Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners Continues amid Calls for UN Interference
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The Israeli occupation persists in its repressive policy against Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike.
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Prisoner Alaa al-Araj on hunger strike for 94 days
Lawyer Jawad Boulos revealed that a trial session will be held Tuesday in the military court of the Israeli occupation prison “Salem” for Prisoner Alaa Al-Araj, who has been on hunger strike for 94 days. The session is held to extend his detention until next Thursday to complete the judicial procedures and prepare an indictment against him.
جلسة للأسير علاء الأعرج المضرب عن الطعام منذ 94 يوماً
— Wafa News Agency (@WAFA_PS) November 9, 2021
قال المحامي جواد بولس، إنّ جلسة تُعقد في المحكمة العسكرية للاحتلال في "سالم"، اليوم الثلاثاء، للأسير علاء الأعرج من طولكرم، المضرب عن الطعام منذ (94) يومًا، رفضًا لاعتقاله الإداريّ.
التفاصيل: https://t.co/72SigyTjEr pic.twitter.com/jFp6UHKAjQ
Asma Quzmar, the wife of Prisoner al-Araj, confirmed that the court decided to extend his detention until Thursday to file an indictment against him.
Quzmar said her husband "continues on his hunger strike, and so far we have not been able to see him."
On another note, the Israeli occupation court issued a non-final decision to reduce the administrative detention order against Prisoner Hisham Abu Hawash, who has been on hunger strike for 84 days.
🔴 متابعة صفا | المحامي جواد بولس: محكمة الاستئنافات العسكرية للاحتلال في"عوفر" تقرر تخفيض مدة الأمر الإداريّ الصادر بحقّ الأسير هشام أبو هواش المضرب عن الطعام (84) يومًا رفضًا لاعتقاله الإداريّ، من (6) شهور إلى (4) وهو غير جوهري؛ ما يعطي احتمالية إعطائه قرارا إداريا جديدة
— وكالة صفا (@SafaPs) November 8, 2021
The seven prisoners continue their open-ended hunger strike in rejection of their administrative detention. Human rights and international organizations warn that their health condition is deteriorating rapidly.
In support of the prisoners on hunger strike in the Israeli occupation prisons, the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine organized a sit-down in front of the headquarters of the United Nations representative in Gaza.
A PIJ leader in Gaza, Khader Habib, stressed that "the Resistance will not stand idly by in the event of the death of any prisoner on hunger strike," calling on the United Nations to intervene urgently to protect the prisoners who are facing the possibility of death.
"The whole region will witness escalation," Habib noted.
On Sunday, the Freedom Tunnel prisoners said: “[This time] We will get out through the door, from above the ground, just as we conquered them from under the ground.”
The trial session of the 6 Freedom Tunnel prisoners, which was held Monday at an Israeli occupation court in al-Nasiriyya, also looked into the cases of 5 other prisoners, all of whom are from Jenin, on charges of aiding the Freedom Tunnel prisoners.
Two days ago, Hamas held the Israeli occupation responsible for the repercussions of the continued suffering of the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike.
Hamas spokesperson Fawzi Barhoum called for ending the state of silence and taking immediate, serious, and effective action to end the suffering of the prisoners, especially those on hunger strike. He also called for standing up to all the crimes and violations of the Israeli occupation.
Mother of Palestinian prisoner Miqdad al-Qawasmi to #AlMayadeen: "My son continues his hunger strike for the 87th day, and his health condition is constantly deteriorating." #Palestine pic.twitter.com/BLXGPZofNb
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 16, 2021
Earlier, the Israeli occupation Prosecution froze the activation of the administrative detention of Palestinian Prisoner Miqdad al-Qawasmi, hinting at reactivating the decision under the pretext of medical reports that indicate an improvement in his health, according to al-Qawasmi’s lawyer.
Palestine Resistance factions in support of hunger-striking prisoners
The Palestinian Resistance factions issued a statement on Tuesday following a regular meeting in which they addressed several issues, including the six hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners and the Israeli violations in occupied al-Quds, Aa-Aqsa Mosque, and the Yusufiya cemetery.
The factions asserted that the ongoing events require a unified Palestinian stance in the face of the Israeli occupation.
They also saluted the steadfast prisoners and reiterated their support for them, highlighting their support for Miqdad al-Qawasmi and Kayed al-Fasfous.
"We call for an increase in popular demonstrations," the factions said in their statement, underscoring that the Palestinian Resistance "has its finger on the trigger."
Palestinian prisoners serving over 20 consecutive years increase to 104
The Palestinian Prisoners Center for Studies reported an increase in the number of Palestinians who have been incarcerated for over 20 years, as their number has reached 104 with several new prisoners starting the 21st consecutive year of their sentence.
The prisoners include 13 who had been incarcerated for over 30 years, and the prisoners who have been serving the longest sentences are Karim Yunis and Maher Yunis, both of which have been imprisoned since 1983. 36 prisoners have been serving a sentence that exceeds a quarter-century with 25 years served.
25 prisoners had been arrested before the Oslo Accords between the Israeli occupation and the Palestinian Authority. Those prisoners were arrested during the early years of the first intifada in 1987, and they were supposed to be released as part of the fourth group of prisoners released in light of the PA-Israeli negotiations in late 2013. However, the IOF refused to release them.
Riyad Ashkar, the chairman of the Center, urged the Palestinian Resistance to include the 104 prisoners in any future prisoner exchange deal with the Israeli occupation.
