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Israeli occupation forces arrested Palestinian Legislative Council member Khalida Jarrar and Khitam Saafin, chairwoman of the Union of Palestinian Women's Committees, who have been taken to an undisclosed location, in addition to 9 other individuals in a pre-dawn raid. Khalida Jarrar, a civil society leader, has been a Palestinian Legislative Council Member since 2006, is head of the Prisoners' Commission in the Palestinian Legislative Council, and member of the Board of Directors of Addameer Prisoner Support. Khalida Jarrar has been targeted by Israeli forces in recent years. She was released from prison in June 2016 after serving over a year in prison, including one-month under...
The Administrative detention of prominent Palestinian writer and political scientist Ahmad Qatamish has been confirmed today, 13 June 2017, by a military judge for three months. Mr. Qatamish, who was arrested in a pre-dawn raid by Israeli occupation forces on 14 May 2017, received a three months administrative detention order, signed by the occupation military commander of the West Bank on 17 May 2017. Today, a confirmation hearing was held at Ofer military court. The judge subsequently confirmed the order claiming that Mr. Qatamish participated in activities affiliated with an illegal organization, without specifying the nature of these activities , the judge also claimed that Mr. Qatamish...
The administrative detention of Palestinian journalist and human rights defender Hasan Safadi, the Media Coordinator for Addameer, has been renewed for an additional 6 months for the second time. Safadi's administrative detention order was set to end on 8 June 2017, but the order has been renewed. The new order is from 09 June - 08 December 2017. Administrative detention orders may be renewed indefinitely. Safadi’s administrative detention order is scheduled to be confirmed by a judge at a time set in the next 48 hours, making him one of approximately 500 Palestinians held without charge or trial under administrative detention. Administrative detention orders are renewable indefinitely and...
Israeli occupation forces arrested exiled former Palestinian political prisoner Yousef Abu Al Kheir, who was deported back in 1985. Abu Al Kheir was arrested at Al Lod Airport a few days ago, after 34 years of living outside the country. Abu Al Kheir was arrested in 1969 for being a member of a Palestinian militant group, and received two life sentences by an Israeli court for allegedly carrying out attacks. He was later released in an exchange deal in 1985 under the condition of leaving Palestine. He first went to Libya and then moved to Greece, where he was living before his arrest. Abu Kheir has been taken to an unidentified location. Addameer strongly condemns Yousef Abu Al Kheir's...
After 40 days, Palestinian prisoners have suspended their mass hunger strike, which was launched on 17 April 2017 by an estimated 1500 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli prisons and detention centers. The prisoners had a range of demands, highlighting basic needs and human rights, including an end to the denial of family visits, the right to proper health care and medical treatment, the right to pursue distance higher education, an end to solitary confinement, and an end to administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial. Issa Qaraqe, director of the Palestinian Prisoners Affairs Commission spoke at a press conference on Sunday, 28 May in which he declared that “80...
Addameer’s attorneys visited five hunger-striking prisoners (Hussam Zahayqa, Murad Abu Sakout, Dorgham Al Araj, Mohammad Abu Sakha and Amjad Abu Latifa) in Eshel, Hadarim and Ela prisons on Tuesday, 23 May, 2017. On the 38th day of hunger strike, Palestinian political prisoners remain strong and determined. The hunger strike was launched on 17 April 2017, Palestinian Prisoners’ Day, by an estimated 1500 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli prisons and detention centers. The prisoners have a range of demands, highlighting basic needs and human rights, including an end to the denial of family visits, the right to proper health care and medical treatment, the right to pursue distance...
Addameer's attorney Mahmoud Hassan visited hunger-striking political leader Ahed Abu Ghoulmeh on 21 May 2017, in Ohli Kedar prison. This is Abu Ghoulmeh’s first legal visit since joining the hunger strike on 4 May 2017; prior requests were repeatedly denied until a High Court petition on 14 May 2017. Since the beginning of the strike, 17 April 2017, Addameer requested several visits from Israeli Prison Service (IPS) to visit hunger-striking prisoners and detainees, but the IPS either did not respond or rejected the requests. The hunger strike was launched on 17 April, Palestinian Prisoners’ Day, by 1500 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli prisons and detention centers. The prisoners...
Prominent Palestinian writer and political scientist Ahmad Qatamish, who was arrested in a pre-dawn raid by Israeli occupation forces on 14 May 2017, received a three months administrative detention order, signed by the occupation military commander of the West Bank today, 17 May 2017. Within 8 days, a confirmation hearing will be held at Ofer military court. Addameer strongly condemns Qatamish’s continuing detention, as it suggests that he is still being targeted for his writings and activism. Mr. Qatamish was first arrested by the Israeli authorities in 1969 and held for a few months. He was then rearrested in 1972, this time spending 4 years in prison. After his release, Mr. Qatamish...
As a result of Israel’s cruel policies and practices towards Palestinian political prisoners and detainees, over 1500 political prisoners have declared the beginning of an open hunger strike on 17 April 2017 in order to achieve a list of demands: One of the primary demands of the hunger strikers is an end to the policy of administrative detention. Approximately 500 Palestinians held in administrative detention, without charge or trial for indefinitely renewable periods of up to six months, on the basis of secret evidence. Israel's widespread and systematic use of administrative detention violates international human rights and humanitarian law and amounts to psychological torture. Another...
Karim Younes, known as “the Dean of Palestinian prisoners,” wrote a letter emphasizing that the prisoners will to continue with the hunger strike until victory or death, and despite repressive measures taken by prison forces to break the will of hunger-striking prisoners and detainees. Prisoner Younis also said in the letter that the prisoners informed the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) administration that they are ready for serious negotiations only, and not for any empty sessions or promises. Mr. Younes added that the only body authorized to negotiate are the leaders of the strike, and according to the standards set in the beginning of the strike. Full text of the letter: Our noble people,...