On March 8, women worldwide
commemorate International Women's Day. It celebrates over a century
of economic, political, and social achievements.
This year for Palestinians, Hana Shalabi's hunger strike for justice
is highlighted. After three weeks, it's taken a toll. Nonetheless, she's
determined to resist Israel's lawless arrest, detention, torture, and
degrading treatment.
Since arrested on February 16, she's only ingested water. However, for
the past five days, extreme nausea prevents her from drinking more than
1.5 liters daily.
Steadily her health deteriorates. She's experiencing chest pain and
dizziness. Her lawyer said she can barely speak. She's also tired and
can't move much.
She refuses Israeli Prison Prison Service (IPS) medical care. She'll
accept only Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHR-I) doctors. On March
4, IPS officials denied PHR-I's request to see her.
Repressively they said non-prison physician access is only allowed for
second opinions. Since Hana refuses IPS treatment, request denied.
On March 4, PHR-I petitioned the Petach Tikva District Court, demanding
immediate access to Hana. No word on if it's approved or rejected. PHR-I
expressed grave concern for her health. After two weeks without food,
muscle decomposition begins. The heart and other organs are affected.
On March 5, Hana's lawyers petitioned Israel's Military Court of Appeals
to end her administrative detention. Her scheduled March 7 hearing was
postponed until March 11 or 12. She vowed to continue hunger striking
for justice.
For days, Palestinians rallied supportively. A candlelight vigil was
held. Dozens of other Palestinian prisoners hunger struck with her.
According to Palestinian Prisoners' Club head Qadoura Fares, they're
also protesting their own horrific conditions.
Fares said growing numbers of prisoners began refusing food. Israel
doesn't care if they live or die. On March 6, IPS authorities transferred
about 80 political prisoners from Gilboa Prison to Nafha in Negev desert
isolation.
Since February 28, they'd been hunger striking supportively. Earlier
they did in mid-February for one day. In response, Israel punished them
harshly. Now they'll endure Nafha Prison isolation far from home. Israel
often does it punitively. As a result, their suffering increases.
Torture is official Israeli policy. So is state terror and many other
forms of cruel and inhuman treatment. April 17 marks Palestinian Political
Prisoners Day. Dozens of human rights and other organizations worldwide
called for a day of international action against Israeli injustice.
On March 7, the Addameer Prisoner Support group called for immediately
releasing all female political prisoners on International Women's Day.
Among them they named Lina Jarbuni, Wurud Qassem, Salwa Hassan, Alaa
Jubeh, Yusra Qaadan, Manal Suwan, and Hana.
According to PLO data, around 100,000 Palestinians, including 10,000
women, were lawlessly administratively detained since 1967. Many spent
months or years uncharged with no trials. Young children are affected
as part of Israel's collective punishment policy, violating international
law.
Addameer said Israel now detains 36 women administratively uncharged.
To raise global awareness, the above named seven were highlighted.
(1) Lina Jarbuni
Arrested on 18 April 2002, she was sentenced to 17 years in prison.
She's currently at HaSharon.
(2) Wurud Qassem
On October 4 2006, she received 6 years in prison. She's currently at
Damon Prison.
(3) Salwa Hassan
Arrested on 19 October 2011, she's at HaSharon Prison awaiting trial.
(4) Alaa Jubeh
On December 7 2011, she was arrested. She's also at HaSharon. So far,
she's unsentenced. Though age 17 when arrested, she'll be treated like
an adult. Israel makes no distinction in violation of international
law.
(5) Yusra Qaadan
Arrested on March 4, 2012 while visiting an imprisoned family member,
she's currently detained for interrogation in Beersheva.
(6) Manal Suwan
On March 6, 2012, she was arrested. She's currently undergoing brutal
interrogation at HaSharon. Virtually all Israeli interrogations use
torture, abusive and degrading treatment to force innocent detainees
to confess. It's standard policy.
(7) Hana Shalabi
On February 16 2012, she was re-arrested less than four months after
release as part of Israel's October 18, 2011 Shalit prisoner exchange
deal. Earlier she was lawlessly detained for two and a half years.
On February 23, 2012, she received a six month administrative detention
without charge. On March 4, it was reduced to four months. For her and
thousands of other Palestinian political prisoners, four minutes is
too long.
As a result, Hana, Khader Adnan, and others hunger strike for justice.
Hana's at HaSharon. On March 8, day 22 and counting began.
Addameer highlighted their plight, saying:
All Palestinian prisoners are treated abusively, including children
and women. They endure "sexual harassment, psychological and physical
punishment and humiliation, and a lack of gender-sensitive healthcare.
These practices (violate) international law and must stop immediately."
Free or incarcerated, Israel treats all Palestinians oppressively. Children
and women are especially affected, including young girls.
On March 7, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), Al Mezan,
and Al Dameer called for Hana's immediate release. They hold Israeli
responsible for her life and welfare.
A joint March 8 Palestinian Council of Human Rights Organizations (PCHRO)
statement said Palestinian women and girls are "regularly subjected
to harassment, intimidation and ill-treatment by Israeli military authorities
and as a consequence they are denied the enjoyment of basic human rights
such as education, health and freedom of movement. Such treatment amounts
to an assault on their dignity and security of person in violation of
international law."
"The international community of States cannot continue to avert its
gaze while Israel refuses to apply international human rights law, including
the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Women (CEDAW), in the OPT."
"Israel is not only in violation of the positive duty to implement its
obligations under CEDAW, but also, through the imposition of illegal
policies such as restrictions on the freedom of movement, is in breach
of its negative duty not to interfere in the enjoyment of the rights
under the Convention."
Israel spurns all international law abusively. Contemptuously, it treats
Palestinians horrifically for praying to the wrong God and demanding
freedom on their own land in their own country.
As a result, they're called terrorists. World leaders able to act do
nothing. With or without help, their liberating struggle continues.
Hana, Khader, and many other courageous hunger strikers highlight its
importance. Millions worldwide support them. Everyone should! Their
struggle is ours!
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge
discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News
Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time
and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy
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http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/
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