Several prisoners in Israeli jails are still on hunger strike, officials said Thursday, days after a deal was struck to end a mass hunger strike movement.

Israeli Prisons Service spokeswoman Sivan Weizman told Ma’an that Mahmoud al-Sarsak and Akram al-Rekhawi are refusing food. They are being held in Ramle prison clinic, she said.

Al-Sarsak has been on hunger strike for 60 days and is protesting his detention without charge or trial. A soccer player, al-Sarsak was detained in July 2009 while leaving the Gaza Strip to join the national team in the West Bank.

He being held under Israel’s “unlawful combatant” law and has not been informed of any charges against him.

The prisoner rights group Addameer told Ma’an that al-Sarsak is the only prisoner held under the policy. Addameer says al-Sarsak was told he would be released on July 1 but the offer was retracted.

His next judicial review is due on Aug. 22. Detention orders of six months are indefinitely renewable under the “unlawful combatant” law.

Al-Rekhawi was held in Ramle’s prison clinic prior to launching his hunger strike and is still refusing food in protest at inadequate medical treatment. He has been on hunger strike since April 17.

The 38-year-old suffers from asthma, diabetes and cataracts, a lawyer for the ministry of prisoners in Ramallah, Fadi Abedat, told Ma’an.

Abedat said another prisoner Mohammad Abu Libda was still on hunger strike and being held in Ramle clinic along with Sarsak and Rekhawi.

Abu Libda, 35, who is paralyzed and uses a wheelchair, has been detained since 2000 and was sentenced to 12 years. He has been on hunger strike since April 17.

Addameer told Ma’an that another prisoner, Mohammad Taj is also continuing his hunger strike, demanding to be treated as a prisoner of war.

Taj, an officer in the Palestinian Authority security forces, went on hunger strike on March 18. He briefly stopped his strike over the weekend but resumed it on Tuesday. He is being held in solitary confinement in al-Jalameh prison and was beaten by prison guards on Wednesday, his relatives told Addameer.

Weizman, the spokeswoman for Israel’s Prison Service, told Ma’an the continued strikes would not affect a deal reached on Monday to end a mass hunger strike by around 2,000 detainees.

Prisoner representatives signed a deal Monday to end the mass strike in exchange for Israeli “facilitation” on policies toward solitary confinement, family visits and living conditions.

Ofir Gendelman, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told Ma’an on Monday that all prisoners must end the hunger strike within 72 hours, and not later refuse food, for the deal to hold.

But Weizman told Ma’an Thursday that the prisoners still on strike were not part of the mass movement and their cases would not affect the deal

Mahmoud Sarsak who is on day 60 of his hunger strike

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=486762&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

In cooperation with the International Committee for Breaking the Siege on Gaza, the Jordan Lifeline to Gaza (Ansar 2) and Partners for Peace and Development (Miles of Smiles) humanitarian development convoys arrived in Gaza today (17th May).

Ansar 2, the Jordanian leg of the convoy consists of 91 Jordanians representing all sectors of Jordanian Society arrived in Al-Arish airport this morning where they transferred directly to Rafah.

They were be joined in Gaza today by Miles of Smiles International convoy which traveled directly from Cairo to Rafah. This leg of the convoy consisted of 21 participants from Lebanon, 3 from Malaysia, 3 from France and 7 from Egypt.

Wael Al Sakka, the Chairman of Jordan Lifeline stated that   “Previous convoys have no doubt been a great benefit in focusing attention on the unjust siege imposed on the Gaza Strip as well as bringing emergency aid relief.  However after evaluation of past convoys and in consultation with Gaza we have found it necessary to make significant change on the nature and content of the future convoys.”

Some areas the new models aims to achieve are:

• Supporting development projects as requested and defined by Gaza.
• Support the  establishment of small businesses in order to alleviate high unemployment by granting loans to finance these projects.
• Continuation of  focusing attention on issues through the media and political supporters of the convoy,  Ansar-2 for example is will be focusing  on the prisoners issue.
• Supply of specialised medicines and medical equipment requested by the Ministry of Health in Gaza.

This convoy will also be establishing  a vocational training centre in the Engineers Association in Khan Younis to provide professional training in the field of reconstruction, as this sector suffers from a severe shortage of skilled trained workers.

Prior Miles Of Smiles Convoy image

A letter from Thaer Halahleh, on day 75 of hunger strike against his detention without charge, to his two-year-old daughter Lamar, who he has never seen. 

“My Beloved Lamar, forgive me because the occupation took me away from you, and took away from me the pleasure of witnessing my first born child that I have always prayed to God to see, to kiss, to be happy with. It is not your fault, this is our destiny as Palestinian people to have our lives and the lives of our children taken away from us, to be apart from each other and to have a miserable life, nothing is complete in our lives because of this unjust occupation that is lurking on every corner of our lives turning it into eeriness, a continuous pursuit and torture.

Despite that I was deprived from holding you and hearing your voice, from watching you grow up and move around in the house and in your be, and that I was deprived of my rule as a human and a father with my daughter your existence has given me all the power and hope, and when I saw your picture with your mother in the sit-in tent, you were so calm staring in wonder at people, as if you were looking for your father, looking at my pictures that are hung inside the tent asking in silence why is my father not coming back, I felt that you are with me, in my sentiment and inside my mind, as if you are a part of my heartbeats, steadfast and the blood that flows in my veins, opening all doors for me spreading clear skies around me, and unleashing your free childish voice after this long silence”.

“Lamar my love: I know that you are not to be blamed and that you don’t yet understand why your father is going through this battle of the hunger strike for the 75th day, but when you grow up you will understand that the battle of freedom is the battle of going back to you, so that I can never be taken away from you again or to be deprived of your smile or seeing you, so that the occupier will never kidnap me again from you”.

“When you grow up you will understand how injustice was brought upon your father and upon thousands of Palestinians whom the occupation has put in prisons and jail cells, shattering their lives and future for no guilt but their pursuit of freedom, dignity and independence, you will know that your father did not tolerate injustice and submission, that he will never accept insult and compromise, and that he is going through a hunger strike to protest against the Jewish state that wants to turn us into humiliated slaves without any rights or patriotic dignity”.

“My beloved Lamar keep your head up always and be proud of your father, and thank everyone who supported me, who supported the prisoners in their struggle, and don’t be afraid god is with us always, and god never lets people who have faith and patience, we are righteous, and right will always prevail against injustice and wrong doers”.

“Lamar my love: that day will come, and I will make it up to you for everything, and tell you the whole story, and your days that will follow will be more beautiful, so let your days pass now and wear your prettiest clothes, run and then run again in the gardens of your long life, go forward and forward nothing is behind you but the past, and this is your voice I hear all the time as a melody of freedom”.

Thaer Halahleh's 2 year year old daughter Lamar, and his wife

During the Irish Hunger Strike in 1981 that was led by Bobby Sands, a statement was smuggled out of Nafha Prison from the Palestinian prisoners and sent to the families of the 10 men who died.

That support has never been forgotten, and while Khader Adnan and Hana Shalabi were on Hunger Strike, several families of the 10 men who died, and former Hunger Strikers sent several messages of support to them and their families. They have also sent messages to the current Palestinian prisoners who are on Hunger Strike, and to their families.

Below is a copy of the message smuggled out of Nafha prison in 1981:

“To the families of the martyrs oppressed by the British ruling class. To the families of Bobby Sands and his martyred comrades.

We, revolutionaries of the Palestinian people who are under the terrorist rule of Zionism, write you this letter from the desert prison of Nafha.

We extend our salutes and solidarity with you in the confrontation against the oppressive terrorist rule enforced upon the Irish people by the British ruling elite.

We salute the heroic struggle of Bobby Sands and his comrades, for they have sacrificed the most valuable possession of any human being. They gave their lives for freedom.

From here in Nafha prison, where savage snakes and desert sands penetrate our cells, from here under the yoke of Zionist occupation, we stand alongside you. From behind our cell bars, we support you, your people and your revolutionaries who have chosen to confront death.

Since the Zionist occupation, our people have been living under the worst conditions. Our militants who have chosen the road of liberty and chosen to defend our land, people and dignity, have been suffering for many years.

In the prisons, we are confronting Zionist oppression and their systematic application of torture. Sunlight does not enter our cell. Basic necessities are not provided. Yet we confront the Zionist hangmen, the enemies of life.

Many of our militant comrades have been martyred under torture by the fascists allowing them to bleed to death. Others have been martyred because Israeli prison administrators do not provide needed medical care.

The noble and just hunger strike is not in vain. In our struggle against the occupation of our homeland, for freedom from the new Nazis, it stands as a clear symbol of the historical challenge against the terrorists.

Our people in Palestine and in the Zionist prisons are struggling as your people are struggling against the British monopolies and we will both continue until victory.

On behalf of the prisoners of Nafha, we support your struggle and cause of freedom against English domination, against Zionism and against fascism in the world.”

 

Palestinians show support for the Irish Hunger Strikers in 1981

Recently painted Mural on the Falls Road, Belfast

British airline company, Jet2.com, have become the latest airline to cancels tickets for those who intend travelling to Tel Aviv on Sunday, en route to Palestine. Today, Lufthansa and Air Brussels also caved into Israeli pressure to cancel tickets.

Below is a copy of a letter from Jet2.com sent to a customer who had a reservation to fly with them:

From: “CustomerCare”

Date: Apr 13, 2012 10:21 AM
Subject: Jet2.com – LS907 Manchester – Tel Aviv – Booking reference 2FNCTM
Jet2.com Flight LS907 Manchester to Tel Aviv Sunday 15th April 2012

Dear XXX XXXXX

Jet2.com is required by the Israeli authorities to provide Advance Passenger Information in relation to all passengers that it carries on flights to Israel. Advance Passenger Information includes a passenger’s name, date of birth, passport number and nationality.

In accordance with Article 7 of its Terms and Conditions, Jet2.com has provided Advance Passenger Information in respect of your flight from Manchester to Israel. As a result of providing that Information, Jet2.com has been informed by the Israeli authorities that you will not be not permitted to enter Israel. Consequently, if Jet2.com carries you to Israel, you will be refused entry and Jet2.com will be liable for both a fine and your return to Manchester.

As a result, and in accordance with Article 24 of its Terms and Conditions, Jet2.com: “may refuse to carry you where such action is necessary for reasons of safety and/or security and/or to comply with any applicable laws, regulations or orders of any country to be flown from, into or over including laws or regulations relating to Advance Passenger Information requirements.” We regret that, in light of the decision taken by the Israeli authorities, we are unable to accept you for carriage to Israel on this occasion and your booking with Jet2.com has been cancelled.

In accordance with Article 26.3 of its Terms and Conditions, Jet2.com is a non-refundable airline and we will therefore be unable to offer any refund, with the exception of a refund of the applicable taxes paid, as a result of the decision taken by the Israeli authorities.

Jet2.com would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused by the cancellation of your booking, which we hope you will appreciate is totally beyond our control.

Yours sincerely

Jet2.com Customer Care Team

Lufthansa German Airlines canceled the plane tickets of dozens of passengers planning to participate in the “flytilla” attempt to land en masse at Ben-Gurion Airport on Sunday, #Airflotilla2 website reported Friday.

The pro-Palestinian website uploaded a scanned image of one of the canceled tickets that a passenger had received, and reported that the same notification had been sent to dozens of activists on Thursday, informing them that their reservation had been canceled “by order of Israel.” 

#Airflotilla2 is an online campaign supporting “Welcome to Palestine 2012,” the umbrella organization overseeing the initiative.  

According to the campaign organizers, Lufthansa informed the passengers that “Israel produced a list of names of persons to whom this country denies entry,” and that their names were on the list.

The message quoted by #Airflotilla2 stated that their tickets had been canceled and they would be refunded. According to “Welcome to Palestine 2012,” some of the people whose flights were canceled are not associated with the campaign. 

Campaigners said that those who had received the notifications had not committed any offense and “do not accept these mafia-methods favored by governments complicit in the imprisonment of the Palestinian people.” Therefore, they said they would show up at their respective airports as scheduled to board flights to Tel Aviv.

The Public Security Ministry and the Israel Police are making final preparations  ahead of the scheduled event on Sunday, anticipating that the activists will try to cause disturbances. Police will beef up their presence at the airport and single out activists when they deplane with the intention of arresting them and deporting them back to their point of origin as quickly as possible, with minimum disruption to ordinary passengers in the airport.

Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch told Channel 1 news on Monday evening that Israel hopes it will succeed in preventing many of the travelers from boarding planes in their home countries, by sending blacklists with activists’ names to foreign airports like it did last year.

“Welcome to Palestine 2012,” calls on activists to “challenge Israel’s policy of isolating the West Bank while the settler paramilitaries and army commit brutal crimes against a virtually defenseless Palestinian civilian population,” according to a message posted on the group’s website.

The group has received endorsements from Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu, former South African politician Ronnie Kasrils and linguist Noam Chomsky, among others.

In July, police arrested and deported 124 activists from the US, Spain, Belgium, France and the Netherlands.

A small number of activists managed to bypass police and walk out of the airport, though the police intercepted the majority of them. Beforehand, blacklisted activists were prevented from boarding Israel-bound passenger flights at European airports.

The organizers of this year’s effort said that they received promises from several European airports not to prevent travelers from boarding the planes, since this involves reimbursing passengers for the ticket prices.

Article courtesy of JP:

http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=265927

Hana Shalabi, who recently ended her 43 day Hunger Strike, sent a message of support to the Irish prisoner, Marian Price, from the Gaza strip, where she was exiled 2 weeks ago by Israel.

In the following video message, Hana sends a message of support, and calls for the immediate release of Marian Price.

Hana was on an open ended Hunger Strike against her unlawful arrest and detention. She was been held without trial or conviction. In a deal to release her, she was exiled from her family and home in the occupied West Bank to Gaza.

Marian Price, too, went on hunger strike for political status after being sentenced to life for a Provisional IRA bombing in 1973. She was force-fed more than 200 times. Her health has never recovered. She was close to death when pardoned in 1980.

Last week, 15 members of the Galway Palestine Children Appeal entered Gaza, and over the course of 3 days, distributed over £20,000 of humanitarian aid, educational supplies, musical instruments, camera equipment, and toys.

Last Thursday, 29th March, The Galway Palestine Children’s Appeal got an agreement from Basem A Shurrab, Deputy Director General of Projects in the Ministry of Education & Higher Education, to build a playground in Jabalya Refugee Camp. This playground will be built in co cordination with the NGO group Etam based in Khan Younis. The Galway Palestine Children’s Appeal gave € 9000 towards this project. Joe McGowan also gave €500 to this project from Sligo Heritage and Sligo Prayer Group.

Among those who traveled in the group is legendary Irish musician, Donal Lunny. Donal has long been a supporter of Palestine, and this is his first visit to the besieged region. Also in the delegation is Treasa Ni Cheannabhain. For many years Treasa has worked tirelessly for Palestinian children, and has visited Gaza on many occasions delivering aid.

For the past number of months, a number of fundraising events have been held in the Galway area, and every penny raised went directly to buying the aid. It is a credit to all involved not only in the delegation who traveled, but to everyone back in Ireland who donated to this Humanitarian gesture.

Click on the following link to watch a news report on their visit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3L_KsTIBh0&sns=fb

Interview with Treasa as she attended the Global March To Jerusalem in Gaza

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRkwfhGTMNc&list=UUESpX628NmaJxYN6ji-D43A&index=79&feature=plcp

Galway Palestine Children Appeal arriving in Gaza

Colm O Cinnseala and Donal Lunny carrying meningitis medication to storage facility in Gaza.

Galway Palestine Children Appeal provide Jabalia Martyrs Primary School with a generous donation of Educational Materials and toys.

The PA ministry of prisoners’ affairs said in a statement on Sunday that Israel will deport Palestinian prisoner Hana Shalabi to the Gaza Strip “within hours,” according to Maan news agency.

The statement said Shalabi’s parents and other relatives would not be allowed to see her before she is deported.

Shalabi, from Jenin, ended a 43-day hunger strike on Thursday after reaching a deal with Israeli authorities that she will be deported to the Gaza Strip for three years.

Today, Tuesday March 27th, The Galway Palestine Children’s Appeal entered Gaza with over £20,000 worth of Humanitarian Aid. At lunchtime today, they crossed through the Rafah crossing having traveled from Cairo. They had spent several days in Cairo buying much needed aid, and were overwhelmed when they entered Gaza this afternoon.

Among those travelling in the group is legendary Irish musician, Donal Lunny. Donal has long been a supporter of Palestine, and this is his first visit to the besieged region. Also in the delegation is Treasa Ni Cheannabhain. For many years Treasa has worked tirelessly for Palestinian children, and has visited Gaza on many occasions delivering aid.

For the past number of months, a number of fundraising events have been held in the Galway area, and every penny raised went directly to buying the aid. It is a credit to all involved not only in the delegation who traveled, but to everyone back in Ireland who donated to this Humanitarian gesture.

While in Gaza, they will meet with various doctors and NGO’s, and visit several hospitals and charities to see the ongoing work that The Galway Palestine Children’s Appeal have been supporting for years. Plus, they plan to attend the official event to mark the twinning of Gaza City with the Irish Council of Moyle later in the week. The Mayor of Moyle will arrive in Gaza tomorrow to sign the historic agreement with his counterpart in Gaza City Municipality.

On Wednesday March 28th, the Mayor of Moyle District Council, Padraig McShane, will arrive in Gaza to officially sign the historic twinning agreement between the Irish council, and the Gaza City Municipality.

Following 3 successful democratic votes over the past few months, the latest on Monday night past, Moyle District Council officially passed the twinning agreement. On March 17th, the Gaza City Municipality also voted to back the twinning agreement.

Moyle District Council is in the North East of Ireland, and within its district are the stunning Glens of Antrim, Bushmills which is world famous for its whiskey, and the Giants Causeway, which is a UNESCO world heritage site.

While in Gaza, Padraig will meet with the Mayor of Gaza City, and in addition to signing the official twinning agreement, he will visit the land where the “Moyle Peace Park” will be constructed. He will also visit the Al Awda Hospital to meet doctors and patients, as well as The Artificial Limbs & Polio Centre.

In October 2010, Padraig traveled to Gaza as part of a Humanitarian Aid convoy. In Gaza, he donated his van and over £30,000 of medical and educational aid to the Al Awda Hospital and the Jana charity that works with disabled children. The vehicle and aid were donated on behalf of the people of Moyle District who worked tirelessly to play their part in helping the people of Gaza who have been living under the Israeli enforced siege for over 5 years now.