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On Tuesday 31 January, the families of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel organised a protest outside the headquarters of the International Red Cross in Ramallah in solidarity with Khader Adnan, who is on hunger strike in an Israeli jail. The protestors expressed their support for all Palestinians behind bars in Israel, including many who are elected parliamentarians and those who are in solitary confinement.
The protest was attended by the exiled Jerusalemite deputy for Ramallah, Ahmed Atouan, and Deputies Mariam Saleh and Wael al-Husseni. They stood in solidarity alongside civil society groups and independent youth movements calling for the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israel’s prisons.
Participants in the protest stressed the need for justice in all issues relating to the prisoners, and the demands being made by Khader Adnan. The hunger striker’s parents demanded that the Palestinian Authority bring an immediate halt to the “exploratory” meetings with Israel; Mr. Adnan’s father said that he considers such meetings to be “a stab in the back” for prisoners. He added that his son is defending the entire nation and his hunger strike represents the demand of all prisoners, including those who are being held under so-called “administrative detention”.
Mr. Adnan’s family fear for their son’s life; it is now endangered following his abstinence from drinking water. The Israeli occupation authorities have threatened to end his hunger strike by force-feeding Adnan glucose intravenously; that could also threaten his life.
The protestors placed full responsibility for the life of Khader Adnan and all other Palestinian prisoners on the Israelis and stressed the need to work untiringly for their release.
MEMO Photographer: Ibtehal Mansour