Israel/Palestine in the news, Part V

Moishe · Dec 30, 2016

Umar said: ↑

Militants use 7 year old boy as human shield.

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Interesting how bias plays a role in how this is viewed. First I will acknowledge that there is no reason that I can see to justify restraining a child but you and I clearly see two different things. I see a child being held in front of a man nearly twice his size. At no point does the man lift the child to provide cover for any exposed vital body parts. What I also see at around 35 seconds give or take is at least one of the guys in the masks put himself between the kid and the flying rocks. Absolutely nothing in that video shows the child being mistreated and at the end as he runs back to his family he doesn't not appear to be terrified. YMMV

Umar · Jan 27, 2017

The two state solution is dead.

It's time for a one state solution. Talking in terms of israel and Palestine is no longer fruitful. There should be one country and equal rights and guaranteed basic political freedoms for all people within historical Palestine.

ceezmad · Jan 30, 2017

I have a feeling that there is another war coming in Israel/Palestine, and there is going to be ethnic cleansing in a massive scale, not necessarily killing, but Palestinians being forced to leave in massive numbers (hundreds of thousands if not over a million).

The people that could stop it will sit and do nothing about it (Trump/Putin will even veto any UN resolution to stop it)

Umar · Jan 30, 2017

Leave to where? They are already unable to live in Gaza, where will they go?

And ethnic cleansing has been happening for a long time there. israel was founded by it. israel as a "democratic" state would be completely untenable without ethnic cleansing.

ceezmad · Jan 30, 2017

Exactly, that is why I fear this is coming, Israel is not going to allow Palestinians to vote away their Jewishness, so they will push them into Jordan, Syria, Egypt, S.A. the Mediterranean.

It could get very ugly for the Palestinian people.

Umar · Jan 30, 2017

No-one will vote away their Jewishness. They would of course vote away Jewish supremacy if given the choice.

song219 · Jan 30, 2017

ceezmad said: ↑

Exactly, that is why I fear this is coming, Israel is not going to allow Palestinians to vote away their Jewishness, so they will push them into Jordan, Syria, Egypt, S.A. the Mediterranean.

It could get very ugly for the Palestinian people.
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These things sound reasonable until you think of the logistics. Will they load buses of Palestinians and drive them across the Jordanian or Egyptian borders? Why would either country admit the buses? You know how many buses or how long it would take? They won't have to do this. They will just prevent Palestinians from getting Israeli citizenship & I doubt that many desire it anyway (at least outside of the pre-67 borders).

ceezmad · Jan 30, 2017

song219 said: ↑

These things sound reasonable until you think of the logistics. Will they load buses of Palestinians and drive them across the Jordanian or Egyptian borders? Why would either country admit the buses? You know how many buses or how long it would take? They won't have to do this. They will just prevent Palestinians from getting Israeli citizenship & I doubt that many desire it anyway (at least outside of the pre-67 borders).
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Well this is saying that the status quo, will continue, and that may be true, but if the façade of 2 states goes away, then Palestinian will rightfully demand they are accepted into the Israel state (give me equality or give me freedom) and as you say Israel is not going to want that.

1. So keep what is going on as long as possible.
2. Annex more and more of the west bank and keep the apartheid system.
3. kick as many Palestinians (Like Syria did) out as possible and then give citizenship to those that are allowed to stay.

song219 · Jan 30, 2017

ceezmad said: ↑

3. kick as many Palestinians (Like Syria did) out as possible and then give citizenship to those that are allowed to stay.
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You still need to have a country willing to take in the people you are throwing out something I'm sure Syria has and Israel won't.

ceezmad · Jan 30, 2017

song219 said: ↑

You still need to have a country willing to take in the people you are throwing out something I'm sure Syria has and Israel won't.
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And that is going to create massive amounts of problems. You are going to have a mass of people being trapped at the borders not allowed into bordering countries. a massive humanitarian disaster (if it does happen).

Pro-Freedom · Apr 7, 2017

A puzzling deafening silence from the world's media has greeted the Russian foreign ministry's announcement yesterday.

Russia recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital

http://thehill.com/policy/international/327673-russia-recognizes-jerusalem-as-israeli-capital

Pro-Freedom · Apr 23, 2017

FIFA may demand Israel stop settlement games

23-04-2017:..Football’s top governing body may set Israel a six-month ultimatum to end games in settlements in the occupied West Bank, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported Sunday.

FIFA’s monitoring committee on Israel-Palestine suggested the decision will be made at the upcoming FIFA congress in May, warning either Israel as a country or settlement-based teams should be suspended if the games do not stop.The issue has been pushed in recent years by the Palestinian football association who has demanded Israel be punished for continuing to play games in the settlements, which are illegal under international law.

While several options are mentioned in a report prepared by the committee, and obtained by Haaretz, it does mention that making such a demand on Israel would be in line with a decision to expel teams from Crimea participating in the Russian league after it annexed the region from Ukraine.

Chairman of the Palestinian Football Association, Jibril Rajoub, has rejected a FIFA position on maintaining the status quo, arguing that the presence of Israeli teams in the occupied West Bank contravenes FIFA’s own rules on setting up teams on another country’s territory.

A September 2016 Human Rights Watch report argued that by allowing the games to continue, FIFA contributes to business activity on occupied territory and allows human rights abuses because the settlements are based on land taken from Palestinians and often impact on basic rights like freedom of movement.

Palestinians have also complained that Israel often places travel bans on players from the blockaded Gaza Strip, making it difficult for teams from the coastal enclave to play Palestinian competitors in the West Bank.

Last year’s Palestinian cup final was delayed after six players from a Gaza team were refused permission to travel, though the decision was later reversed after a FIFA complaint to the Israeli authorities.
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Pro-Freedom · Apr 26, 2017

Israeli encroachment and the one-state reality

Pro-Freedom · May 4, 2017

Assad and Putin are reportedly outraged, insisting that bombing hospitals and using Sarin are far more effective.

Israeli army storms hospital in occupied West Bank

04-05-2017:..Several Palestinians were injured on Thursday when Israeli forces stormed the Ramallah Medical Center in the Israeli-occupied West Bank in a dawn raid, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

“Israeli troops raided the medical center and fired live ammunition and teargas at Palestinian youth who responded by throwing stones,” the ministry said in a statement.

According to the ministry, Israeli troops remained inside the medical center for about an hour and a half.

“Army troops refused to vacate the building despite appeals by the medical staff who were concerned about patients’ welfare,” the ministry statement read.

The ministry went on to note that “dozens” of Palestinians, including children and elderly patients, had suffered temporary asphyxiation due to the excessive use of teargas by Israeli troops.
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http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israeli-army-storms-hospital-in-occupied-west-bank/811191

Pro-Freedom · May 7, 2017

Prisoners enter 21st day of hunger strike, face growing threat to their health and continuing repression

07-05-2017:..On their 21st day of hunger strike, Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are facing an ever more serious health situation, as an increasing number of strikers experience loss of balance, muscle wasting and heavy fatigue, reported the strike’s Media Committee.

1500 Palestinian prisoners launched the strike on 17 April, Palestinian Prisoners’ Day, for a series of demands, including an end to the denial of family visits, the right to pursue higher education, appropriate medical care and treatment and an end to solitary confinement and administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial. Strikers have faced sharp repression, including frequent late-night raids by repressive forces, abusive transfers from prison to prison, solitary confinement, denial of legal and family visits and confiscation of personal belongings, sometimes including salt. Hunger strikers rely on consuming only salt and water to preserve their lives during the strike.

As the strike has grown and more prominent Palestinian prisoner leaders have joined the strike, repression has also intensified. Some prisoners have been transferred four times since the strike began. Today, the Israeli prison administration reportedly plans to transfer 100 prisoners from Ohli Kedar prison to section 10 in Eshel prison. Meanwhile, 30 of those prominent leaders, including imprisoned Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine General Secretary Ahmad Sa’adat, fellow PFLP leader Ahed Abu Ghoulmeh, Hamas leader Abbas al-Sayyed, longest-held Palestinian prisoner Nael Barghouthi and imprisoned journalist Mohammed al-Qeeq were transferred on Sunday morning to isolation in Ashkelon prison. All of these transfers also involved barring legal visits for the transferred prisoners.
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http://samidoun.net/2017/05/prisone...at-to-their-health-and-continuing-repression/

Pro-Freedom · May 8, 2017

Good people everywhere of all and no faiths oppose oppression and support freedom everywhere.

Manifesto - Jewish Antifa Berlin

24-04-2017:..In many areas of the left in Germany, the Jewish left is under attack. This is not unique to us. Our comrades, Palestinians, migrants and others who speak out against Israel's policies of colonization, occupation and dispossession are being attacked even more forcefully. Recognizing this, and understanding the clear connection between things, we discuss ourselves and our position in this text.

We, Jewish leftists, especially immigrants from Israel, are systematically subjected to violence from the German left, and particularly from people who claim to love Israel. We are dealing with attempts of delegitimization, demonization, exclusion and even pathologization.
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https://www.facebook.com/notes/jewi...erlin/1530402760303255/?hc_ref=PAGES_TIMELINE

Pro-Freedom · May 11, 2017

24th day of Palestinian prisoners’ hunger strike: Legal visits blocked for Sa’adat, Abu Ghoulmeh, Barghouthi

09-05-2017: Palestinian prisoners’ 24th day of hunger strike comes as lawyers continue to be denied access to prominent leaders among the prisoners, including prominent Palestinian leaders and hunger strikers Ahmad Sa’adat, Ahed Abu Ghoulmeh and Marwan Barghouthi. These visit denials come as increasing numbers of Palestinian prisoners face risky health conditions well into their fourth week without food as part of the Strike for Dignity and Freedom.

Over 1500 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails launched the hunger strike on 17 April 2017, Palestinian Prisoners’ Day. The strike has grown and includes Palestinian prisoners from all political forces and factions. The strikers’ demands are for their basic human rights, including ending the denial of family visits, providing appropriate health care and medical treatment, the right to pursue distance higher education and an end to solitary confinement and administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial.
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http://samidoun.net/2017/05/24th-da...s-blocked-for-saadat-abu-ghoulmeh-barghouthi/

Pro-Freedom · May 15, 2017

Palestinian prisoners on the front lines: 69 years of resistance to ongoing Nakba, struggle for return and freedom

15-05-2017:..On the 69th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba, the occupation of 78 percent of Palestinian land by Zionist forces and the forced displacement and expulsion of 750,000 to one million Palestinians from their homes and lands, Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network emphasizes our solidarity with the Palestinian people’s ongoing struggle for return and liberation.

Throughout these 69 years of settler colonialism, apartheid and occupation, the Nakba has been an ongoing event – of continuing conquest of Palestinian land and ongoing attempts to erase Palestinian identity and existence by driving the people from the land. 69 years of the Nakba also means 69 years of Palestinian prisoners’ imprisonment and resistance in Zionist jails. Since 1948, one million Palestinian prisoners have been jailed by the Israeli occupation, all of them strugglers for Palestinian freedom and Palestinians holding fast to their identity, land and existence. This marks a direct line of continued struggle, from that of the Palestinian prisoners in British colonial jails imprisoned for demanding their self-determination and national rights, free of colonization and occupation.

Today, Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are not only on hunger strike for their basic human rights. They are the first line of struggle for the right of return of millions of Palestinian refugees, denied for nearly 70 years, and for the liberation of Palestine’s land and people. The history of Palestinian resistance to the Nakba, the history of the Palestinian revolution, is the history of Palestinian prisoners. With their hunger strike today, they are not only resisting oppression, torture and injustice inside prison; they are resisting the ongoing Nakba with their empty stomachs, salt and water. The Palestinian prisoners themselves are from every part of Palestine – from occupied Palestine ’48, from the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, Jerusalem, from the Palestinian refugees expelled from their homeland.
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http://samidoun.net/2017/05/palesti...ngoing-nakba-struggle-for-return-and-freedom/

Pro-Freedom · May 15, 2017

Palestinian circus trainer Mohammed Abu Sakha on hunger strike for 29 days; freedom on horizon as detention limited

15-05-2017: Palestinian circus performer Mohammed Abu Sakha has now been on hunger strike for 29 days as part of the Strike of Dignity and Freedom. Abu Sakha, who has been held in administrative detention without charge or trial since 14 December 2015, is one of the 1500 Palestinian prisoners who launched the hunger strike on 17 April 2017.

The hunger strike has several key demands for basic human rights, including an end to the denial of family visits, the right to pursue distance higher education, appropriate health care and medical treatment and an end to solitary confinement and administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial.

Abu Sakha is a trainer with the Palestinian Circus School and has worked with the school since 2007; he has traveled around the world with the school and participated in numerous circus tours in Palestine. He specializes in working with children with special needs at the school. However, his international tours and training have been put on hold due to the repeated extension of his imprisonment without charge or trial.
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http://samidoun.net/2017/05/palesti...days-freedom-on-horizon-as-detention-limited/

Pro-Freedom · May 18, 2017

31 Days of Hunger Strike: Activists and prisoners’ families close the offices of the UN as strike enters second month

17-05-2017: Palestinian prisoners entered their second month of hunger strike on 17 May, as the 31st day of the collective hunger strike began. 1500 Palestinian prisoners – out of a total of 6300 – launched the strike on 17 April 2017 for a series of basic human rights demands, including an end to the denial of family visits, the right to access distance higher education, proper medical care and treatment and the end of solitary confinement and administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial.

Since the strike began, Palestinian prisoners have faced harsh repression upon joining the strike. They are frequently transferred from prison to prison, their personal belongings confiscated. Even the salt that the strikers rely on, with water, to preserve their life and health while on strike, has been confiscated from many prisoners. They have been denied family visits and, frequently, legal visits and leaders of the strike, including Fateh leader Marwan Barghouthi, PFLP General Secretary Ahmad Sa’adat, longest-serving prisoners Nael Barghouthi and Karim Younis and dozens of others, have been thrown in isolation, all in an attempt to break the strike. Lawyers have only been able to visit 39 of the hunger striking prisoners since the strike began, despite a decision of the Israeli Supreme Court that hunger strikers should have access to legal visits after an appeal by Palestinian lawyers.

On the 30th day of strike, prisoners’ health is declining; strikers are reporting many more cases of severe fatigue, vomiting blood, blurred vision and high weight loss of 20 kilograms and up. However, the strikers have continued to emphasize their commitment to continue until achieving their demands. Meanwhile, 76 prisoners held in Ofer prison were transferred to the so-callef “field hospital” in Hadarim. The striking prisoners have denounced these field hospitals as a false cover when no real medical care is provided and instead strikers are urged to eat food in exchange for receiving medical treatment, with the intention of keeping hunger strikers out of civilian hospitals and out of view. l One hunger striker, Hafez Qundus, was transferred to Soroka hospital with internal bleeding.
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http://samidoun.net/2017/05/31-days...ices-of-the-un-as-strike-enters-second-month/

Pro-Freedom · May 20, 2017

33 Days of Hunger Strike: Mass transfers of prisoners as colonial settler murders Palestinian protester

18-05-2017: On Friday, 19 May, Palestinian prisoners entered their 33rd day of the collective hunger strike launched by 1500 Palestinian prisoners – out of a total of over 6300 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails – on 17 April 2017, Palestinian Prisoners’ Day. The strikers are demanding basic human rights, including an end to the denial of family visits, proper medical care and treatment, access to higher education and an end to solitary confinement and administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial.

On Thursday, 18 May, the 32nd day of Palestinian prisoners’ collective hunger strike, the Israel Prison Service transferred large numbers of strikers to Beersheva, Shatta and Ramle prisons, concentrating the hunger strikers in prisons that are home to the so-called “field hospitals” created by the prison administration. These prisons are also close to Israeli civilian hospitals. These transfers, however, were carried out via the “bosta” through the arduous transfer process that has been used again and again to put additional stress on the weakened bodies of the strikers in an attempt to undermine their strike.
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http://samidoun.net/2017/05/33-days...lonial-settler-murders-palestinian-protester/

Pro-Freedom · May 28, 2017

Victory, Towards Liberation: Salute to the Palestinian Prisoners and the Struggle for Freedom

27-05-2017:On the occasion of the victory of the Strike of Freedom and Dignity, the valiant battle of Palestinian hunger strikers in Israeli jails, confronting the occupier with their bodies and their lives, we salute the Palestinian prisoners on achieving their victory, not only for themselves and their families, but for the entire Palestinian people and global movement for justice and liberation. We salute and congratulate the prisoners on their victory after 40 days of sacrifice, steadfastness and endless struggle. We also salute and congratulate all those who contributed to this victory, throughout Palestine, in the refugee camps, in Palestinian communities everywhere and among strugglers around the world for justice and liberation. We simultaneously take this moment as an inspiration to continue and elevate our action and organizing for freedom – for all Palestinian prisoners and for the land and people of Palestine.
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http://samidoun.net/2017/05/victory...inian-prisoners-and-the-struggle-for-freedom/

Pro-Freedom · May 29, 2017

New details released on agreement to suspend Palestinian prisoners’ hunger strike

28-05-2017:New details have been released regarding the agreement under which Palestinian prisoners suspended the 40-day Strike for Dignity and Freedom on Saturday morning, 27 May, providing more elaboration on the specific issues addressed in the prisoners’ negotiations with the Israeli occupation prison administration.

Issa Qaraqe, director of the Palestinian Prisoners Affairs Commission spoke in a press conference on Sunday, 28 May in which he declared that “80 percent of the demands” of the prisoners were achieved in the strike, calling it “an important achievement to build on in the future on the basis of the protection of the prisoners’ rights and dignity.”

Qaraqe reported on the major items agreed upon by the strikers with the Israeli prison administration, as noted by Palestinian lawyer Karim Ajwa, who met on Sunday morning with one of the strike leaders, Palestinian prisoner Nasser Abu Hmeid:...
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http://samidoun.net/2017/05/new-det...-suspend-palestinian-prisoners-hunger-strike/

Mani · May 30, 2017

I'm just amazed by the sheer stupidity of certain Iranian government officials when it comes to the Palestinians who always bite the hand that feeds them. You would think that by now they would have learnt that even dogs have more dignity than Hamas and Muslim Brtotherhood.

869666312729096192 is not a valid tweet id

Pro-Freedom · Jun 1, 2017

New statement from Marwan Barghouthi on the Strike of Freedom and Dignity

First statement of the leader Marwan Barghouthi after the victory of the strike of freedom and dignity

In the name of God, the merciful
To our great people, the people of struggle and sacrifice
To our people of revolution and intifada
To the children of the Arab and Islamic nations
To the free people of the world

Friends and lovers of peace and justice everywhere…The Palestinian prisoners in the prisons and dungeons of the Zionist enemy have been engaged in an open hunger strike from 17 April until the evening of 28 May. The prisoners in this national strike have marked the longest collective strike, a historic epic in the prisoners’ movement’s record over 50 years.

Despite the brutal repression and indiscriminate terror used by the Israeli Gestapo-style administration in the face of the strike, in which all strikers were transferred from their prisons in an unprecedented action, hundreds of them were held in solitary confinement and special repressive units (Matsada, Dror and Yamaz) were used in round-the-clock raids and inspections throughout the 42 days of the strike. They resorted to the transfer of striking prisoners in harsh and brutal conditions in an attempt to impact or undermine their will, confiscating all personal belongings, including underwear. The prisoners were deprived of all sanitary and hygiene materials, turning their lives into hell and releasing shameful rumors and lies. Yet, the record of the prisoners has been one of unprecedented steadfastness in the record of the Palestinian prisoners’ movement and the Israeli repression failed to break their will. From this historical and heroic scene, I stand on record, and with great pride, saluting this great steadfastness of the hunger strikers. And I salute with great reverence the martyrs, their families, and all those who rose up, were wounded and detained in this battle of freedom and dignity for Palestine.

I would also like to pay tribute to our great people of our pure Palestine, from the river to the sea, and in exile and diaspora. I thank them for their great support and unbridled efforts for the cause of the prisoners and their strike, which has returned the Palestinian cause to the forefront of the international political landscape. At the same time, I salute the Arab, Islamic and friendly peoples of the world for the level of solidarity and participation with which they supported us.

And salutes to all of those who participated in local and international media campaigns, as well as the Bar Association, the Doctors’ Syndicate, the Ministry of Education, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society, and the Prisoners’ and Former Prisoners’ Affairs Commission, emphasizing that the battle of freedom and dignity for Palestine is an integral part of the struggle for freedom, independence, return and the overthrow of the apartheid system in Palestine and the end of the occupation.

Our great people, despite the fact that the government of terror that leads the apartheid regime of Israel launched an attack on the hunger strike in a failed and desperate attempt to hide its crimes, this did not intimidate the prisoners nor break their iron will. It did not dissuade them from fighting this battle with determination and conviction, and carrying out an epic heroic saga. They have been able to extract a number of just and humanitarian achievements, the first of which is to restore the second monthly visit to the families of the prisoners, which was stopped almost one year ago, as well as addressing problems ongoing for years related to the conditions of daily life, including the conditions of women prisoners, child prisoners, ill prisoners, the “bosta” and transfer processing, the “canteen” (prison store) system, the introduction of clothing, as well as the formation of a committee of senior officials of the Prison Service for continued dialogue with the prisoners’ representatives in the forthcoming few days to discuss all issues without exception.

In light of this and with the coming of the holy month of Ramadan, we have decided to suspend the strike to give the opportunity to carry out these discussions with the Prison Service, emphasizing our strong readiness to resume the strike if the Prison Service does not fulfill its commitments made to the prisoners.

On this occasion, I extend my warmest congratulations to the heroic prisoners for their steadfastness and achievements of humanity and justice, with a special tribute to the prisoners of Nafha prison, who played a leading role in the success of this strike and the achievement of this great victory. I also pay tribute to the prisoners who went on strike in the prisons of the Negev, Ofer, Ramle prison clinic, Ashkelon, Gilboa, Megiddo, Ramon, and the children and women prisoners, and, finally, in Hadarim prison, and to everyone who participated in all of the detention centers and prisons, I hold their hands and kiss their high foreheads.

And with the renewal of their covenant and participation in this national strike, the longest and fiercest in the Palestinian prisoners’ movement’s history, there is a turning point in the relationship between the prisoners and the mechanisms of the prison administration. From now on and after today, we will not allow any infringement upon the achievements and the rights of the prisoners. In addition, this battle is also a force to rebuild and unify the prisoners’ movement in its various components, as a prelude to the formation of a unified national leadership in the coming few months. This is in preparation for the battle to extract the recognition of the prisoners in the dungeons of the Israeli occupation as prisoners of war and prisoners of freedom and the full application of the Third and Fourth Geneva Conventions.

To our great people, as I renew the tribute to the martyrs of the battle of freedom and dignity, I call upon the Palestinian president Abu Mazen, the PLO leadership and the national and Islamic factions to carry out their national duty to the prisoners by working to liberate them and gain their freedom. Again, I warn against any resumption of negotiations before requiring a comprehensive release of all prisoners and detainees. I express my special thanks to all institutions and bodies related to the prisoners, especially the Prisoners’ Affairs Commission, headed by the struggling brother Issa Qaraqe, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society and the struggling brother Qaddoura Fares, and the Higher Commission for Prisoners’ Affairs, the popular and international campaign for the release of all Palestinian prisoners, led by the struggling lawyer Mrs. Fadwa Barghouthi.

Glory to the righteous martyrs
Freedom to the prisoners of freedom
Long live the Palestinian battle of freedom and dignity

Your brother, Marwan Barghouthi (Abu al-Qassam)
Hadarim Prison
Cell No. 28
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http://samidoun.net/2017/05/new-sta...ghouthi-on-the-strike-of-freedom-and-dignity/