Ramallah, 22 August 2013 – Following a recent visit by Addameer, former hunger striker Abdullah Barghouthi explained that the lack of international attention was one of the primary factors in ending the hunger strikes of four Jordanian prisoners held in Israeli jails. Barghouthi, along with Mohammad Rimawi, Hamza Othman and Munir Mar’ee called an end to their hunger strikes on 11 August, after 102 days. It should be noted that prior to the commencement of their hunger strikes all five Jordanians prisoners agreed that if three of them agreed to end the strike, all would do the same. However, fellow Jordanian prisoner Ala’ Hammad remains on hunger strike.
Given the lack on international attention to their cases and the critical conditions of their health it was decided to end their strike on condition they would be allowed family visits from their relatives in Jordan. The agreement states that the first family visit shall be face-to-face and will be of four hours duration, with five family members of each prisoner being present. Subsequent family visits will take place on a monthly basis and be of 1.5 hours duration. Before the agreement was reached the prisoners demanded to speak to their families to hear their opinions.
In a further development Abdel Khdeirat, who has been on hunger strike since 1 July 2013, was transferred to isolation in Mediggo prison on 15 August 2013. Khdeirat was released as part of the prisoner exchange deal on 18 December 2011 but was rearrested on 15 May 2013. Upon his re-arrest Khdeirat was interrogated for 30 days and now faces having the remainder of his original sentence being re-imposed under Article 186 of an Israeli military order, which would mean he would be returned to prison for a further 4.5 years.
Their remaining six Palestinian political prisoners on hunger strike are Ayman Hamdan, Ayman Ali Tabeesh, Adel Salama Hareebat, Mohammad Tabeesh and Husam Matir.
As in the case of the Jordanian prisoners the lack of international attention is having serious implications for the on-going hunger strikes of political prisoners being held in Israeli jails. Addameer calls on the international community, both at the political and civil society levels, to increase the pressure on Israel in order for the demands of the hunger strikes to be met.
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 - Minister of Defense Moshe Smilansky
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.