In Pictures

Gallery|Human Rights

In Pictures: Palestinians hungry for freedom

Activists support ongoing hunger strike by prisoners in Israeli jails, now the longest strike in Palestinian history.

Families of prisoners stage regular sit-ins outside the offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) across Palestine.
By Rich Wiles
Published On 16 Jun 2014

The ongoing hunger strike by Palestinian detainees entered its 46th day on June 8 and became the longest running collective hunger strike by Palestinian political prisoners. The strike started in April by prisoners being held under Israel’s system of Administrative Detention.

Administrative Detention is Israel’s policy of holding Palestinian detainees without charge or access to legal defence for indefinitely renewable periods of up to 6 months.

Since the hunger strike began, it has spread widely among Palestinian detainees across various prisons where they are held.

Few issues hold greater sway in the Palestinian street than the prisoners’ case; and solidarity actions that began when the strike broke out are intensifying across the 1967 occupied lands as well as among Palestinian citizens of Israel. These include protests, political public art performances and solidarity tents.

Day 46 of the hunger strike was marked with a national strike across the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Ramallah’s bustling city centre was brought to an economic standstill as all shops were closed down for the day. It was followed on June 9 with three simultaneous demonstrations which converged on Yasser Arafat Square for a large rally.

Israel is currently attempting to pass legislation through the Knesset in order to begin force feeding hunger strikers despite firm rejection by the Israel Medical Association. In its declaration on hunger strikers, the World Medical Association has also firmly stated: ‘Forcible feeding is never ethically acceptable.’

According to the prisoner rights advocacy group Addammeer, Israel is holding some of the hunger strikers in solitary confinement while others have been hospitalised in Israeli civil hospitals in which they are shackled to their beds 24 hours a day.
During the 2012 hunger strike by Khader Adnan, activists painted stencils of his image on walls across the West Bank in order to mobilise public support. Now, images of current hunger strikers are being painted on walls.
Youth activists in Ramallah began implementing (***)direct actions(***) against organisations and international bodies who they believe are not doing enough to defend prisoners(***) rights.
The Ramallah offices of the ICRC were closed down by youth activists early in the morning on May 28 amid calls of (***)Do Your Job or Leave.(***) The ICRC staff was refused entry to its offices by activists and doors were taped shut.
Activists prepared a list of demands calling for the defence of prisoners(***) rights which was handed to ICRC staff and later at the UN offices in Ramallah, to the UN staff. Activists have promised to step up these actions unless the hunger strikers’ demands are met.
On June 9, protesters prepared for a demonstration outside the presidential compound in Ramallah, one of three simultaneous demonstrations in the city.
Protesters carried a coffin draped in the UN flag through the streets, symbolising the death of the UN(***)s role in protecting human rights.
The first protesters arrived in Ramallah(***)s Yasser Arafat Square around lunchtime, before other marches which began outside Ramallah Municipality and the ICRC offices arrived.
There is also public anger at the lack of action from the Palestinian Authority and the PLO in defence of the hunger strikers. If political action is not forthcoming soon, activists believe hunger strikers may die in their struggle for their rights.
Following the recent reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas, supporters of Hamas are again visible on the streets of Ramallah during protests in support of the hunger strikers and despite the party(***)s claims that the PA is still arresting its members on political grounds.
Activists are using social media to promote solidarity and direct actions in support of the hunger strikers. (***)Water and Salt(***) is one of the most popular hashtags used by hunger strike activists on Twitter.