From Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network: Demand an end to administrative detention!
For the past 34 days, an increasing number of Palestinian political prisoners – beginning with 90 administrative detainees, held without charge or trial – have been on hunger strike, consuming only water and salt. There are now well over 200 striking political prisoners. One hunger striker, Daoud Hamdan, held under administrative detention for over a year, has suffered a heart attack; increasing numbers have been taken to hospital.
Their lives are on the line and face a growing threat daily. Why are they putting their bodies and lives on the line? They are demanding an end to the practice and policy of administrative detention, in which Palestinians are held without charge or trial, on secret evidence to which even their lawyers are denied access.
We need international attention to raise the profile of this hunger strike! Palestinian prisoner support and grassroots organizations are calling for a day of action on May 30 and 31 throughout Palestine and internationally in support of the prisoners. Click here to download this new leaflet from Samidoun to use at your actions!
Administrative detention as used by Israel violates international law, namely the Fourth Geneva Convention. It is used as a standard policy and practice, and administrative detention orders can be renewed repeatedly – and regularly are. People are held without charge or trial for years at a time.
The hunger strikers have faced punitive measures and serious repression: they have been denied family visits for four months after previous protests. All strikers were denied salt for the first fifteen days of the strike. Clothing, hygiene products, soap and personal belongings have been confiscated. Legal visits have been postponed, denied and obstructed.
They have repeatedly expressed their commitment to remain on strike until the policy of administrative detention ends. An increasing number of Palestinian prisoners are joining the strike – dozens more prisoners are expected to do so this week. 40 prisoners held in Ramon prison joined on Monday, May 26. All of this is taking place as over 5,200 Palestinians are unjustly held as political prisoners in Israeli prisons – including Palestinian political leaders like Ahmad Sa’adat and Marwan Barghouthi – under military orders and as Israeli home demolitions, land confiscation, settlement-building and the denial of Palestinian refugees’ right to return continues.
The strikers are facing serious and long-term damage to their health if the strike continues.
Please join this important day of action, Friday May 30 and Saturday May 31!
What You Can Do:
1. Sign the online petition demanding that Israel accept the hunger strikers’ demands and end administrative detention.
2. Protest at the Israeli consulate or embassy in your city. Sit-in, bring signs, leaflets and a Palestinian flag – demand an end to administrative detention.
3. Protest a complicit corporation in your city – such as G4S, the global security company that provides surveillance and control systems to the very prisons where hunger strikers are being abused.
4. Distribute information – use this new flyer – to support the prisoners and raise awareness.
5. Demand your government officials take a position and stop their complicity with Israeli violations of Palestinian rights and arbitrary and unlawful detention.
Email Samidoun at samidoun@samidoun.ca and let us know what you are doing for May 30-31! Any action can help to make a difference. Please join in this important action!
