Dear all friends and supporters of Palestine and the Palestinian prisoners,

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The struggle inside the prisons is escalating, even as Khalil Awawdeh continues his lengthy hunger strike in Assaf Harofeh hospital. As people around the world show their solidarity with Awawdeh, administrative detainees (jailed without charge or trial) and indeed, all Palestinian prisoners, are preparing for new steps of struggle and even a collective hunger strike against their unjust detention.

International support is critically important to build solidarity for the prisoners and ensure they are not isolated or alone in their struggle for liberation. Please join us to read the following items, share with your colleagues and friends, and take action:

Solidarity to all at this important moment!

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The world says: “Free Khalil Awawdeh!” as Palestinian prisoner continues hunger strike

Palestinian prisoner Khalil Awawdeh has continued his hunger strike for the 172nd day. Since his detention was “suspended” on Friday, 19 August, he has been held in Assaf Harofeh hospital, where he has been interviewed by journalists and visited by his family members and loved ones. He has repeatedly affirmed that he will only end his strike with a real agreement for his release, and he and his supporters have denounced the attempt of the occupation to evade its responsibility for Awawdeh’s life and health through the fig leaf of “suspended” detention.

On Sunday, 21 August, the Israeli occupation high court rejected Awawdeh’s appeal against his administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial. Awawdeh is among approximately 650 administrative detainees out of nearly 5,000 Palestinian political prisoners in total; two brothers, Ahmad and Adel Musa, have now joined Awawdeh on hunger strike against their administrative detention for the past 15 days.

Administrative detention orders are issued for up to six months at a time on the basis of alleged “secret evidence,” and they are indefinitely renewable. Originally introduced to Palestine by the British colonial mandate before being adopted by the Zionist regime, administrative detention orders are frequently used against community leaders and organizers, and there is a growing campaign to force an end to this policy.

While the court affirmed that Awawdeh “may receive visitors without discrimination” according to his lawyer Ahlam Haddad, the Israeli occupation simultaneously withdrew the permits of his family to enter occupied Palestine ’48, essentially blocking them from visiting their loved one and imposing a new form of collective punishment on the Awawdeh family.

As Awawdeh has continued to put his body and life on the line for justice and liberation, people around the world are mobilizing to demand his freedom, from social media storms and online campaigns to the streets of global cities.

From Paris to Vancouver to Berlin and beyond, see the photos here!

Palestinian collective struggle on the rise inside occupation prisons Palestinian prisoners announced that they will pursue steps of collective struggle inside occupation prisons beginning on Monday, 22 August. These collective struggle steps were suspended in March 2022 after an agreement was purportedly reached to improve conditions for Palestinian detainees whose rights are systematically violated by occupation forces, from denial of family visits to constant transfers from prison to prison every six months to aggressive raids and invasions.

Prisoners’ institutions announced that detainees in occupation prisons will refuse to leave their rooms for the daily routine security checks and will return their meals provided by the prison administration on 22 August and 24 August. These checks, which take place daily, require the prisoners to leave their rooms as the floors, windows and bathrooms are inspected while guards, accompanied by sniffer dogs and carrying weapons, knock on the doors and windows in a manner meant to provoke and irritate the prisoners. All of these repressive mechanisms were massively increased after six Palestinians liberated themselves from Gilboa prison in the Freedom Tunnel operation, exposing the failure of the “security” apparatus.

Rather than implement the measures they agreed to in March, the occupation prison administration has continued to implement these repressive practices, and the prisoners’ movement will escalate their protest actions if their demands ae not met. They are demanding an end to the constant transfer of prisoners every six months — especially for prisoners with lengthy sentences, including life sentences — and the use of administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial. The prisoners’ movement has announced the collective commitment to launch an open hunger strike if these escalating steps of struggle are not met with the implementation of their demands.

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network urges all supporters of justice and liberation in Palestine to prepare to act to support the prisoners in their collective struggle and resistance behind Zionist bars. The prisoners’ struggle is not only to improve the conditions of detention but for liberation, for all of the prisoners and for Palestine and its people, from the river to the sea.

Occupation raids, attacks Palestinian organizations: EU, US and Canada are complicit!

In the early morning hours of Thursday, 18 August, armed Israeli occupation forces invaded the offices of seven prominent Palestinian NGOs, civil society organizations and human rights defenders.

Read full statement

Collective statement by administrative detainees in occupation prisons

On Friday, 19 August, the administrative detainees in Zionist prisons issued a statement urging greater solidarity, action and mobilization to stand with Palestinian prisoners.

Read full statement

TAKE ACTION:

Download these distributable flyers and posters to highlight the case of Khalil Awawdeh and the struggle to free Palestinian prisoners:

1. Mobilize actions, demonstrations and creative interventions – Take to the streets to defend the Palestinian people and their resistance! As was made clear during the Unity Intifada/Seif al-Quds in May 2021, there is a vast depth of support for the Palestinian people everywhere around the world, including inside the imperialist powers. It is our responsibility to act and make it impossible to continue their support for the crimes against the Palestinian people.

2. Build the boycott of Israel – This is a critical moment to escalate the campaign to isolate the Israeli regime at all levels, including through boycott campaigns that target the occupation’s economic exploitation of the Palestinian land, people and resources as well as those international corporations, like HP and G4S, that profit from the ongoing colonization of Palestine.

3. Support the steadfastness of the Palestinian people – This aggression was an extension of the siege on Gaza that has been imposed on the resisting and steadfast Strip for over 15 years. The Palestinian people need economic, political and all forms of support to help sustain their steadfastness. To contribute to Samidoun’s drive in support of children’s health care in Gaza, make a donation at https://samidoun.net/gaza

Samidoun chapters, affiliates and links around the world:

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network has chapters and affiliates in the United States, Canada, Germany, France, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Spain, Palestine and Lebanon and we work with groups around the world. Would you like to form a local chapter or become an affiliate? Contact us at samidoun@samidoun.net.

Click here to support Samidoun’s work with a donation.

Alternately, checks and money orders may be written and mailed to:

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