Rally for Palestinian prisoners in occupied West Bank
A public rally has been staged in support of Palestinian prisoners in the occupied city of Al Bierah, West Bank last
Friday. The event has been organised by Yousef Al Sedeek Institute for Prisoners Protection (YAIPP) and UFree Network to
defend the rights of Palestinian prisoner. The event was attended by both official and public audiences. It came in
solidarity with Palestinian prisoners especially those on hunger strike.
The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas participated in the rally where he delivered a key speech. President Abbas
stated that the issue of Palestinian prisoners is a top agenda for the Palestinian leadership. He also expressed his
deep support to the prisoners and their families.
“We don’t forget the suffering of Palestinian prisoners and we will work hard to release them. Given that we have
managed to announce a Palestinian state two months ago, we will be able to release all Palestinian prisoners. In fact,
we have worked hard, on all fronts to release them and their issue was always a top agenda while political negotiations.
We have conducted several deals with the Israelis to release prisoners detained prior 1993; a deal to release 1000
prisoners was reached with former Israeli premier, Ehud Olmert. We will continue to press Israel to commit to its
agreements.” confirmed president Abbas
President Abbas revealed that he will discuss the issue of Palestinian prisoners with the US president and foreign
secretary in their upcoming visit to the Middle East.
Key public officials and politicians like: Shiekh Raed Salah, Palestinian Prisoners Minster, Chief Palestinian
Presidency Bureau Al Tayib Abed Al Rahim, Mahmoud Al Habash Ministry for Islamic Affairs & Endowment, Governor of Ramallah city Laila Ghanam, Chairman of Palestinian prisoner club Qadora Faris, exiled
Palestinian MP Muhamad Abu Tair, Chairman of Yousef Al Sideeq institute for Prisoners Protection and many others.
The rally included different activities, speeches and solidarity actions. Families of the prisoners narrated their
stories of suffering about their beloved ones. Father of prisoner Ahmad F. Sheahda who spent 29 years in Israeli jail
told the participants the story of his son. Children of the prisoners like Bar’a delivered a poem about her father.
Release prisoners like Nail Al Bargouti made speeches.
The rally came amid hunger strike launched by Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. The strike is a protest against
repressive and heinous Israeli practices which illegal and in violation of Human Rights and International laws. The
lives of many prisoners is at risk as Israel continues to ignore their fair and just demands.
For more photos click here: http://ufree-p.net/index.php/site/index/news/163/3
UFree Network is an independent European-wide human rights network; set up to defend the rights of Palestinian political prisoners and
detainees.
ENDS