Rejoinder (wk 3): Hunger Strike for Humanity

In response to an article "Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel go on hunger strike"

by Peter Beaumont in Jerusalem, of The Guardian, 17 April 2017.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/17/palestinian-prisoners-israel-hunger-strike

Marking the 50th year anniversary of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories, Palestinian prisoners in Israel are hunger striking over conditions of captivity, by the hundreds, with numbers expected to reach around 2,000. Prisoners’ demands include improved visitation rights from family members and easier access to telephones.

Palestinians in Nablus hold pictures of relatives being held in Israeli jails during a rally to mark Palestinian prisoner day on Sunday. Photograph: Xinhua / Barcroft Images

The strike lead by Marwan Barghouti, who is a high profile Fatah prisoner and leader, has been planned for a long time, and is seen as having widespread political backing. Barghouti is seen by some as a potential successor to the President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas. Members of Fatah "Palestinian National Liberation Movement”, as well as prisoners from Hamas and Islamic Jihad are included in the protest.

In a comment piece written from prison for the New York Times on Monday, Barghouti said that the hunger strike was “the most peaceful form of resistance available”.

A particular case of concern is the visitation rights of the prisoners. Israeli Prison Service regulations state that all prisoners are entitled to family visits once every two weeks, however the reality is Palestinians from the occupied Palestinian territories are often denied permits, which they are required to apply for, to enter Israel for visitation in the first place. Amnesty last week issued a report in which prisoner’s family members who were interviewed highlighted the difficulties many of them face in seeing imprisoned relatives. Some saying they’ve been prevented from visiting imprisoned relatives for years.

The Israeli security minister, Gilad Erdan accused Barghouti of using the hunger strike for internal Palestinian political aims. “The strike led by Barghouti is motivated by internal Palestinian politics and therefore includes unreasonable demands concerning the conditions in the prisons,” he said. “I have instructed the prison service to act in any way to contain the strike within the walls of the prisons and the Israel police to prepare and provide any help needed to the prison service for any scenario that is likely to develop.”

In a statement from Hamas the group said: “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.”

This statement issued by such a group as Hamas can almost seem like a threat, with language like "we warn" and "any delay in answering their just demands will explode the situation". However, while different wording could be used, I think they are more likely stating the obvious of what will transpire if violence or harm is used against the prisoners.

In conclusion, while there are some real concerns facing Israel's security, human beings, even convicted criminals should be treated with dignity. Israel the country derives it’s name from a people in the Old Testament of the Bible, who under God’s given law, practiced restorative justice, and foreigners (aliens), slaves, women, and criminals had rights and responsibilities. Addressing the two main points brought up in this article. Security checks can be put in place to monitor phone conversations, and family visitation rights should be upheld by the Israeli government. Based on the fact that they are human beings. Of course politics and agendas are inter-mingled with this strike, but so is the treatment of the prisoners thus far by the Israeli prisons. Putting political agendas aside, whatever is right, whatever is true, whatever is noble, such things should be considered and acted upon.