Rhonda Parker at examiner.com reported yesterday that Gaza TV and radio had broken the story that Mahmoud Sarsak, the Palestinian footballer who has been on a hunger strike for approximately 90 days, would be released from an Israeli prison between July 10 and 15. Sarsak, who is classified by the Israelis as an “unlawful combatant,” is currently serving an indefinite sentence, without being charged with a crime.
Word came just hours ago from a friend of Sarsak’s and the family, who says the family has heard from Sarsak’s legal Council on this.
‘The facts are still very cloudy in this, but still, we are jubilant! Ecstatic! I’ve just also heard this news from the radio,’ said a joyous Malaka Mohammed, who has run a diligent campaign on Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter since his friend was arrested at a checkpoint in July of 2009.
Further verification of the possible release of the hunger-striking footballer was received from the Palestinian Minister of Prisoners, Issa Qaraqe.
Mahmoud Sarsak is in extremely ill health as a result of his lengthy hunger strike. Physicians who have recently examined him say that Sarsak’s condition is still life-threatening. He needs immediate hospitalization and it is unclear if he will be able to completely recover from his ordeal.
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Meanwhile, on Saturday in Edinburgh, dozens of protesters staged a spirited demonstration in support of Mahmoud Sarsak at a football match between women’s teams representing Israel and Scotland. The Israelis were soundly defeated, 8-0, inspiring the video’s title, “They’re useless without guns.”
There is a growing international protest against the Israel for its treatment of Mahmoud Sarak. Football legend Eric Cantona and FIFA President, Sepp Blatter are two prominent figures who have spoken out.
As Annie Robbins pointed out here recently, protests against international athletic delegations were an important part of the anti-Apartheid movement in South Africa. Hopefully, the Olympic Games in London this summer will provide an international platform for demonstrations against Israeli injustice and occupation.
Nice if BDS occasionally works a H/R victory. Of course, Israel can always arrest him again, any time, just like the people released in the 1:1000 prisoner exchange. We’ll see. Keep tuned.
Just don’t expect any nation to demand that Israel comply with I/L by releasing ALL the prisoners and ending detention w/o trial.
According to one of Sarsak’s lawyers, Mohammad Jabarin, no deal has been reached. Furthermore, there are rumors that the offer by Israel meant that Sarsak would live in exile in Norway for three months after being released, prior to being able to return home.
link to gaza.scoop.ps
Magic stuff from Scotland. This is only the beginning of Israel’s revised future.
And you cannae polish the turd of Zionism .
And they are playing Wales: Wednesday 20th, 18:00h. The Racecourse, Wrexham, Wales.
Let’s not forget that Israel will host the UEFA under-21 finals next year. This explains the UEFA and FIFA reactions (really, they’d prefer silence).
Let’s not forget that it is currently intended that Israel will host the UEFA under 21 finals next year.
Update: ESPN has this Associated Press item on its page at 12 noon, Monday.
link to espn.go.com
RAMALLAH, West Bank — A lawyer for an imprisoned Palestinian soccer player who has been on a hunger strike for more than three months says his client has agreed to resume eating and will be released July 10 in a deal with Israel.
The attorney, Mohammed Jabareen, spoke Monday after the deal was struck at an Israeli prison clinic. Israeli prison officials could not be reached for comment.
The soccer player, Mahmoud Sarsak, has been held by Israel for nearly three years without charges or trial. Israel claims he was active in the violent group Islamic Jihad. Sarsak denies the allegations.
As his condition worsened, prominent figures in the sports world came to his support. FIFA’s president asked Israel’s soccer federation for help and FIFPro, an international organization of footballers, called for his release.
One thing I really like about these activist videos from around the world is that they ALWAYS have a few Palestinian faces. They are unmistakeable because the Palestinians are from the land and they share certain features as opposed to the countless Jews who aren’t and who don’t and who all look different.
anyway on the Zionist balance sheet for the Zionist space none of these Palestinians count because they don’t live under the Zionist heel (and even if they did they wouldn’t count because they wouldn’t be allowed to vote) . They are not considered in the calculation of the demographic threat. However a hated Sparta like Israel needs to think aboutthe various leayers of people who are motivated to work against it. The 1970s generation were very active but this generation may be more effective one generation later, one generation that has seen Israel show us what it really is.
Even if these proud Palestinians are prevented from going to Palestine by the current tenants they are doing great work with other activists and it is videos like this, one after another, that are slowly going to turn the story around so that one day they WILL be able to go back.
of course i had to completely break down in tears watching that. i second what seafoid said about this new generation. they are sprouting up everywhere stronger than ever.
GO PALESTINE
thanks Ira
there is a human need to celebrate together – that festival feeling that drives so many concerts. And there was sense from that video that it was like that at that match. And it must be such a rush for the Palestinians there to hear such vocal support in Scottish accents from people who have probably never been to their homeland (and the way things are going will never be let in for as long as Zionism’s cold hands grasp the country) . And it’s so much more positive that the sad rejects who march through East Jerusalem chanting that Mohamed is dead.
Annie
The video reminded me of this
link to guardian.co.uk
As 17-year-old Nina Mega from Edinburgh put it: “Sometimes you get the idea that the world is a pretty misogynistic place and feminists are few and far between, but when you see all those like-minded people together – men and women – you just think: ‘Wow.’”
link to washingtonpost.com
The Washington Post confirms Sarsak will go free on July 10, according to his lawyer. Sarsak will be sent to Gaza. He had previously refused a deal which would have sent him to exile in Norway or Sweden. The Israel Prison Authority would not comment on the reported deal.
Sarsak has ended his hunger strike and will be transferred to a hospital on Tuesday to help speed his recovery. Since negotiations began last week, Sarsak had begun to take more nourishment and has gained 11 lbs. He celebrated the end of his fast with a bar of chocolate.
Michel Platini said that the Under 21 tournament in Israel will go forward as scheduled despite numerous calls to cancel the event due to Israeli human rights violations.
This appears to be another inspiring victory for the Palestinians in their battle against the Israeli occupation forces.