Hundreds of Gaza women march to join Hunger Strikers rally

Hundreds of Gaza women march to join Hunger Strikers rally

by Julie Webb-Pullman

Gaza - Hundreds of women today marched to "Al Jundy," the Square of the Unknown Soldier in Gaza City to join those already gathered in solidarity for the Palestinian hunger-strikers in Israeli jails.

Some 40 released prisoners have set up beds in the solidarity tents, in an open-ended public hunger strike in support of the current prisoners, whose situation they know only too well.

Thousands of locals pass through every day, staying a few hours or all day, to support them all in their demands for the treatment of Palestinian prisoners in accordance with international law.

As is happening every day now, at midday there were press conferences held by different factions and organisations. Today the Government Media Office demanded the Arab world and the international community stand up and defend the integrity of the various instruments of international law guaranteeing the rights of prisoners, otherwise the instruments, as well as the United Nations itself, will lose all remaining credibility.

Women march to the Square

"The international community and UN agencies [must] protect the integrity of these conventions and take action against Israel for its crimes against Palestinian prisoners, and demand that Israel abide by international law and conventions relating to the treatment of prisoners," said Hassan Abu Hasheesh, Chief of the Government Media Office.

Gazans hunger-striking in sympathy in the Square of the Unknown Soldier.

Israel's refusal to treat Palestinian prisoners in accordance with international law sits alongside its refusal to observe international law in other important areas, such as their ongoing failure to abide by numerous United Nations Resolutions such as General Assembly Resolution 194 guaranteeing refugees the right of return, Security Council Resolution 242 holding the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories captured in 1967 illegal, and Security Council Resolution 446 determining that establishing settlements by israel in Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967 have no legal validity.

Many family members of prisoners were present, including numerous children - daughters, sons, sisters and brothers holding photos of their dad or their brother. Two young girls sang a traditional Palestinian song about prisoners under the occupation to an appreciative crowd.

The sit-in at Al Jundy will remain until the prisoners' legitimate demands are met, and the hunger strike is over.

A still-weak Hana Shalabi supported by other women

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