Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails did not eat on Palestinian Prisoners Day, April 17, as part of a growing protest against conditions in Israeli prisons. Prison authorities reported that 3500 prisoners turned away their meals. 1200 vow to continue the fast beyond April 17, joining several administrative detainees. Two of these detainees have been on a hunger strike for over 40 days and are in the hospital in perilous health. Eight ‘flytilla’ activists who were detained for flying into Israel to protest the Israeli occupation and are awaiting deportation fasted in solidarity with the prisoners.
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following joint statement from the Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel and Al-Haq.Hana Shalabi on her 34th day of hunger strike: Israeli Prison Service refusing to transfer her to hospital despite Immediate risk of death“To all the free and loyal Palestinian people, I direct my words to you—while I and all my brothers and sisters in the occupier’s prisons are on hunger strike, we call on you to continue your solidarity and for the issue of prisoners to be on the highest priority list […] I call on foreign states to continue action in applying pressure [on Israel] towards the release of all our courageous prisoners.”
_On the anniversary of the abduction of Ahmad Sa'adat _
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the Campaign to Free Ahmad Sa'adat. Ahmad Sa’adat, the General Secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, is a political prisoner who is being held in an Israeli jail.
*Fight Back News Service is circulating the following speech delivered by Jess Sundin, Nov. 5, at the first national conference of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression, in Chicago. Sundin is a leader in the anti-war movement. Her home was among those raided by the FBI, on Sept. 24, 2010.*
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the Campaign to Free Ahmad Sa'adat on the upcoming hunger strike of Palestinian political prisoners.
Gainesville, FL – On Sept 14, the University of Florida chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) rallied together in favor of Palestine’s United Nation’s bid for statehood. About 30 students came together in Turlington Plaza to chant and hold signs supporting the Palestinian liberation struggle.
Last May we joined our voices with people from around the world in outrage after Israeli commandos killed 9 activists on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. We demanded an end to the U.S. aid to Israel because we know that Israel’s deadly attack on the Flotilla and its illegal blockade of Gaza would not be possible without the military and diplomatic support of the United States. Israel carried out a horrendous military assault on this aid convoy carrying wheelchairs, cement, water purification systems, children’s toys and notebook paper to Gaza because they politicized humanitarian aid.
Chicago, IL – On May 23, DePaul University’s Fair Business Practices Committee (FBPC) made a recommendation to the president on whether or not to replace Sabra hummus with an alternative brand in campus dining halls. Throughout the past six months, the FBPC, consisting of faculty, staff and student representatives, has met both internally and with students on both sides of the controversial hummus debate.
Bank returns money, government involvement alleged
On Friday, May 6th, the bank accounts of Hatem and Naima Abudayyeh of Chicago were frozen. The bank manager at the TCF (Twin Cities Federal) branch could not explain what had happened but stated that the Bank Security Act prevented him from releasing any assets.
Call-in campaign to Office of Foreign Assets Control announced
Chicago, IL – More information trickled out to the Committee to Stop FBI Repression (CSFR) and Chicago’s Coalition for People’s Rights (CPR), May 9, about the previous week’s freezing of the Abudayyeh family’s bank accounts. The family and supporters learned that entity behind the freeze is the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
Update: Since the publication of this article, activists have learned that the U.S. Treasury Department, not the U.S. Attorney's office, is responsible for the account freezings. See this story for more details.
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the Campaign to Free Ahmad Sa'adat. Ahmad Sa'adat, the General Secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), is in solitary confinement in an Israeli prison.
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the Campaign to Free Ahmad Sa'adat. Ahmad Sa’adat, the General Secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, is being held in isolation in the jails of the Israeli occupiers.
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the Campaign to Free Ahmad Sa'adat. Ahmad Sa'adat, of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine is imprisoned in an Israeli jail.
Khalil Maqdesi, member of the Central Committee of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) expressed support, Jan. 27, “for the people of Egypt and their struggle for democracy and social justice, as centrally important for all Arab people.”
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from Palestine solidarity activist Maureen Murphy. Murphy is the managing editor of the popular online publication, Electronic Intifada and she is also the co-chair of the Chicago Committee Against Political Repression, which has been leading work in Chicago to oppose FBI repression of anti-war and international solidarity activists. On Tuesday Dec. 21, Murphy received a subpoena from the FBI to appear before a federal grand jury.
