reach an “Irish Style Strike”.

Israeli officials of the Prison Administration held several meetings with the detainees in different Israeli prisons, and said that they will discuss their demands and will respond to them in May.

Background

There are more than 4,600 Arab political prisoners held by Israel according to latest figures published by the Ad-Dameer Prisoner Support Association on April 17 - Palestinian Prisoners Day.

The vast majority are from the West Bank, while approximately 475 are from the Gaza Strip, and 360 are from occupied East Jerusalem and the 1948 territories.
Israel is still holding captive six women, 183 children, and 27 democratically-elected Palestinian legislators, including Marwan Barghouthi who was sentenced to more than five life-terms, legislator Jamal Terawi, who was sentenced to 30 years, and Ahmad Sa’adat who was sentenced to 30 years.

In addition, 24 legislators are currently being held under Administrative Detention orders without charges.

120 Palestinian detainees have been imprisoned since before the first Oslo peace agreement was signed between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization in 1993; 23 of them have been imprisoned for more than 25 years.

Misha'al discusses prisoners and reconciliation with Arabi, Omar

[ 29/04/2012 - 06:16 PM ]

CAIRO, (PIC)--

Political bureau chairman of Hamas Khaled Misha'al discussed with Arab League Secretary General Nabil Al-Arabi and Egyptian foreign minister Mohammed Omar Palestinian reconciliation and the issue of Palestinian prisoners.

Political bureau member of Hamas Ezzet Al-Resheq told the PIC that the discussions in the two meetings on Sunday tackled the issue of the Palestinian prisoners, who are on hunger strike in Israeli jails, and the importance of supporting their cause.

The discussion also tackled Palestinian reconciliation and the importance of expediting the formation of the Palestinian government according to the Doha declaration.

Misha'al, who is visiting Cairo at the head of an official delegation, hoped that Egypt would assume its role in obliging Israel to abide by its commitments according to the Egyptian-brokered prisoners’ exchange deal.

Prisoners refuse intelligence’s compromise solution for isolation

[ 29/04/2012 - 04:43 PM ]

NEGEV, (PIC)--

Palestinian prisoners refused to end their hunger strike in return for an Israeli intelligence offer to end the isolation of about 20 Palestinian prisoners by grouping them in one ward.

Fuad Al-Khafsh, the director of Ahrar center for prisoners’ studies and human rights, said on Sunday that the offer, tabled by an intelligence director in one of the prisons, also stipulated that those prisoners should not have any contact with activities outside the prison walls and should refrain from making statements.

He added that the prisoners told the intelligence director that the offer was not accepted since isolation of prisoners was in violation of the international law and that they would not accept compromises but rather want all their demands met and that isolated prisoners should return to ordinary wards without any condition attached.

Khafsh noted that 50 new prisoners joined the hunger strike in Megiddo jail on Sunday while 120 others joined the strike in Ofer jail.

He said that the number of hunger strikers in all jails has now reached more than 3000 and the number is expected to increase within the few coming days.

For his part, Riyadh Al-Ashqar, a researcher specialized in prisoners’ affairs, said that the Israeli occupation and the Israeli prison service were afraid that all prisoners would eventually join the strike especially when Fatah prisoners, who have not so far joined the strike, announced that they would join it on 1st May.

He said that the IPS fears that it would no longer be able to control the prisons and that it would in the end accept the prisoners’ demands.

Ashqar noted that the health condition of many prisoners deteriorated after 13 days of hunger strike and were carried to hospitals, adding that the prisoners were adamant on carrying on with the strike despite the IPS quelling measures against them. He called for greater solidarity with the prisoners and not to let them alone in face of the IPS cruel measures.

Detained PFLP Leader Moved To Prison Hospital

Sunday April 29, 2012 15:03 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

Palestinian sources reported, Sunday, that detained secretary-general of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), Ahmad Sa'adat, was moved to the Ramla prison hospital after a sharp deterioration in his health condition.

Sa'adat had been on hunger-strike since thirteen days joining the open-ended hunger-strike declared by the Palestinian political prisoners held in various Israeli prisons and detention center.

The PFLP leader has been in solitary confinement for three years now, with no end in sight; his health condition is gradually deteriorating due to various health conditions that need specialized medical attention.

Palestinian Minister of Detainee, Issa Qaraqe’, stated that the Ministry’s attorney, Rami Al-Alami, went to visit Sa'adat on Sunday but the Israeli Prison Administration told him that Sa'adat was moved to the Ramla Prison hospital.

The Quds Net News Agency reported that detainees of the PFLP rejected an Israeli offer to end their hunger-strike in exchange for removing Sa'adat from solitary confinement, and stated that Israel must stop all of its violations, and put an end to its illegal solitary confinement policies.

All hunger-striking detainees are demanding Israel to treatment in accordance with International Law, and insist on an end to all policies of solitary confinement, and all sorts of attacks and violations against them and their visiting family members.

Detainee Bilal Thiab entered his sixty-second day of ongoing hunger-strike demanding to be released. Several hunger-striking detainees were moved to hospital but refused to break their strike.

Detainee Tha’er Halahla entered his 61 day of hunger-strike at the Ramla Prison Hospital; prison doctors warned Thursday that his body is losing its immune system and his organs might be failing.

There are more than 4,600 Arab political prisoners held by Israel according to latest figures published by the Ad-Dameer Prisoner Support Association on April 17 - Palestinian Prisoners Day.

The vast majority are from the West Bank, while approximately 475 are from the Gaza Strip, and 360 are from occupied East Jerusalem and the 1948 territories.
Israel is still holding captive six women, 183 children, and 27 democratically-elected Palestinian legislators, including Marwan Barghouthi who was sentenced to more than five life-terms, legislator Jamal Terawi, who was sentenced to 30 years, and Ahmad Sa’adat who was sentenced to 30 years.

In addition, 24 legislators are currently being held under Administrative Detention orders without charges.

120 Palestinian detainees have been imprisoned since before the first Oslo peace agreement was signed between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization in 1993; 23 of them have been imprisoned for more than 25 years.

Detained PFLP secretary general transferred to hospital

[ 29/04/2012 - 04:01 PM ]

RAMALLAH, (PIC)--

Ahmed Sa'adat, the secretary general of the popular front for the liberation of Palestine (PFLP), was transferred to hospital from his isolation cell in the Israeli Ramon jail after his health condition deteriorated.

The PFLP said in a statement on Sunday that Saadat, who has been on hunger strike since 17 April, was held in solitary confinement for the past three years.

It said that Sa'adat, who was taken to Ramle prison hospital, has joined the Palestinian prisoners’ hunger strike in a bid to pressure the Israeli prison service (IPS) into ending the isolation of around 20 prisoners in addition to other demands.

The statement said that PFLP prisoners refused an IPS offer to end their strike in return for getting Sa'adat out of the isolation wards.

The PFLP announced that a press conference would be held bySaadat’s wife and PFLP MP Khaleda Jarrar tonight.

Serious deterioration in captive Mohamed Arouri’s health

[ 29/04/2012 - 06:02 PM ]

RAMALLAH (PIC) --

Ahrar Center for Prisoners Studies and human rights warned of the deterioration of prisoner Mohamed al Arouri’s health after being on hunger strike since 12 April and after refusing to take medications for Thalassaemia that he suffers from, to protest the administrative detention against him.

Fouad Khuffash director of Ahrar Center stated that the state of captive Arouri, who insisted to continue his strike until being released, is very critical and that because of his dangerous condition he should be released immediately in order to receive the necessary medical treatment.

Khuffash appealed to international institutions and human rights organizations to intervene immediately and urgently for the release of captive Arouri and an end to administrative detention. Arouri 27 years old was arrested in April 2011 and was deprived from his family’s visits, and even from Red Cross’ doctors and World Health Organization’s visits to check on his health.

The occupation authorities have extended administrative detention of the prisoner Arouri on the fifth of this month for the third time in a row without any charge, which made him go on hunger strike and stop taking medication.

Hunger striker Ghazi Kenan transferred to hospital

[ 30/04/2012 - 10:06 AM ]

AL-KHALIL, (PIC)--

The Israeli administration of Gilboa jail has transferred Jerusalemite prisoner Ghazi Kenan to Ramle prison hospital on Sunday after his health seriously deteriorated following 13 days of hunger strike.

Kenan’s relatives said that 31 Jerusalemite prisoners in Gilboa were on hunger strike, and appealed to international organizations to pressure Israel into meeting the prisoners’ demands.

Kenan, an inhabitant of Ras Al-Amod in occupied Jerusalem, was indicted for shooting an Israeli policeman and was sentenced to 13 years in jail and 7500 shekels fine.

The Israeli policeman was slightly wounded in the attempt in Ras Al-Amod in March 2011.

PFB delivers message on Palestinian prisoners to British Prime Minister

[ 30/04/2012 - 10:28 AM ]

LONDON, (PIC)--

The Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB) is to deliver a message to the office of British Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday asking for pressure on Israel regarding the issue of Palestinian prisoners.

Zaher Al-Beirawi, the PFB spokesman, told the PIC on Sunday that the message would ask for British intervention to press Israel into responding to the Palestinian prisoners’ humanitarian and just demands.

He said that the message fell in line with the solidarity campaign launched by the PFB in support of the Palestinian prisoners’ hunger strike.

He said that the campaign includes vigils in front of the British parliament next week.

The PFB along with two other non-governmental organizations in the UK had organized a sit-in on Saturday in front of 10 Downing Street in solidarity with those prisoners.

Prisoners to Misha'al, Abbas: Work together for our cause

 [ 30/04/2012 - 10:38 AM ]

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)--

Palestinian prisoners in Israeli occupation jails have sent a message to Hamas leader Khaled Misha'al and PA chief and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas asking them to work together for the sake of their cause.

The message leaked from the prison on Monday urged both Misha'al and Abbas to unite ranks and to back the prisoners’ demands.

It said that Palestinian leaders should go to sit-in tents in solidarity with prisoners.

The prisoners asked the Palestinian people for greater solidarity rallies with the prisoners, who include elderly and sick people, women, and minors. They said that some of the prisoners have been in captivity for 25 and 30 years and it was about time for them to be freed.

Ihsanoglu calls for world pressures on Israel to release Palestinian captives

[ 30/04/2012 - 09:59 AM ]

JEDDAH, (PIC)--

Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu has urged the world community and human rights organizations to pressure Israel into accepting demands of the Palestinian prisoners.

He called, in a statement on Sunday, for the release of the Palestinian administrative detainees who have been on two weeks of hunger strike adding that Israel was the only state in the world legalizing administrative detention..

Ihsanoglu said that Israel was holding Palestinian children in its jails, a thing that the world community should intervene to stop since it constituted a grave violation of human rights.