Concerned at plight of Palestinian hunger strikers, Ban urges solution without delay

A Palestinian released in an exchange of prisoners by Israel and Hamas reaches welcoming festivities in Gaza City on 18 October 2011.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today stressed the importance of averting any further deterioration in the condition of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody who are on hunger strike, and urged everyone concerned to reach a solution to their plight without delay.“The Secretary-General continues to follow with concern the ongoing hunger strike by Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody, in particular those held in what is known as administrative detention,” according to information provided by his spokesperson.

“He stresses the importance of averting any further deterioration in their condition,” the spokesperson added. “He reiterates that those detained must be charged and face trial with judicial guarantees, or released without delay.”

More than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners began an open-ended hunger strike two weeks ago, on 17 April – Palestinian Prisoners Day – to protest against unjust arrest procedures, arbitrary detention and bad prison conditions, according to the UN human rights office (OHCHR).

Last week, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Robert Serry, said he was deeply troubled by reports about the critical condition of at least two Palestinians being held by Israel, who have been on hunger strike for over two months, and urged the Government to preserve the health of the prisoners.

Noting that the Secretary-General urged all concerned to reach a solution without delay, his spokesperson said that Mr. Ban fully supported the efforts of Mr. Serry, who is actively engaged on this issue with the parties on the ground.

(www.un.org / 09.05.2012)

Jewish settlers set hundreds of olive trees on fire

NABLUS, (PIC)– Jewish settlers set hundreds of Palestinian olive trees on fire in Jamaeen and Yasuf villages to the south of Nablus. Fathi Hamdan, a farmer, said on Wednesday that Jewish settlers from the Tafuh settlement started the blaze that destroyed more than 300 olive trees owned by farmers of the two villages. He charged that the settlers routinely attack Palestinian land in those villages in a bid to terrorize citizens into abandoning their land, which the settlers seek to annex to their settlement. (networkedblogs.com / 09.05.2012)

Bahrain court adjourns retrial of activists

Seven of the defendants, including Abdulhadi Khawaja, were sentenced to life in prison last June

A court in Bahrain has adjourned for two weeks the retrial of 21 activists and opposition figures accused of plotting to overthrow the state.

The court said two of the defendants, Abdulhadi al-Khawaja and Abdullah al-Mahroos, had to be present in court. Seven are being tried in absentia.

Mr Khawaja has been on hunger strike for 91 days in protest at jail terms imposed by a military court in June.

Last week, the activist’s wife dismissed the retrial as “ridiculous”.

Khadija al-Moussawi said the Bahraini authorities were simply “playing for time” in the face of international pressure to release him.

Mr Khawaja meanwhile told the BBC in hospital that he intended to continue his hunger strike despite widespread fears that he might die.

He accused medics of force-feeding him, something officials denied.

‘Forced confessions’

During Tuesday’s hearing, the civilian court allowed defence lawyers to meet their clients and demanded that Mr Khawaja and Mr Mahroos receive suitable medical assistance when the retrial resumes on 22 May.

The lawyers complained that their clients had faced abuse in custody and been forced to sign confessions that they had used or advocated violence against King Hamad during last year’s pro-democracy protests.

The defendants were convicted by the National Safety Court, a military tribunal. Seven of them, including Mr Khawaja, were sentenced to life in jail. Mr Mahroos, a prominent Shia religious figure and critic of the Gulf kingdom’s Sunni-dominated government, was sentenced to 15 years.

Abdulhadi al-Khawaja told the BBC’s Frank Gardner he was surprised the interview had been allowed

Last month, Bahrain’s highest court, the Court of Cassation, threw out their convictions and ordered a retrial, although they were not released.

A similar retrial is under way for 20 medics who were convicted by the National Safety Court of crimes against the state and sentenced to between five and 15 years in prison. The next hearing is on Thursday.

At least 60 people are said to have been killed since protests erupted last year demanding more democracy and an end to discrimination against the majority Shia Muslim community by the Sunni royal family.

King Hamad has tried to address some of the protesters’ demands by announcing constitutional reforms intended to lead to greater accountability. But the opposition, as well as human rights groups, say the promises are empty and that the crackdown on dissent is continuing.

(www.bbc.co.uk / 09.05.2012)

Al-Qaeda’s Inspire Magazine Only Inspires the Work of Satan’s Weapons of Mass Destruction

By FaithinAllah.org

The Al-Qaeda terrorist organization continues to threaten Muslims and the world with weapons of mass-destruction. In the latest edition of Inspire magazine, published by Al-Qaeda affiliates in Yemen, they encourage the use of biological and chemical weapons against innocent people:

The use of poisons or chemical and biological weapons against population centers is allowed and is strongly recommended due to its great effect on the enemy.

Chemical and biological weapons are classified as weapons of mass-destruction because they are certain to kill innocent people and otherwise destroy property needlessly. These terrible weapons are banned by the Geneva Protocol, an international treaty that has been ratified by the majority of Muslim countries. Upholding treaty obligations is essential to the character of a Muslim, but even without this treaty it should be clear that these weapons are inherently unlawful. Allah Almighty said:

مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَٰلِكَ كَتَبْنَا عَلَىٰ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَنَّهُ مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا

Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for punishing murder or for corruption in the land – it is as if he had slain mankind entirely.

[Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:32]

Killing a single person without right is a crime that will take its perpetrators to Hell, but this severe warning in the Quran does not stir the hearts of Al-Qaeda’s partisans as they strive to serve Satan. Even the animals will be avenged by Allah on the Day of Judgment. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:

لَتُؤَدُّنَّ الْحُقُوقَ إِلَى أَهْلِهَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ حَتَّى يُقَادَ لِلشَّاةِ الْجَلْحَاءِ مِنَ الشَّاةِ الْقَرْنَاءِ

Certainly, the rights of every people will be restored on the Day of Resurrection, until even the hornless sheep will settle the score with the horned sheep.

[Sahih Muslim, Book 32, Number 6252]

Indeed, great men who fought for the cause of Islam showed incredible fear that Allah would punish them for misappropriating the rights of a single animal. Umar ibn Al-Khattab famously said:

لو مات جمل ضياعاً على شط الفرات لخشيت أن يسألني الله عنه

If even a lost camel were to die upon the banks of the Euphrates, I fear that Allah would ask me about it.

How, then, can the publishers of this magazine endorse the use of weapons of mass destruction? We hear from them endlessly about the glories of fighting in the way of Allah, but Ibn Al-Qayyim said:

والجهاد بالحجة واللسان مقدم على الجهاد بالسيف والسنان

The jihad with decisive proofs and the tongue takes precedence over the jihad with the sword and the spear.

[Al-Jawab us-Sahih of Ibn Taymiyyah 1/237]

The jihad of non-violence, the jihad of education, is the needed jihad and it is even greater than fighting on the battlefield, but this has been entirely abandoned by these terrorists. Why do they not glorify the seeking of knowledge, or the giving of charity, or the exercise of mercy, or the beauty of patience, or the excellence of good character, or the power of prayer? Rather, they are like those about whom Hasan Al-Basri has said:

لو أن الناس إذا ابتلوا من قبل سلطانهم صبروا ما لبثوا أن يفرج عنهم ، ولكنهم يجزعون إلى السيف فيوكلون إليه ، فوالله ما جاءوا بيوم خير قط

If the people had patience when they are being tested by their unjust ruler, it will not be long before Allah will give them a way out. However, they always rush for their swords, so they are left with their swords. By Allah! Not even for a single day did they bring about any good.

[Tabaqat Al-Kubra 7/163-165]

There is no doubt that Muslims are obligated to resist oppression, but it is entirely unlawful to resist oppression with more oppression. The Al-Qaeda terrorist organization has abandoned every rule of Islam that hinders the advancement of their heretical sect of death and murder.

We ask Allah to protect the innocent from their wicked ideology.

(www.faithinallah.org / 09.05.2012)

Libya PM office attacked by gunmen in Tripoli

The whereabouts of PM Abdurrahim al-Keib is unknown but his media adviser said he is safe

Former Libyan rebels have launched an attack on the prime minister’s office in the capital Tripoli, leaving at least one guard dead, officials say.

They said about 200 armed men, some carrying mortars, tried to storm the building but were repelled by security.

Four others were wounded in the clashes, which lasted several hours.

The attackers – ex-rebels who fought to topple Col Gaddafi last year – were demanding pay-outs promised under a reward scheme suspended last year.

Prime Minister Abdurrahim al-Keib is safe, one of his advisers, Ashur Shamis, told the BBC. Sources said he had been in the building at the time.

Scheme suspended

A witness said pick-up trucks mounted with anti-aircraft guns surrounded the building on Tuesday and shots were heard. Some men tried to enter the premises.

Libyan government spokesman Nasir al-Mani said the former rebels had been armed with “light to medium weapons” including kalashnikovs, machine guns and rocket launchers.

Most people inside the building fled, including the finance minister and the deputy prime minister.

Mr Mani said one security guard was killed and four others – including one of the assailants – were wounded in the attack.

Witnesses said the attack was being carried out by militia from Yafran, a town populated by members of the Berber ethnic minority located about 100km (60 miles) south-west of Tripoli.

The BBC’s Rana Jawad in Tripoli says that as well as the cash hand-outs, the rebels are demanding that those wounded in the uprising last year are given medical treatment abroad.

The reward scheme was suspended last month amid allegations of fraud.

Our correspondent says that the building is no stranger to attacks – it is the second of its kind in the last two months – but that the latest one seemed more forceful.

The Libyan government has been trying to encourage thousands of militia members who took up arms against Col Gaddafi to disarm, amid concerns about stability.

(www.bbc.co.uk / 09.05.2012)

Act now for starving political prisoners

Emergency statement by Jews for Justice for Palestinians

May 8th 2012

On Monday 7th May the Israeli Supreme Court rejected the appeals of two hunger strikers, Bilal Diab 27, and Thaer Halahleh 33, held in administrative detention without charge or trial, denied the right to see the evidence against them. These young men are in the 70th day of their hunger strike and by rejecting their appeals, the Supreme court could, according to Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, be condemning them to death. There is no known evidence that a hunger striker has ever lived beyond75 days.

There are at present between 1600 and 2000 prisoners on hunger strike. Their main demands are an end to administrative detention and to solitary confinement, as well as the reinstatement of family visits from Gaza.

Israel insists it is a democracy which abides by the rule of law. However it is hard to see how the state can justify this position when one considers that administrative detention for any length of time, is a violation of international law.  Holding ‘protected persons’ in the territory of the occupier is a violation of the Geneva Convention.

Israel talks with conviction about its ‘security’ as a rationale for holding Palestinian prisoners from the occupied territories. However Israel also states that the annexation wall has brought it unprecedented security. So Israel must decide. Either it is under such an overwhelming threat that it needs all the legal resources at its disposal to protect its population from external threats, or it is using its machinery to imprison a subject population and to submit them to human rights abuse. The evidence points inexorably in one direction. Over 40% of Palestinian men have at some point been detained by the Israeli authorities. This sort of scenario is consistent with all colonial powers, who use what they call their ‘criminal justice’ system to criminalise those who challenge their dominion.

It is time that we expose the real criminals. It is those who oppress another people and treat them with callous contempt, while hiding behind what they call the law, but which stands in stark contrast to international law to which all countries calling themselves democracies hold allegiance. We urge the Israeli government even at this late stage to show some humanity and to release the prisoners. We also urge the UK Government to demand that Israel abide by international law and release the prisoners. Israel should be informed that, unless it abides by its international treaty obligations, sanctions could be imposed.

Further actions that can be taken to help Bilal Diab and Thaer Halahleh:

*Write to the Israeli government, military and legal authorities and demand that the prisoners be released immediately and his administrative detention order not be renewed.

Brigadier General Danny Efroni, Military Judge Advocate General
6 David Elazar Street
Harkiya, Tel Aviv
Israel

Fax: +972 3 608 0366; +972 3 569 4526
Email: arbel@mail.idf.il; avimn@idf.gov.il

Maj. Gen. Nitzan Alon
OC Central Command Nehemia Base, Central Command

Neveh Yaacov, Jerusalam
Fax: +972 2 530 5741

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Ehud Barak

Ministry of Defense
37 Kaplan Street, Hakirya
Tel Aviv 61909, Israel

Fax: +972 3 691 6940 / 696 2757

Col. Eli Bar On
Legal Advisor of Judea and Samaria PO Box 5
Beth El 90631

Fax: +972 2 9977326

*Write to your own elected representatives urging them to pressure Israel to release Bilal Diab and to put an end to such an unjust, arbitrary and cruel system of incarceration without trial.

---

Submit to the strikers

The hunger strike is the latest rock in the avalanche of largely nonviolent flotillas, ‘fly-ins’ and marches that Palestinians and their supporters have organized, to great success.

By Shay Fogelman, Ha’aretz
07.05.12

It’s impossible to determine precisely how many days people can survive without food. The medical history of hunger strikes indicates that healthy people of average weight can expect to lose consciousness on the 55th day of their fast. The data also indicates that hunger strikers can expect to die by day 75.

As these lines are being written, administrative detainees Bilal Diab and Thaer Halahla are approaching the 70th day of their hunger strike. They are reportedly both still conscious but, statistically speaking, they can expect to die any minute.

In addition to Diab and Halahla, six other administrative detainees are also on a hunger strike – one for more than 40 days, and another for nearly 60. The oldest of them, a 72-year-old man, has been refusing to eat for three weeks. What they are all demanding is their freedom. They have stated that they would rather die than remain in detention without being tried or even charged, without a release date, without visits from family or any of the other rights that regular prisoners are guaranteed by law. They want to stop being the victims of that distortion of law and justice known as administrative detention – a category that accounts for around 300 Palestinians currently incarcerated in Israel.

More than two weeks ago, some 1,500 convicted prisoners joined the hunger strike. They are reported to have done so primarily to improve their prison conditions, which got much worse while negotiations were under way for the release of Gilad Shalit from Hamas captivity. But representatives of the hunger strikers have said at every opportunity that they are taking part in the protest primarily to show their solidarity with the administrative detainees.

The hunger strike is the latest rock in the avalanche of largely nonviolent flotillas, “fly-ins” and marches that Palestinians and their supporters have organized, to great success, in the last several years. After all, it was a single Turkish ship that, in 2010, prompted Israel to expand the list of goods allowed into Gaza far faster than the thousands of rockets and mortar shells that Palestinians had been firing on Sderot for years. It was a single protest fly-in, and Israel’s demand last month that presumed pro-Palestinian demonstrators be barred from boarding Tel Aviv-bound planes, that turned the world’s attention to the Israeli-Palestinian issue. And it was a single protest bicycle tour by European and Palestinian activists in the Jericho area last month, and an Israeli officer’s videotaped attack on a Danish participant, that won more international media coverage than any Palestinian shooting attack on settlers.

The hunger strike, and its ever-widening circle of participants, has already achieved a lot for the Palestinian national struggle, primarily regarding administrative detention. Israel recently released Islamic Jihad activist Khader Adnan, who refused to eat for 67 days while he was being held in administrative detention for four months. Hana Shalabi, who went on a 30-day hunger strike while under administrative detention, has been released and deported to the Gaza Strip for three years.

The research that has been conducted on hunger strikes shows that on the second or third day people stop feeling hungry. After two weeks, the glycogen reserves in the liver and muscles are depleted, causing a significant drop in weight. Around day 30, vision becomes impaired because of weakened eye muscles, vomiting begins, and hunger strikers begin to have difficulty swallowing water and suffer severe vertigo. Most of these symptoms fade after about 10 days, leaving the hunger strikers weak and apathetic. In the next few days, those who continue to refuse food can expect to lose their hearing and vision, suffer internal bleeding and ultimately die.

The State of Israel cannot allow Bilal Diab and Thaer Halahla to die of hunger. It does not have the moral legitimacy to do so. The State of Israel must submit one more time to a just and nonviolent struggle. It must release Diab and Halahla and put an end to the unacceptable practice of administrative detention.

(jfjfp.com / 09.05.2012)

Demonstration in Ramallah in support of the striking prisoners

RAMALLAH, (PIC)– Dozens of activists and families of the two detainees Bilal Diab and Thaer Halahleh have closed the main road in front of the presidential headquarters in Ramallah, demanding the PA president Mahmoud Abbas to work immediately for their sons’ release who went on hunger strike since 71 days. The activists sat down on the ground, carrying the pictures of detainees and banners calling on the PA to press on the occupation for the prisoners’ release and to stop all forms of security coordination with the occupation. The Activists closed the street leading to the center of Ramallah, blocking the passage of hundreds of vehicles, and demanding the Palestinian people to carry on with their support for their striking prisoners who are dying in occupation prisons. Halahleh’s father said that the authority’s effort at the international level are important but it came too late as it has no effects until the moment, adding that his son who went on hunger strike protesting against his administrative detention is facing death while the official actions abroad are so slow. Dozens of activists, who had joined the prisoners’ families, called on the PA to restore resistance and to pressure the occupation to release the prisoners and called on the shops and restaurants in Ramallah to close their doors in solidarity with the striking prisoners in occupation prisons since at least 22 days. (www.palestine-info.co.uk / 09.05.2012)

Thirty-five Oireachtas members sign petition on mass Palestinian prison hunger strike

Thirty-five Oireachtas members, including independents and deputies and senators from all political parties and groups in the Dáil and Seanad have signed their names to a petition calling for an immediate response to the ongoing mass hunger strike of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
Tomorrow a cross party group of TDS will attempt to raise the matter in the Dáil under “Topical issues”.

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Trade, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has welcomed the show of political unity. He said:

“Official figures show that over 1,500 Palestinian prisoners have embarked on a hunger strike in protest against their conditions and Israel’s use of administrative detention. The majority began their protest on April 17th, but there are several who have been without food for much longer. Two individuals, Bilal Diab and Tha’er Halahlah, are in severe medical danger having both been without food for over 70 days.

The prisoner support and human rights association, Addameer, states that 20% of the total Palestinian population in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (and as high as 40% of the male population) have been arrested by the Israeli authorities. There are currently 4,500 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, and around 300 of these are being held in administrative detention. Administrative detention is a military practice that allows authorities to indefinitely detain people without charge or trial and without presenting any evidence against them.

The conditions imposed on prisoners and detainees are shocking. It is usual for prisoners to be held in solitary confinement and frequently denied visits from their family. Those in solitary confinement are held in a cell no larger than two and a half square metres, and which contains only a mattress and blanket. Detainees are permitted only one hour of sunlight and fresh air per day, and have their legs and hands cuffed during this time. In one of the most reported cases, Abdullah Barghouti has spent nine years in solitary confinement”

He continued:

“Acknowledging these factors, the 35 Oireachtas members call for an immediate response to the Palestinian non-violent protests. The current situation of Palestinians in Israeli jails is unacceptable. We call on both the Israeli government and international actors to recognise the following demands of prisoners:
1) That International Law and its provisions with regard to administrative detention are respected.
2) That Israel ends its policy of administrative detention.
3) That Israel ends its policy of keeping prisoners in solitary confinement.
4) That prisoners are allowed to see their families.”

The Oireachtas members who signed the petition are:

Gerry Adams TD Senator David Norris
Minister of State, Joe Costello TD Minister of State, Jan O Sullivan TD
Richard Boyd Barrett TD Olivia Mitchell TD
Robert Troy TD Thomas Pringle TD
Mary Lou McDonald TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD
Gerald Nash TD Senator Katherine Zappone
Maureen O Sullivan TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD
Michael Colreavy TD Senator Ivana Bacik
Seán Crowe TD Pearse Doherty TD
Finian McGrath TD Senator Terry Leyden
Dessie Ellis TD Martin Ferris TD
Senator Susan O Keefe Sandra McLellan TD
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD Jonathan O’Brien TD
Patrick Nulty TD Joan Collins TD
Brian Stanley TD Peadar Tóibín TD
Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh Senator Michael Mullins
Senator Jim Walsh Senator Kathryn Reilly
Senator David Cullinane

(www.sinnfein.ie /09.05.2012)