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.

 

 Israeli Court Rules Against The Two Palestinian Hunger-Strikers

Monday May 07, 2012 14:32

by William Temple - 1 of International Middle East Media Center Editorial Group

Reuters reported on Monday afternoon that the so-called Israeli occupation government supreme court turned down an appeal to free two Palestinians from administrative detention without trial who have been on hunger strike for nearly 70 days. But in its decision, released by the Justice Ministry, the court said security authorities should consider freeing them for medical reasons.

Administrative detainees Bilal Diab, 27, from Jenin, and Thaer Halahla, 33, from Hebron are in a dangerous condition after refusing food since Feb. 29, a doctor from Physicians for Human Rights-Israel said this week.

Both are in administrative detention and have not been charged.

On April 17, Palestinian prisoners day, over 1,000 prisoners joined a group of hunger-strikers protesting against administrative detention without charge. Prisoners rights groups estimate that around 2,000 prisoners are now taking part in the strike. They
are also protesting restrictive visiting rights and limited access to medical care and educational materials.

Human Rights Watch on Wednesday called on Israel to "immediately charge or release people jailed without charge or trial under so-called administrative detention."

 

Concern Mounts for the Lives of Prisoners on Protracted Hunger Strikes

Monday May 07, 2012 05:35 by Press Release - Addameer & PHR-Israel

Detainees Bilal Diab, Thaer Halahleh and Hassan Safadi are Subjected to Medical Negligence
This is a joint press release issued on May 6, 2012, by the Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHR-Israel).

Ramallah-Jaffa, Bilal Diab and Thaer Halahleh are at risk of death as they enter their 69th day of hunger strike in protest of their administrative detention. In spite of their rapidly deteriorating health, the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) is still denying regular access to them by independent Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHR-Israel).

Addameer and PHR-Israel are outraged by the blatant breach of medical ethics committed by the IPS in regards to these most urgent cases and by the negligence of the Israeli High Court judges who have yet to make a decision regarding their petition.

After continual denial of access to Bilal Diab and news of his further deterioration, PHR-Israel submitted an urgent appeal to the District Court yesterday, 5 May, demanding that the IPS allow a PHR-Israel doctor to visit him, and for his family to visit him immediately.

Though Bilal is entitled to a second medical opinion, the urgent appeal was rejected and postponed until a regular hearing on 7 May. Addameer and PHR-Israel are further dismayed that personnel in Assaf Harofeh Hospital, where Bilal is currently held, are placing obstacles in front of the PHR-Israel independent doctor in her attempts to ensure that her patient, Bilal, receives trusted care during this critical period.

An examination by Member of Knesset Dr. Ahmad Tibi after Bilal’s collapse on 3 May indicated that Bilal is experiencing hypothermia and losing sensation in his feet. Additionally troubling is the IPS’ refusal to transfer Thaer Halahleh to a public hospital from the Ramleh Prison medical clinic, where he is currently held.

Following the Israeli High Court hearing on 3 May regarding the petition against Bilal and Thaer’s administrative detention orders, Judge Eliakim Rubenstein noted that a decision would be made at a later time, without specifying when.

As of this afternoon, there is still no decision. By ignoring the gravity of their current situation, the High Court judges are not only acting with severe negligence, but also with malicious intent. Judges Rubenstein, Noam Saulberg and Yuram Dinzinger are knowingly delaying the decision despite Bilal and Thaer’s days potentially being numbered, without even providing any certainty as to when a decision will be made.

Hassan Safadi is now on his 63rd day of hunger strike and is currently held in the Ramleh Prison medical clinic. Addameer lawyer Mahmoud Hassan succeeded in visiting Hassan today, 6 May. He noted that Hassan’s health is deteriorating and that he is very weak and cannot stand, but vows to continue his hunger strike. He is refusing any treatment or examination by prison doctors.

Hassan reported that on 3 May, he was held down by prison guards and forcefully given treatment by a prison doctor via an injection in his arm. Addameer and PHR-Israel are alarmed by this news, as forced treatment is in strict violation of the principles of medical ethics and the guidelines of the World Medical Association and the Israeli Medical Association.

According to the Malta Declaration, “Physicians need to satisfy themselves that food or treatment refusal is the individual's voluntary choice. Hunger strikers should be protected from coercion. Physicians can often help to achieve this and should be aware that coercion may come from the peer group, the authorities or others, such as family members.

Physicians or other health care personnel may not apply undue pressure of any sort on the hunger striker to suspend the strike. Treatment or care of the hunger striker must not be conditional upon suspension of the hunger strike.”

Hassan also recounted having refused water for several days until he was moved to Ramleh Prison medical clinic. Upon his arrival, he was beaten by prison guards, and the prison doctor refused to record the injuries sustained from the attack.

Since the beginning of his hunger strike, Hassan has had no visits from independent doctors. PHR-Israel petitioned the District Court to allow them access, and the court ordered the IPS to allow a PHR-Israel doctor a visit no later than 7 May, though when PHR-Israel tried to coordinate a visit on 4 May, the IPS denied their request.

The appeal for Jaafar Azzedine, now on his 46th day of hunger strike, was also postponed today by an Israeli military judge.

The judge, who also ruled in Hana Shalabi’s case and rejected her appeal, said that he already decided in Hana’s case that he would not consider critical medical condition due to hunger strike as a reason for accepting an appeal, and that he would let the High Court judges in Bilal and Thaer’s case decide on this fact.

In light of growing concern for their lives, Addameer and PHR-Israel demand:

- The immediate transfer of Thaer Halahleh to a public hospital, and the transfer of prisoners on hunger strike for more than 40 days to hospitals, in addition to unrestricted access for lawyers and independent physicians to all hunger strikers, especially Bilal Diab and Thaer Halahleh;

- That no hunger striker be shackled while hospitalized

- That all hunger strikers—especially those in advanced stages of hunger strike—be allowed family visits, while they are still lucid;

- That all information be given to families as to the medical condition of their loved ones, which is the responsibility of hospitals and medical staff in accordance with medical ethics and confidentiality standards;

- That Bilal Diab and Thaer Halahleh, along with all other administrative detainees, be immediately and unconditionally released.

Non-violent Protests in Solidarity with Hunger-striking Prisoners Held in 6 W. Bank Villages
Saturday May 05, 2012 06:56 by IMEMC Staff
Two injuries and dozens of cases of gas inhalation were reported when Israeli troops attacked non-violent solidarity protests in six Palestinian villages in the central and southern West Bank on Friday.

This week, the Friday protests in villages located on the path of the Israeli wall were in solidarity with Palestinian political detainees on hunger strike protesting ill-treatment and the use of administrative detention policies by the Israeli military.

Protesters declared their solidarity with prisoners on hunger strike, especially Bilal Diab and Thaer Halahla both entering the 67th day of their open-ended hunger strike. In Bil'in village, dozens of local youth have set up a tent in the center of the village, and are on day 15 of a solidarity hunger strike along with over 2,000 imprisoned Palestinians who are doing the same.

In the southern West Bank, the villages of Al-Khader, Beit Omer and Al Ma’ssara near Bethlehem city, organized anti-wall protests. Villagers were joined by Israeli and international supporters at all three locations.

Two Palestinians were injured, another one was arrested and many were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation when soldiers attacked villagers and their supporters at the village of Al-Khader. Witnesses said that soldiers opened fire on them as soon as they left the village. Troops later invaded Al-Khader, took over roof tops of local homes and used them to fire at protesters.

In Beit Omer and Al Ma’ssara villages troops stopped the protests at the village entrances and used tear gas to force people back into the villages. Many were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation.

In the central West Bank, troops used tear gas and sound bombs to attack protesters along with their international and Israeli supporters at the villages of Bil’in, Nil’in and Al Nabi Saleh. Local sources reported that many protesters were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation.

In Al Nabi Saleh village troops fired tear gas at residents’ homes causing damage.

In Bil'in village, dozens of cases of asphyxiation from gas marked the weekly march organized by the popular committee against the wall and settlements. A Norwegian Delegation and dozens of Palestinian, Israeli and international peace activists participated in the demonstration.

When demonstrators arrived at the Abu Lemon area, they made some holes in the barbed wire and then broke through it. The soldiers who were situated behind the concrete wall shot rubber bullets, stun grenades, tear gas and waste water mixed with chemicals towards the demonstrators which resulted in many suffering from gas inhalation. All of them were treated by ambulance crews in the field .

The numerous tear gas canisters which were shot into the villagers' olive groves, very dry in the current hot weather, caused numerous fires there.