Prisoners affiliated to the Palestinian People's Party (PPP) announced they would undertake what has come to be known as the “Freedom and Dignity” strike, according to jailed PPP leader and member of the PPP Central Committee Bassem Khandaqji.
"After consultations with prisoners of various factions, PPP-affiliated prisoners decided to join the battle for freedom and dignity on April 17, which coincides with Palestinian Prisoner's Day." Khandaqji said in a statement.
The Palestinian Popular Struggle Front (PPSF) also said on Sunday that prisoners affiliated to the group would join the Fatah-led strike.
The PPSF statement went on to warn of a potential “serious escalation by Israeli authorities against prisoners after they launch the battle for freedom and dignity, which will mark a turning point in the life of Palestinian prisoners.” The group said it "urged the Palestinian people to organize actions to support the hunger strikers in their battle, both at popular and official levels."
Hamas meanwhile confirmed in an official statement on Sunday that prisoners affiliated to the movement held in Hadarim prison would join the strike.
The higher leading committee of Hamas-affiliated prisoners in Israeli custody said it “completely supports the Freedom and Dignity hunger strike, which an elite group of brave prisoners will start tomorrow in order to forcibly obtain our stolen rights.”
“We warn the Israel Prison Service against bringing any harm to the hunger strikers. Any delay in answering their just demands will explode the situation inside all prisons. All prisoners will unite in the face of all those who might harm prisoners and their dignity,” the Hamas statement said.
In the past, Israel has panicked by releasing terrorists who went on hunger strikes in Israeli prisons to avoid letting them die in prison. But Barghouti may be too big to let go. Until his arrest in 2002, Barghouti was the leader of the Fatah Tanzim terror organization that carried out many of the most murderous attacks of the Second Intifadeh (2000-04). He was convicted of five murders in 2004 and has been in an Israeli prison ever since. Barghouti is also regarded as a rival and possible successor to 'moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen since he is allegedly even popular among Hamas supporters.
But not all the terrorists are going on strike.
UPDATE 5:24 PM
As usual with the 'Palestinians,' things aren't quite what they seem, as you can see in this series of tweets from Israel Radio's Gal Berger (translation follows).
But not all the terrorists are going on strike.
It was previously reported that all prisoners in Hadarim and Nafha prison would join, regardless of their political affiliation, including those affiliated to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), Hamas, and the Islamic Jihad.
However, the left-wing PFLP later said that despite its “appreciation” for Barghouthi, it was not in fact undertaking the hunger strike, because it was organized by Fatah without coordinating with all other Palestinian political factions.Hopefully, this time, Israel will not force feed the 'prisoners' (as it has been forced to do by its 'Supreme Court' at times in the past). If they want to starve themselves to death, let them. This isn't about prison conditions. It's about politics.
UPDATE 5:24 PM
As usual with the 'Palestinians,' things aren't quite what they seem, as you can see in this series of tweets from Israel Radio's Gal Berger (translation follows).
מרוואן ברגותי העביר מסרים בחשאי להנהגת חמאס מחוץ לכלא ובהם הוא קורא ללחוץ על אסירי חמאס בכלא להצטרף לשביתת הרעב שהוא מתכנן להוביל ממחר>>— Gal Berger גל ברגר (@galberger) April 16, 2017
חמאס הודיע כי יתמוך בשביתה, וכי אסירי חמאס בכלא הדרים יצטרפו עליה, אך לא הודיע על השתתפות כוללת של אסיריו בכלל בתי הכלא בשביתה>>— Gal Berger גל ברגר (@galberger) April 16, 2017
ברגותי מצפה מהנהגת חמאס להצטרף לשביתת הרעב בהמשך אחרי שתצבור נפח. מעריכים כי בשלב 1 ישתתפו יותר מ-1,000 אסירים; לא כל אסירי הפת"ח מצטרפים— Gal Berger גל ברגר (@galberger) April 16, 2017
Marwan Barghouti sent secret messages to the Hamas leadership outside the mail calling on them to pressure Hamas prisoners in jail to join the hunger strike that he plans to lead starting tomorrow.
Hamas announced that it will support the strike and that Hamas prisoners in the Hadarim jail will join it, but did not announce general participation of its prisoners in all prisons in the strike.
Barghouti expects Hamas' leadership to join the strike later after it gathers volume. It's estimated that in the First Phase more than 1,000 prisoners will participate; not all of Fatah's prisoners are participating.
The added emphasis is mine. Note that Hamas is really taking a 'wait and see' attitude, and that not even all of Fatah's terrorists - to whom Barghouti technically belongs - are joining in.
Hmmm.
(Wholly apart from everything else he is) I have read that a decade ago, Barghouti was adamantly opposed to the rampant corruption in the PA.
ReplyDeleteIs, or was, that particular point correct?
I also say אמן to them achieving their desire to be a martyr for alla.
ReplyDeleteוכן ירבו.
Marwan Barghouti sent secret messages to the Hamas leadership outside the mail calling ...
ReplyDeleteWhy was this Murderer allowed to send out secret messages????
Is there a punishment for him and for the prison authorities who allowed this?
What about no contact to the outside world for 6 month!!
The New York Times, the self appointed 'gold standard' for journalism, just published a convicted mass murderer of Jews' long antisemitic hate screed on their op-ed section. We can now confidently ignore whatever it has to say on any topic from now on and the state of Israel should seriously consider tossing them from operating in Israel. They can certainly base their operations from Gaza or Ramallah and who cares.
ReplyDeleteThe policy of the New York Times should not come as a surprise to us, nor should that of our own HaAretz, founded 99 years ago today with the name "News from the Holy Land". What continues to surprise us is OUR enabling these mass murderers to have open access to the outside world, and especially to the international press. Will 'wonders' never cease?
DeleteThe IPA has already screwed up by allowing a convicted terrorist in prison to be communicating with another terror group trolling for support. They should be tightening the security around him, disciplining, if not firing whoever let this get by and slapping some more prison time on top of his sentences (and reducing whatever privileges he has). But, by all means respect their decision, let them hunger strike and don't interfere. How about donating their food while they are striking to poor Israelis. If its not kosher let it be poor Israeli Arabs. And above all, don't give them publicity(unless they are caught eating on the sly which has happened before, in which case, by all means splash it accross every newspaper)
ReplyDelete. Probably can't keep the Supreme Court out of it, but try.
Put them in Solitary Confinement and cut off the Food, Water, TV and lights for 2 Days. Have Body Bags in front of every hunger striker and tell them they will die in Solitary with no one will know what happened to them. Dig a Mass Grave in the Prison Yard to bring the point to them.
ReplyDeleteIf Israel's Supreme Court orders them force-fed, make certain it's something from the Hormel product line.
ReplyDelete