The Middle-East Observer
Prisoners
Deal sought to free Palestinian hunger striker from Israeli jail
On December 17th, Khader Adnan was arrested by Israeli forces in the West Bank and soon began a hunger strike citing a lack of any evidence warranting his arrest. Now on day 55 of his hunger strike, and without a charge against him, Adnan’s health status will soon become critical. Israeli and Palestinian officials are … Continue reading
HRW to Israel: charge or free Palestinian hunger striker
A statement of the international NGO Human Rights Watch called on Israel for the “immediately charge or release” of Khader Adnan, a Palestinian prisoner that has been on a hunger strike for 56 days. Adnan was a spokesman for ‘Islamic Jihad’, but has so far not been charged formally, neither has Israel revealed any evidence against … Continue reading
Support grows for Palestinian hunger striker
Supporters of Khader Adnan, a Palestinian activist who has been on hunger strike since he was detained mid-December, have called for a worldwide solidarity hunger strike. Adnan is believed to be the leader of the Palestinian group ‘Islamic Jihad’ and is currently in administrative detention, a procedure that allows the Israeli military to hold prisoners indefinitely without charge … Continue reading
Palestinian ‘freedom committee’ downs tools in protest
On Wednesday the Committee on Civil Liberties, a Palestinian committee on freedom of movement and expression decided to suspend its work in Gaza. The committee is hereby protesting the fact that Fatah and Hamas have so far not been able to implement the committees’ recommendations. One of those was a prisoner swap between the two … Continue reading
Palestinian prisoner near death on hunger strike; joined by dozens of students in solidarity
Dozens of youth activists in Gaza have joined Palestinian prisoner Khader Adnan in his hunger strike, that reached its 49th day last Saturday. Adnan started his strike to protest his detention without charges and the brutal treatment that he received from Israeli prison guards. Together with Adnan there are nearly three hundred Palestinians that are … Continue reading
IDF re-arrests man released in Schalit deal
After being released as part of the Shalit deal last October, a member of Hamas was arrested Israeli forces for allegedly returning to engage in anti-Israel terrorist activity. Ayman Salama is the first Palestinian released in the exchange to be re-arrested by Israel. This will send a “clear message that people who return to terrorism will pay,” … Continue reading
Freed Palestinian prisoners adapt to Qatar exile
Last year, more than a 1,000 Palestinian prisoners were released by Israel, in return for the release of Israeli soldier Sgt Gilad Shalit. About 40 of those prisoners have been forced to leave the country for they are seen as a continuing security threat by Israel. The article portrays one of those prisoners, 47-year old … Continue reading
Israel orders 6 months jail without charge for Hamas speaker of Palestinian parliament
Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council – or Parliament – and member of Hamas Aziz Dweik was sentenced by an Israeli military court to six months of administrative detention, with no charges being pressed against him. Dweik was arrested on Thursday at an Israeli military checkpoint. The office of the PLC speaker denounced an ”abusive decision … Continue reading
Israel detains 2 more lawmakers
Israeli forces raided the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and arrested two Palestinian lawmakers on suspicion of conducting “Hamas activities inside Jerusalem”, a police spokesman said. Mohammad Tawtah and former minister Khalid Abu Arafa took refuge in the ICRC’s building after Israel revoked their residency permits. The arrests come days after 2 other MPs, … Continue reading
Islamic Jihad leader enters 34th day of hunger strike
Khader Adnan, senior member of Islamic Jihad, entered the 34th day of a hunger strike to protest his treatment by prison authorities. Adnan was arrested by Israeli forces on December 17. Ma’an News Agency, Palestine Click here for the full story
Haniyeh: PLO must suspend talks with Israel until MPs freed
Following reports of the detention of Speaker of the Palestinian Parliament Aziz Dweik by Israel, Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh called for the suspension of PLO talks with Israel until Dweik’s release. “A Palestinian should not shake the hand of his enemy, the enemy who arrests the symbols of Palestinian legitimacy,” he said. ”This is the minimal response … Continue reading
Israel detains Hamas head of Palestinian parliament Aziz Dweik
Hamas member Aziz Dweik, speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) – the Palestinian Parliament – was arrested on Thursday in the West Bank by the Israeli army. He was detained at a checkpoint between Ramallah and Jerusalem while travelling to Hebron. “The detention of Mr Dweik, which aims to undermine reconciliation efforts (with Fatah) and … Continue reading
Dozens of freed Hamas prisoners wed in mass ceremony in Gaza
Wa’ed, the Hamas led Association for Prisoners Affairs in Gaza City has organized a mass wedding ceremony for 56 prisoners freed in October 2011 as part of the Shalit swap deal with Israel. Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh who was present during the ceremony said ”I came here to congratulate the freed heroes and share with … Continue reading
Hamas: PA arrested over 800 members in 2011
Hamas: PA arrested over 800 members in 2011
Netanyahu mulls gestures toward Palestinians to keep peace talks going
Netanyahu mulls gestures toward Palestinians to keep peace talks going
Hamas: PA forces detain 72 affiliates in December
Hamas said Tuesday that Palestinian Authority security services are continuing to detain their affiliates in the West Bank, breaking a key tenet of the reconciliation deal with ruling PA faction Fatah. Most of those are prisoners freed by Israel, imams, preachers and students, Hamas said. Ma’an News Agency, Palestine Click here for the full story
Arab League chief says Assad’s regime pulled out tanks from cities, freed 3,500 prisoners
Syria’s government has withdrawn heavy weapons from inside cities and freed about 3,500 prisoners but security forces continue to kill protesters even with foreign monitors in the country, the Arab League chief said Monday. Associated Press, United States Click here for the full story
Reconciliation committee meets in Gaza
The cross-party committee overseeing national reconciliation met in the Gaza Strip for the first time on Monday, after the meeting was postponed days earlier. The “public freedoms committee” is tasked with hammering out a number of tenets of the unity deal signed in May, including political prisoners, passports, closure of institutions, travel bans and freedom of … Continue reading
Palestinian mediator: Political detainees free by end of month
Munib al-Masri, who participated in the Palestinian reconciliation talks, said that political prisoners both in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip would be released by the end of this month, following unity talks in Cairo. “By the end of the year, all political detainees will be realsed except those who wish to remain in custody for … Continue reading
Hamas: Factions agree on 6 reconciliation steps in Cairo
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said Wednesday that Palestinian factions have reached an agreement on six steps to be taken as part of ongoing reconciliation talks, including the creation of a committee to take charge of elections, the formation of a unity government and the release of all political prisoners by the end of January. Ma’an … Continue reading
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