Al-Arida: Jenin source of every transformation in Resistance course

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
12 Jul 2023 20:22

In a letter, Palestinian prisoner Mohammed al-Arida salutes the steadfastness of Palestinians in the Jenin camp.

Palestinian prisoner Mohammed al-Arida (Social media)

The Palestinian prisoner in solitary confinement in "Eshel" prison, Mohammed al-Arida, addressed, through a message, the people of Jenin camp in the occupied West Bank following the recent Israeli aggression on the city and camp of Jenin.

In the letter, prisoner al-Arida saluted the steadfastness of the Palestinians in the Jenin camp, which saw confrontations and attacks by the Israeli occupation forces, highlighting "the valor, heroism, and steadfastness of the people, as well as their determination and perseverance, which were inspiring and actually were the core of both the fighters and the people in their battles. "

He also asked for the bestowal of peace upon "the martyrs, the wounded, and whoever is suffering [from Israeli attacks]" and saluted the owners of the destroyed homes and the homeless for their "pride, steadfastness, and victory."

Al-Arida noted that "the Jenin camp remains the inspiration, compass, and source of every major transformation in the course of the Palestinian Resistance, as it stands strong against all sedition attempts, being the token of unity and integration of all factions.”

The Gilboa prison hero addressed the Resistance fighters in Jenin, saying, "You are the ultimate destination of unity and an exemplar of what all Palestinians want."

"O fighters, we kiss the ground you walk on."

Al-Arida saw that whoever hesitates or fails to support his people in Jenin, "God will hold them accountable, and they shall be cursed in history for many generations to come." He further pointed out that if the camp was handed over and left alone, "we will pay a huge price, and we as Palestinians can preserve it and safeguard its valiant, courageous, and heroic Resistance."

"It shall forever stand as a focal point for unity and the unified word for all Palestinians and as a crucial turning point for the greater unity and for the entire region."

The Palestinian prisoner called on the Resistance factions to "stay away from trivialities, contain everything, considering the great steadfastness and the great injustice that has befallen the Palestinian people, and truly uphold responsibilities," asking, "If now is not the time for feeling these responsibilities, then when is it?"

In the letter, he also called on the people of the camp to stay strong "because the world never sides with the weak and the dispersed people and only recognizes the strong and united one," stressing that the division between the Palestinian factions must come to an end and that Jenin is the camp dedicated for unity.

This comes a few days after Israeli occupation forces withdrew from the city of Jenin and its camp after launching an aggression that left 12 Palestinian martyrs and dozens of injuries.

The Israeli aggression was heroically confronted by Palestinian Resistance fighters who carried out a number of deadly strikes and ambushes against occupation forces as part of a battle dubbed The Fury of Jenin.

It is noteworthy that al-Arida, from the town of Arrabeh, south of Jenin, has been detained since 2002 and sentenced to life imprisonment.

He is one of the six prisoners who snatched their freedom through a tunnel dug in their cell outside Gilboa prison on September 6.

On September 10, the Israeli occupation forces arrested the first two prisoners from Gilboa prison, Yaqoub Qadri and Mahmoud al-Arida. Then, on September 11, it arrested two others, Zakaria al-Zubaidi, and Mohammed al-Arida.

On September 19, Ayham Kamamji and Munadel Nafi'at, the two remaining prisoners, were arrested.

In late April, sources told Al Mayadeen that al-Arida has been suffering under severe measures taken against him while in solitary confinement at the occupation's "Ramon" Prison.