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Palestinian Political Prisoners on 36th Day of Hunger Strike, in Protest Against Israeli Occupation Government Mistreatment

May 22, 2017 

Editor's Note:

The following news stories are just examples of the Israeli occupation government violations of Palestinian human rights, on daily basis. This cannot continue without the full financial and media support from Zionists as well as financial and military support from the US-EU governments, which have been active participant in the persecution and subjugation of the Palestinian people.

The Israeli occupation government has received more than $3.8 billion annually from the US successive administrations, Democrat and Republican alike, to enable it to continue the subjugation and persecution of the Palestinian people. The Obama administration made sure that the US support for the Israeli occupation government will continue by obligating its successors to give the racist, apartheid, Zionist state $38 billion in the next ten years.

 

General strike in Palestine, in solidarity with the political prisoners, who are on hunger-strike, in Israeli occupation government prisons, May 22, 2017

Palestinian political prisoner and hunger-striker, Samer Al-Issawi, taken clinic after a deterioration  his health, May 22, 2017	Palestinian political prisoners on hunger strike for freedom and dignity, Day 36, May 22, 2017

 

General strike in Palestine in solidarity with the Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli occupation government prisons

Monday, May 22, 2017

GAZA, (PIC) + -

A general strike will take place on Monday in all areas of the occupied Palestinian territories and the Gaza Strip as well as in the diaspora in solidarity with the hunger-striking prisoners, who have entered the 36th day of their hunger strike.

Accordingly, Palestinian citizens will stop going to their workplaces and close businesses. Public transportation in Palestinian areas will also come to a halt, and some public and private institutions, including universities, will be shut for the day.

The national committee for championing the prisoners’ hunger strike, which announced the strike, called on all Palestinian citizens at home and abroad to go to rallying points and solidarity tents at 11:00 am to participate in massive angry marches and protests.

The committee also called for participating in a one-day hunger strike in solidarity with the hunger strikers in Israeli jails, starting from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm.

For its part, the secretariat of the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel said that some public sectors would be closed during the day, except for schools and emergency health services.  

On 36th Day of Hunger Strike, Large Number of Striking Prisoners Brought to Hospital

IMEMC, May 22, 2017 11:32 AM

The Media Committee of the Freedom and Dignity Hunger Strike said Monday that the health conditions of the detainees that have been on hunger strike for 36 consecutive days has become quite serious, with a large number of the detainees reportedly being moved to civilian hospitals.

The committee said in a press release Sunday night that the administration is still isolating the detainees from the outside world, and obstructing even human rights groups from meeting or observing the prisoners’ conditions. The Israeli government has not even released the names of the prisoners that were transferred to the hospital -even to their families.

The prison authorities are trying to break the strike by putting leaders in prison, releasing false videos, and putting food in front of the striking detainees continuously to try to torment them.

Prior to the hunger strike, the Israeli prison administration had set up makeshift clinics inside the prisons. But these clinics lacked even basic supplies, and were used to blackmail prisoners with the threat that they would be sent to those clinics instead of actual hospitals if they were ill.

A number of the striking prisoners have also been transferred to prisons located near hospitals.

The Media Committee of the Freedom and Dignity Hunger Strike has called on the International Committee of the Red Cross, the World Health Organization, and Physicians for Human Rights to pressure Israel into taking measures to prevent a real humanitarian disaster, and to demand that Israel reveal the conditions of the detainees and share information of their locations.

The transfer of the prisoners comes just after 220 additional prisoners joined the hunger strike Sunday, 35 days into the strike.

200 Palestinian Detainees Join Hunger Strike

May 21, 2017 7:54 PM IMEMC News & Agencies

More than 200 Palestinian detainees have joined the mass hunger strike which, up until now, according to WAFA, has included the participation of over 1,800 detainees.

The decision to join the hunger strike came as the Israel Prison Service continues to reject the demands of the hunger strikers, the media committee for the strike said.

For the 35th day in a row, the detainees are continuing the Freedom and Dignity protest amid strict and repressive measures, by Israeli authorities, to break the strike.

The hunger strikers are calling for better access to medical care; increased visit duration from 45 to 90 minutes; removal of glass barriers during family visits; improved detention conditions including easing restrictions on the entry of books, clothing, food and other gifts from family members; installing phones to enable prisoners to communicate with their families and an end to the policy of administrative detention.

Samer Al-Issaawi Transferred to Ramla Prison Clinic

May 21, 2017 8:10 PM IMEMC News & Agencies

The media committee of the prisoners’ strike said, on Saturday evening, that detainee Samer Al-Issawi was taken from Ayalon to the Ramla prison clinic after a deterioration  his health.

Samer served 10 years in the Israeli prison system and became an internationally recognized icon for the prioners’ movement, after spending 9 months on hunger strike in 2013.

Some 1,800 detainees are still struggling with the occupation’s measures through the “Freedom and Dignity Hunger Strike”, which has been continuing, now, for the 35th day in a row, according to Al Ray.

Prison administration transferred a number of the strikers in “Ashkelon”  prison, to “Barzlai”  hospital, after a number of them stopped drinking water.

Activists Breech Fence at Ofer Military Court in Ramallah

May 21, 2017 7:42 PM IMEMC News & Agencies

Activists from the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee (PSCC), on Sunday afternoon, broke into the Ofer Israeli military court in Ramallah, and painted logos in solidarity with Palestinian detainees, while raising photos of leader Marwan Barghouthi, who has been leading an open hunger strike among some 1,600 Palestinian prisoners for 35 days now.

In turn, Israeli forces attempted to arrest the activists who broke the razor wire around the court and sprayed solidarity lines on its walls, PNN reports.

Activists also raised Palestinian flags and photos of Barghouthi, saying that the Israeli military courts represent the laws of the extremist, colonial Israeli racist mentality only.

Head of the PSCC, Munther Amira, said that this move was to show solidarity with the hunger striking detainees,  for what they have given to the history of Palestinian struggle, resistance and steadfastness.

For his part, activist Mahmoud Zawahra said that the move was was part of the PSCC’s response to Israeli crimes against Palestinians who try to show any type of solidarity with prisoners, especially since Israeli under cover agents, on Friday, detained PSCC activist Ahmed Odeh, during his participation in a march for prisoners in Bethlehem.

Israel Moves Several Hunger-Striking Detainees To Barzelai Medical Center

May 20, 2017 8:40 PM IMEMC News

The Israeli Prison Authority has moved, Saturday, several hunger-striking detainees to Barzelai Medical Center, when their health conditions have sharply deteriorated after they stopped drinking water. Prison Authority is still trying to divide the detainees, ignoring their collective, legitimate demands.

Khaled Mahajna, one of the lawyers of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) visited detainee Mohammad Abu ar-Rob, from Jenin and held in Asqalan prison, who told him that the prison administration is pressuring the detainees to stop their strike, and escalating its violations against them.

He added that some of the detainees suffered sharp health deteriorations, and were moved to Barzelai Israeli Medical Center in Asqalan.

He added that the administration in Asqalan prison has also turned one of the prison sections into a field clinic, that lacks even basic supplies, and is trying to administer liquids to the striking detainees’ bodies via intravenous infusion, but the detainees are resisting these attempts.

Mahajna further stated that the administration is trying to hold talks with some detainees, and presenting what it described as “offers,” but the detainees remain united and determined to continue their strike, and informed the soldiers that such talks can only be conducted with the imprisoned leaders of the strike, and not with individuals.

There are fifty Palestinian detainees held in Asqalan prison, and are ongoing with the strike, along with all striking detainees in various prisons, despite their deteriorating health conditions, and constant Israeli violations.

In a letter, the detainees said:

“As their strike enters its 34th consecutive days, we remain steadfast, walking towards death with a smile. All what each of us has is a black blanket, a cup of water and a bit of salt.

We chant for our country, for the upcoming spring, while our bodies are collapsing, but our souls and our spirits are steadfast and strong.

We are standing like the rocks of Mount Ebal and the Galilee, and we swore to continue this fight until victory or martyrdom.

This battle is a candle lit by our souls, and our bodies, to shine the path of freedom and independence.”

Hunger Strike Continues For The 34th Day

May 20, 2017 9:22 AM IMEMC News

Around 1600 Palestinian political prisoners, held by Israel, continue the hunger strike for the 34th consecutive day, determined to achieve their demands, while Israel continues to refuse to hold serious talks, and instead, is trying to divide them, in addition to punishing many by forcing them into solitary confinement, and repeatedly transferring many to different prisons.

The Media Committee of the Palestinian Detainees Committee has reported that the “Freedom and Dignity” strike is going through one of the most serious and sensitive stages, and that the detainees are determined to continue until achieving their demands.

It said that the Israeli government has appointed the head of the Shabak, and the Prison Authority, to do whatever is possible to end the hunger strike before U.S. President Donald Trump visits the region, “even if this means adhering to most of the detainees’ demands.”

The Committee stated that Israel tried various methods to end this strike and to break the will of the detainees, but is reaching a dead end amidst the determination of the detainees.

In addition, the committee said that the imprisoned leadership of the strike is the only party that can accept or reject any suggested offers, and will continue to resist all Israel attempts to break the detainees’ unity.

“The striking detainees are very determined to achieve their legitimate demands,” the committee said, “They also reply on public support and solidarity, especially at this delicate stage of the strike.”

The committee also called on media outlets to be aware of Israel’s propaganda regarding the detainees and their strike, and the so-called “leaked information about secret talks between the detainees and the prison authority.”

The detainees are ongoing with the strike, demanding basic rights, guaranteed by International law, and all human rights agreements. These rights include ending solitary confinement policies, allowing them regular visits with their families, and granting them adequate medical attention.

Video: One Phone Camera Saves Life Of A Child At Roadblock

May 20, 2017 7:12 PM IMEMC News

In what seems just second before a child was potentially shot dead, a Palestinian using his phone to film the unfolding events, can be heard shouting “hey you don’t shoot,” at a soldier pointing his automatic gun at a female child, who reportedly carried a knife.

The Israeli soldiers claimed that the child carried a knife, and was trying to cross the military roadblock, close to the entrance of Qalandia refugee camp, north of occupied East Jerusalem.

A video, captured by a bystander showed the child, 14, on her knees, motionless, and the voice of the person behind the camera can be heard shouting:

“Hey, you, don’t shoot, don’t shoot her, don’t shoot, she is young, just subdue her…” the soldier remains aiming his gun right on the girl, then the man behind the camera shouts again “Don’t shoot her; man, don’t shoot her… she is young, just cuff her, man… just control her, subdue her…”

The child remains motionless, and the man is heard once again saying, “just don’t shoot her, cuff her…,” then he started shooting at the child, “just don’t move, remain as are, stay still.” Then the officers are seen cuffing the child, and a voice is heard saying “she has a knife in her bag.”

Many Palestinians have been recently killed just because the soldiers suspected they “intended to carry out a stabbing attack,” without even attempting to attack anybody. Her name remained unknown until the time of this report.

People witnessing the unfolding events said they were so concerned that the child was about to be killed although she was motionless, because the soldier kept aiming his rifle at her, while standing in a shooting position, ready to pull the trigger at any second.

In related news, the soldiers abducted a young man, identified as Mohammad Awad, from Aqbat as-Saraya, in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem, and moved him to an unknown destination.

 

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