JOURNALIST OMAR NAZZAL BECOMES ONE OF 325 PALESTINIAN POLITICAL PRISONERS ON HUNGER-STRIKE

JOURNALIST OMAR NAZZAL BECOMES ONE OF 325 PALESTINIAN POLITICAL PRISONERS ON HUNGER-STRIKE

Leading Palestinian journalist Omar Nazzal began a hunger-strike on August 4th to demand his freedom. A campaign to support him has been organized by a group of 185 other Palestinian journalists.

Israeli occupation kidnapped Omar Nazzal at the al-Karameh crossing to Jordan on April 23rd as he was on his way to a journalism conference in Bosnia-Herzegovina which was organized by the European Union. He has been imprisoned without charge since. 

Nazzal is a member of the General Secretariat of the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate and has been a strong supporter of fellow journalists targeted by the Israeli occupation, vocally condemning their treatment.

Although all 'evidence' is secret in Israel's military courts when it comes to administrative detention - imprisonment without charge - supporters of the Israeli occupation claim that Nazzal's ties to PLO's second largest member group, the left-wing PFLP, would have supposedly played a role in his kidnapping and imprisonment.

Over 50 Palestinian journalists have been detained by Israel's occupation forces since October 2015. 'Western' human rights organizations, 'Western' press freedom organizations and 'Western' journalists working in Israel and Palestine have responded to this with a wall of silence.

A total of 325 Palestinian political prisoners are on hunger-strike currently, among them brothers Muhammad(26) and Mahmoud(23) Balboul, who have been on hunger-strike for over 30 days. 

They are imprisoned without charge and their sister Nuran(14) was imprisoned by the Israeli occupation for three months for a supposed possession of a knife. The siblings'father was al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade commander Ahmad Balboul, who was killed by Israel in 2008.

The spear-point of the hunger-strikers is currently Bilal Kayed, who has been on hunger-strike for 52 days. Kayed, imprisoned since December 14th 2001 completed his sentence from Israel's military court in early June, but Israel has refused to release him and has imprisoned him without charge. He has intensified his hunger-strike by refusing to see doctors.

A wave of solidarity hunger-strikes has formed around his struggle, including that of PFLP's imprisoned leader Ahmed Sa'adat who is among the highest-ranking Palestinian political prisoners. Sa'adat has been moved to solitary confinement as a result of his hunger-strike.

Among other high profile hunger-strikers are circus performer Muhammed Abu Sakha and Hassan Karajah, leader of non-violent resistance against Israel's illegal Apartheid and Annexation Wall. Both are imprisoned without charge.

SOURCES:

52nd day of hunger strike: Hundreds of prisoners on collective strike, Tunisian labor federation stand with Bilal Kayed

http://samidoun.net/2016/08/52nd-day-of-hunger-strike-hundreds-of-prisoners-on-collective-strike-tunisian-labor-federation-stand-with-bilal-kayed/

Hunger Striker Bilal Kayed Refuses to See Doctors

http://imemc.org/article/hunger-striker-bilal-kayed-refuses-to-see-doctors/

Increasing number of Palestinian hunger strikers

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20160805-increasing-number-of-palestinian-hunger-strikers/

'Israel doesn't want us to be happy': Hunger strikers' family finds hope in Bethlehem sit-in

http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=772486

Over 300 Palestinian prisoners on open hunger strike

http://english.palinfo.com/site/pages/details.aspx?itemid=80027

Palestinian journalist Omar Nazzal ordered to imprisonment without charge or trial by Israeli occupation military

http://samidoun.net/2016/08/6-august-berlin-freedom-for-bilal-kayed-and-all-palestinian-prisoners/

Palestinian journalists launch campaign to support hunger striker Omar Nazzal

http://maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=772531

Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate leader Omar Nazzal arrested while en route to international conference

http://samidoun.net/2016/04/palestinian-journalists-syndicate-leader-omar-nazzal-arrested-while-en-route-to-international-conference/

PA slams Israel’s detention of Palestinian journalist

http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=771257

Prominent imprisoned Palestinian journalist to start hunger strike

http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=772508