Video by Scott Campbell/Angry White Kid.
Following 23 days of open-ended hunger strike by more than 2,500 prisoners, yesterday Palestinians fed up with the lack of support to their cause shut down a United Nations building in Ramallah.
From 7:30 am to 5 pm approximately 50 protestors blocked the entrance to the UN Ramallah Common Premises building and called for the international organization to take strong measures in condemning Israel's use administrative detention and lack of human rights for prisoners. UN staff were spotted leaving the building around 8:30am, and the building remained closed for the remainder of the day.
Palestinians locking down the UN in Ramallah. (Photo: Scott Campbell/Angry White Kid)
While the facility was shut down, demonstrators denounced the UN in both English and Arabic, chanting, "UN chose a side! Human rights or apartheid." And event posters reflected a similar sentiment, reading "UNFAIR, UNJUST," and "Your Silence = Death Sentence." Palestinians for Dignity, the youth who organized the event, are angered by the UN's lax response to the hunger strikers, the largest strike since October 2011. The UN has "done nothing. It hasn't spoken not one word on the prisoners," said protestor and activist Linah Alsaafin. At the time of the direct action, the UN and Ban Ki-Moon had yet to make a public statement regarding the prisoners and their demands for treatment in accordance to international law.
(Photo: @ANimer)
After today's demonstration, the UN issued a statement with indirect quotes by UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, made via a spokesperson. Ki-moon urged "all concerned to reach a solution without delay."
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today stressed the importance of averting any further deterioration in the condition of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody who are on hunger strike, and urged everyone concerned to reach a solution to their plight without delay.
'The Secretary-General continues to follow with concern the ongoing hunger strike by Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody, in particular those held in what is known as administrative detention,' according to information provided by his spokesperson.
'He stresses the importance of averting any further deterioration in their condition,' the spokesperson added. 'He reiterates that those detained must be charged and face trial with judicial guarantees, or released without delay.'
In response, Palestinian organizers of the UN action wrote a public letter to Ban Ki-moon:
We note with disappointment your silence ever since this protest movement began in December 2011 with Khader Adnan's arbitrary arrest and subsequent hunger strike. This stands in stark contrast to your vocal and persistent remarks in support of formerly incarcerated Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Though Shalit has been released, Palestinian prisoners are still suffering under the so-called 'Shalit Law', which imposed harsher measures on their conditions of detention.
We remind you of your responsibilities as Secretary-General of the UN. We invoke the norms of international law that guarantee basic rights to Palestinian prisoners, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Third and Fourth Geneva Conventions, the UN Convention Against Torture and the World Medical Association Malta Declaration on Hunger Strikers.
We urge you to take a firm and vocal position in opposition to Israel's abuse and violation of Palestinian prisoners' rights and encourage, through UN mechanisms at your disposal, measures of accountability for these violations. We urge you to take an official position in line with the Palestinian prisoners' demands and to encourage member states to stand against these gross human rights' violations. We await your urgent response.
Read the full letter by Palestinians for Dignity.
Kindergarteners protest in Gaza with signs stating, "No to solitary confinement," "Freedom and dignity for Palestinian political prisoners," "Our little heart and minds are with you." (Photo: Joe Catron)
Meanwhile in Gaza, a demonstration was also staged in the protest tent, the site of daily dissidence in support of the hunger strikers. Over 100 children led today's protest. Blogger Shahd Abusalama attended the event. Her account:
This morning was very eventful one in the Gaza sit-in tent. As I arrived around 10:00 am, more than a hundred kids, each about four years old, entered the tent. They looked very beautiful and innocent. They came from Gassan Kanafani's kindergarten carrying signs like 'I want to hug Dad,' 'I want Dad to be free,' or 'Freedom for Palestinian political prisoners.'
They didn’t fully understand why they were there, but their participation put smiles on the faces of the hunger strikers and the detainees' families, who joined their soft voices while chanting along with them: 'Free, free Palestine!' All generations united their voices to call for the victory of our political prisoners' battle of dignity, which continues for the 23rd day
Palestinians demonstrating in Jaffa on May 7, 2012. (Photo: Shady Khafaga)
Meanwhile, inside of Israel's prisons outcry persists. Since April 17, 2012 when the hunger strike began, the number of participants has jumped to 2,500 strikers, with some outlets reporting 3,000 strikers. And almost daily additional groups join the cause. These strikers are noted for their diverse composition, reflective of all sectors of Palestinian society. They span party affiliation, gender and even nationality. Last week a group of 40 Egyptians in an Israeli prison entered the strike. Their demands include an end to solitary confinement, reinstatement of family visits and access to high school and university education.
Yet for detainees on strike, fasting is but one difficulty. Israel applies punitive measures to strikers, which has brought up charges of collective punishment for their use of daily raids by "special forces," transfers to other prisons, axed family visits, and fines. Detainees who banged on their jail cells in support of the hunger strikers today where charged a fine 450 Shekels.
excellent report allison, thanks again for covering the essentials.
i recommend everyone following Linah Alsaafin’s twitter feed for continuing coverage.
Thanks Alison
PalHunger daily report
link to paper.li
The obvious take-away for Palestinian protesters? The World will only pay attention to your struggle if you BLOW SHIT UP.
So frustrating, because once the hunger strikers start dying, there will likely be some who will give up on non-violence as a strategy. Then, of course, the World will give the Palestinians plenty of attention: outraged, contemptuous, disapproving attention.
tear-stained uzi,
The World is paying attention. Over 265 rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip into Israeli Civilian areas since January 2012. In response to your remark: I think enough S**t has been blown up.
The hunger strike is a self-imposed form of protest. Nobody is forcing the prisoners not to eat, are they? Are the demands of the prisoners reasonable? Who from the U.N. or an independent source has investigated the claims of the prisoners?
Please, understand that asking this question does not include any inference that the stated claims are invalid or valid.
One of the demands in the video are: “To act immediately to release the prisoners, especially 8 hunger striking prisoners” and then their names are given.
I don’t think that is a reasonable goal for this demonstration. If there remains a legal basis for the release of these 8 prisoners, then that is what should be pursued.
The fact that the prisoners and strikers are hungry is self-evident and self-imposed.
The Israeli authorities are more than likely, willing to wait out this situation.
Sometimes one or more of my children refuses to eat what I’ve made them for a meal. Most of the time I am an accommodating Father and I end up preparing an alternative meal because I want my children to eat and be happy. That has lead me to preparing three separate meals for mealtime. You can guess how many children I have. Other times, I say no, that’s what I prepared, if you’re not hungry, don’t eat it.
One of two things happen, they eat or I make a compromise.
What does that have to do with this specific issue? Maybe, the photo of the children reminded me of my own. Personally, I would not use my children to protest or place them in public view, or even introduce them as a witness in a Court trial, if it could benefit myself, or “the greater good.” They are children, sure they may miss Mom and Dad but they are not the reason that Mom or Dad is in Prison or entrenched in the Legal System. As a Father and a Mother who are divorced, (we) are guarded not to invite our children into that legal conflict or any of the issues that surround it. Even so, they are not unaffected by the action(s) of their Parents.
Alison, not as a critique of your writing and just from the point of a reader I would be interested to know what Israel’s official position or statement to this situation is.
There is no law in the occupied territories.
If there were there wouldn’t be 750,000 Jews living in settlements.
How do cease fires really end? Just a little reminder of who starts the violence in the conflict, as a matter of fact. Literally, as a matter of fact.
Korea for years suffered under a brutal Japanese occupation, and the attempt by Japan to obliterate Korean culture and independence. Ban Ki Moon should be ashamed at his failure to fully support Palestinian independence.