1,550 Palestinians are on hunger strike. Four
of them have been striking for over 60 days and are at risk of death, and one passed
out in court earlier this week. Thousands have been demonstrating daily in solidarity, and
at least ten demonstrators were arrested outside the Ramle prison ~
and the Israeli Prison Service is finally about to decide on its response to
the prisoners’ struggle. It will be surprising if the Israelis "give over' an inch in this. The great state of Israel will not be deterred by the hunger tactics of a few beastly Palestinians! As with Cast Lead, for Israel this will be another public relations fizzle, with the Palestinians coming out, as always, with the support of the people of the world.
By Julie Webb-Pullman
May 4, 2012
Hundreds of women today marched to
"Al Jundy," the Square of the Unknown Soldier in Gaza City to join
those already gathered in solidarity for the Palestinian hunger-strikers in
Israeli jails.
Some 40 released prisoners have set up
beds in the solidarity tents, in an open-ended public hunger strike in support
of the current prisoners, whose situation they know only too well.
Thousands of locals pass through every
day, staying a few hours or all day, to support them all in their demands for
the treatment of Palestinian prisoners in accordance with international law.
As is happening every day now, at
midday there were press conferences held by different factions and organizations.
Today the Government Media Office demanded the Arab world and the international
communities stand up and defend the integrity of the various instruments of
international law guaranteeing the rights of prisoners, otherwise the
instruments, as well as the United Nations itself, will lose all remaining
credibility.
Women march to the Square
"The international community and UN agencies [must] protect the integrity
of these conventions and take action against Israel for its crimes against
Palestinian prisoners, and demand that Israel abide by international law and
conventions relating to the treatment of prisoners," said Hassan Abu
Hasheesh, Chief of the Government Media Office.
Gazans hunger-striking in sympathy in the Square of the Unknown Soldier.
Israel's refusal to treat Palestinian
prisoners in accordance with international law sits alongside its refusal to
observe international law in other important areas, such as their ongoing
failure to abide by numerous United Nations Resolutions such as General
Assembly Resolution 194 guaranteeing refugees the right of return, Security
Council Resolution 242 holding the Israeli occupation of Palestinian
territories captured in 1967 illegal, and Security Council Resolution 446
determining that establishing settlements by Israel in Palestinian and other
Arab territories occupied since 1967 have no legal validity.
Many family members of prisoners were
present, including numerous children ~ daughters, sons, sisters and brothers
holding photos of their dad or their brother. Two young girls sang a traditional
Palestinian song about prisoners under the occupation to an appreciative crowd.
The sit-in at Al Jundy will remain
until the prisoners' legitimate demands are met, and the hunger strike is over.
A still-weak Hana Shalabi supported by other women
Arigatou gozaimasu Noor san.
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