Palestinian prisoners announce 1-day hunger strike in support of Daqqa

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
1 Jun 2023 00:12
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The Supreme Emergency Committee of the Palestinian National Captive Movement says the decision comes after the Israeli delay in releasing the cancer-stricken prisoner.

Cancer-stricken prisoner Walid Daqqa (Archive)

The Supreme Emergency Committee of the Palestinian National Captive Movement announced on Wednesday that the Palestinian prisoners will carry out Thursday a one-day hunger strike in all Israeli occupation prisons to demand the immediate release of cancer-stricken prisoner Walid Daqqa and an end to the solitary confinement imposed on all prisoners.

In a statement, the Committee indicated that this decision comes after the delay in releasing Daqqa and the unjustified solitary confinement imposed by the Israeli occupation prisons authority against Ahmad Saadat, Secretary-General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and the two prisoners Ahed Abu Gholami and Walid Hanatsheh, in addition to the continuation of the unjust arbitrary administrative detention against the Palestinian people.

The Committee stressed that the latest round of confrontation between the Israeli occupation and the Palestinian Resistance in Gaza in retaliation for the martyrdom of Sheikh Khader Adnan made Palestinian prisoners cling more to the weapon of hunger strike in the face of the arrogant Israeli jailer.

The statement pointed out that the Resistance's standing in support of the prisoners shows that the Palestinian people are rallying around their vital causes, calling on the free people of the world, individuals, and institutions to use all means of pressure and struggle to liberate prisoner Daqqa before it is too late.

'Israel' transfers Walid Daqqa's case to Parole Board

Earlier on Wednesday, an Israeli occupation early release committee rejected a new request to release Daqqa, despite his deteriorating health condition, claiming that the case was not within its jurisdiction.

Al Mayadeen correspondent in Palestine reported that prisoner Daqqa's case was transferred to Parole Board, which looks into life imprisonment cases, despite the prisoner having already finished his sentence.

On her part, Daqqa's wife, Sanaa Salameh, told Al Mayadeen that the Israeli occupation authority deliberately subjects the prisoner to the policy of systematic medical negligence which is an attempt at his assassination.

Salameh also told Palestine Today that her husband is not receiving the necessary treatment despite his critical health condition after being exposed to contamination during surgery due to medical negligence.

Last week, the Palestinian Ministry of Detainees and Ex-Detainees confirmed that Israeli occupation authorities returned the cancer-stricken prisoner to the so-called "Ramla" prison clinic, just days after he was transferred to "Assaf Harofeh" hospital due to his deteriorating health condition.

The Ministry pointed out that the "Ramla" prison clinic lacks the minimum necessities of medical care, warning that the decision confirms that the Israeli occupation is pursuing its policy of deliberate medical negligence.

It also held the occupation responsible for the Palestinian prisoner's life.

Demands for the release of Daqqa

Daqqa's family and the campaign calling for his release described the Israeli decision to return the prisoner to the so-called "Ramla" prison clinic as surprising and reprehensible.

They said that during the past few days, Daqqa underwent several examinations after his health deteriorated following complications due to the lung-resection operation that he previously underwent. He also underwent a catheterization operation due to noticeable heart failure.

Daqqa's family and the campaign calling for his release affirmed their only demand, which is the immediate release of the prisoner in order to receive treatment without restrictions.

Israeli decision is a silent, slow attempt to kill Daqqa: Wa'ed

The Wa'ed Association for Prisoners deplored the Israeli decision to return Daqqa to the "Ramla" prison clinic, deeming it an attempt to silently and slowly kill and liquidate Daqqa.

The Association added that the decision confirms that the Israeli occupation has taken a clear decision to execute the cancer-stricken prisoner.

Wa'ed called on the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Human Rights Council of the United Nations for urgent and rapid intervention to put pressure on the Israeli occupation to release Daqqa.

Who is Walid Daqqa?

Walid Daqqa has been detained since 1986 and was sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of resisting the occupation. His sentence was later decreased to 37 years.

In 2018, two years were added to his sentence, and a few years ago, his wife, Sanaa Salameh, was able to give birth to their daughter, Milad, after smuggling Daqqa's sperm from prison.

Daqqa is considered one of the most prominent writers and thinkers of the Palestinian Captive Movement.

Until the end of last April, the number of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli occupation prisons reached nearly 4,900, including 32 female prisoners and 170 minors.

As for ill prisoners, they numbered 700 prisoners suffering from several diseases, including 24 prisoners with cancer and tumors of varying degrees.