News
Palestinian journalist, Omar Nazzal was released yesterday, 20 February 2017, after 10 months imprisonment without charge or trial under administrative detention. Occupation forces arrested the journalist Omar Nazzal, a member of the General Secretariat of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, and president of the Democratic Journalists Union on 23 April 2016, from the Allenby Bridge while en route to participation in the European Federation of Journalists General Meeting. Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association condemns the continued and systematic targeting and arrests of journalists, including Mr. Nazzal, in contravention with the internationally codified freedom of...
In a pre-dawn raid, a huge number of Israeli occupation forces stormed Aida refugee camp on Wednesday, 14 February 2017, arresting two brothers. 13-year-old Anas Salah Masaed and 14-year-old Mohammad Salah Masaed were arrested for allegedly throwing stones. They were initially taken to Oz police station in Jerusalem and later transferred to Ofer military prison near Ramallah. The two brothers were able to speak to an attorney over the phone, but were not allowed to see him in person. Addameer is legally representing the two brothers, who will be brought before a court hearing today, 15 February 2017. Approximately 700 Palestinian children under the age of 18 from the occupied West Bank are...
Over the past week, Israeli Prison Service (IPS) special unit forces, called the Metzada , have carried out violent raids in the Nafha and Naqab prisons, both located beyond the Green Line. On 1 February 2017, the Metzada raided section 16 of the Naqab prison, attacking the prisoners and destroying their belongings. The prisoners were also subjected to physical beatings and some were transferred to other sections within the prison after one prisoner allegedly attempted an attack. Violent attacks and searches continued on 2 February in section 13 of the Naqab prison after the IPS closed off all sections of the prison. Addameer’s attorney, Farah Bayadsi, visited Naqab Prison on 8 February...
Mohammed al-Qeeq, the Palestinian activist and journalist, has declared an open hunger strike after being issued an administrative detention order by the occupation authorities today, 6 February 2016. Al Qeeq was rearrested bu Israeli occupation forces on the evening of 15 January at Beit El checkpoint north of Ramallah. Al-Qeeq, 35, earlier engaged in a 94-day hunger strike against his administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial with widespread Palestinian and international support, winning his release in May 2016. Since his release, al-Qeeq has been active in prisoners' issues and was arrested returning from a demonstration in Bethlehem for the release of the bodies of...
An article by Haaretz accounts the methods that interrogators describe and brings light to torture practices that are known to be routinely and systematically used against Palestinian detainees. The article recounts that “N., a former senior interrogator … said the methods used are carefully chosen to be effective enough to break the suspect’s spirit, but without causing permanent damage or leaving any marks.” Israeli physical torture methods cited in the article include slapping, back-bending, shouting, and being forced to squat. The article also describes the excruciatingly painful back-bending position in which the detainee “is seated on a backless stool, his arms and legs cuffed, and...
16-year-old Ahmad Khdour was arrested on Monday, 02 January 2017 near Ofer prison, where he is currently being held. The child has been taken to court for five hearings so far, and no charges have been put forth. Ahmad Khdour, who suffers from Leukemia and Epilepsy, also has a disability in the movement of his hand. He suffers from partial seizures as a result of his medical condition. His family has expressed concern regarding his health condition due to his chronic illnesses and frequent need for medication. Addameer strongly condemns the continued detention of the chronically ill child, who appears to present no security threat to the area, and who requires proper and consistent medical...
Israeli occupation forces arrest several Palestinian in a mass arrest campaign in Ramallah in the early hours of Monday, 16 January 2017. Among those arrested was a Palestinian Legislative Council member Ahmad Mubarak (55-year-old), who nearly spent 14 years in Israeli prisons. Occupation forced violently raided his house in Beitounia in Ramallah, causing destruction to property. Others who reportedly were arrested include: 1) 60-year-old Fallah Nada, 2) 50-year-old Mohammad Yousef Barghouthi, 3) 42-year-old Omar Nahed Barghouthi, 4) Shaja Darwish, 5) Walid Hodali, 6) 28-year-old Saeb Abu Salim. There are currently 7 Palestinian Legislative Council members held in Israeli prison and...
16-year-old Palestinian detainee Sharif Khanfar is being held in Afula’s Ha'emek Hospital and has had a below-knee amputation, due to an injury sustained after being hit by an Israeli jeep near a flying checkpoint in Jenin on 3 January 2017. According to Addameer’s attorney legally representing the child, the 16-year-old was with three friends riding a Vespa motorcycle, when Israeli forces apprehended them for allegedly planning a ramming attack. Sharif and his family members are shocked by the incident which resulted in the loss of a leg, and deny the claims of the Israeli army that the boys intended to carry out an attack. Sharif was arrested on the day of the incident and then...
13-year-old Shadi Farrah and Ahmad Zaatari have been sentenced to two years in prison by an Israeli court. The two boys were arrested in December 2016 while en route home from school in Jerusalem. Accounts state that Israeli settlers had called the police to investigate the boys, who were then arrested on suspicion of attempting to carry out a stabbing attack. The boys were charged with attempted manslaughter – even in the absence of evidence against them. The two are currently held in a rehabilitation center in 1948 territories.
Palestinian child Marah Bakeer has been sentenced by an Israeli court to 8 years and a half years in prison, including 10,000 NIS fine. Marah Bakeer, a 17-year-old girl from the city of Jerusalem, was arrested on 10 October 2015, after she was shot 10 times in her left arm by an Israeli soldier. According to an affidavit, Marah was not carrying anything, and when the soldier asked her to raise her hands, she did so, but he pushed her which made her fall on the ground. When the police attended the scene, a police officer pushed her to the ground again, causing her to hit her head with the ground. The police officer started searching her body with his hands, took her headscarf off and took...