Occupied Ramallah, 10 March 2013– During a visit to Hadarim Prison on Thursday 7 March 2013, Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association’s lawyer met with the hunger striking administrative detainee Samer Al-Barq (38 years old) from the town of Jayyous, Qalqilia.
Addameer‘s lawyer reported that Al-Barq has been on an open hunger strike since 27 February 2013 in protest of the renewal of his 3-month administrative detention order on 24 February 2013. The detainee has undertaken three hunger strikes throughout the past two years, the most recent of which took place from 14 October 2012 to 18 October 2012 in protest of his administrative detention, which had begun on 11 July 2010. Addameer‘s Research and Documentation Unit confirmed that 7 other prisoners are currently on hunger strike in the Occupation‘s prisons. They are:
Ayman Sharawna (36 years old) from Dura Al Khalil: Sharawna started his hunger strike on 1 July 2012 in protest of his re-arrest under Article 186 of Military Order 1651. This law allows a special military commission to effectively “cancel the early release” of prisoners who were released in the prisoners exchange deal. In Sharwana’s case, this means that he can be sentenced to serve the remaining 28 years of his sentence.
Sharawna briefly suspended his hunger strike in December 2012 at the promise of a court hearing to resolve his case. He resumed his hunger strike on 17 January 2013 after learning that the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) deceived him in their promise.
Samer Al-Issawi (33 years old) from Issawiya, Jerusalem: Israeli Occupying Forces (IOF) re-arrested Issawi on 7 July 2012. He has been on a hunger strike intermittently for over 200 days in protest of his arbitrary re-arrest. Issawi is a recently released ex-prisoner who was released in the latest prisoner exchange deal on 18 October 2011. He suffers from a severe decrease in weight as his health continues to deteriorate.
On 21 February 2013, the Israeli Magistrate Court sentenced Issawi to eight months as of the day of his arrest, on the grounds that he violated a military order by entering the West Bank. This ruling is in addition to an attempt by the Military Commission based on Article 186 of Military Order 1651 to consider if Issawi will be sentenced to complete his previous sentence of 20 years.
Younis Al-Hroub (31 years old) from Al-Khalil (Hebron): Al-Hroub has been on hunger strike for 20 days, since he announced his hunger strike on 19 February 2013 in protest of his administrative detention. He currently languishes in Negev Prison.
It is worth mentioning that Al-Hroub was previously detained for a period of 6 years (2002-2008). He is married and has two sons. Tens days before the expiry of his first administrative detention order, the order was renewed for an additional 6 months. The initial administrative detention order was also for 6 months, from 7 July 2012 to 10 January 2013.
Muhammad Ahmad An-Najjar from Al-Khalil (Hebron): An-Najjar has been on hunger strike for 13 days, since he announced his strike on 26 February 2013 in protest of his administrative detention.
Zakariyah Al-Heeh (26 years old), from Al-Khalil (Hebron): Al-Heeh has been detained since 26 November 2012 and currently languishes in Ofer Prison. He has been on hunger strike for 12 days; he announced his strike on 27 February 2013 in protest of his administrative detention.
Ibrahim Al-Sheikh Khalil from Jericho: Khalil has been on hunger strike for 12 days, since he announced his strike on 27 February 2013 in protest of his administrative detention. He is currently in Ofer Prison.
Hazem Al-Tawil from Al-Khalil: Al-Tawil has been on hunger strike for 19 days, since he announced his strike on 20 February 2013 in protest of his administrative detention. He has been detained since 19 February 2013 and currently languishes in Ofer Prison.
Addameer holds the Israeli Occupying Forces and the Israeli Prison Service responsible for the lives of hunger striking prisoners and detainees. Addameer demands that the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Honorable Ban Ki-Moon, intervene immediately and urgently demand that the IOF release striking prisoners and detainees without delay.
ACT NOW!
*Write to the Israeli government, military and legal authorities and demand the release of the prisoners on hunger strike.
- 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: [email protected]; [email protected] - 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 the hunger strikers.