19 jan 2016
The imprisoned journalist Mohamed al-Qiq is determined to continue his hunger strike till his release or martyrdom, his wife Fayha Shalash said Tuesday.
Shalash’s statements came during a solidarity event organized in Beirut by the international Tadamun (solidarity) society for human rights organized in coordination with the National Commission for the Defense of the prisoners in Israeli jails, and the Arab Organization to protect and support journalists and prisoners of conscience.
Speakers at the event stressed the need for mobilize popular support to al-Qiq’s hunger strike.
Tadamun’s general coordinator Fahed Hussein haled, during the solidarity event, al-Qiq’s strong steadfastness and determination in face of Israeli immoral and inhuman policies which aim at gagging the free voices.
Thanks to your continued support, Mohamed al-Qiq will stand firmly against Israeli jailers and he will be the victorious, his wife said.
He has only two choices: either freedom or martyrdom, she stressed.
She called on journalists’ trade unions and media institutions to put an end to Israel’s fierce and unjustified attack against Palestinian journalists.
Mohammed al-Qeiq, 33, Correspondent at al-Majd Saudi Channel, was arrested from his house in Ramallah. He was then subjected to tough interrogation, during which he was exposed to torture, including shackling (Shabeh), before being placed under administrative detention. He started his protest hunger strike since 24 November against his detention without trial or charge.
The Israeli human rights organization, B’Tselem, said international law stipulates that administrative detention may be exercised only in very exceptional cases. Nevertheless, Israeli authorities routinely employ administrative detention on thousands of Palestinians.
Shalash’s statements came during a solidarity event organized in Beirut by the international Tadamun (solidarity) society for human rights organized in coordination with the National Commission for the Defense of the prisoners in Israeli jails, and the Arab Organization to protect and support journalists and prisoners of conscience.
Speakers at the event stressed the need for mobilize popular support to al-Qiq’s hunger strike.
Tadamun’s general coordinator Fahed Hussein haled, during the solidarity event, al-Qiq’s strong steadfastness and determination in face of Israeli immoral and inhuman policies which aim at gagging the free voices.
Thanks to your continued support, Mohamed al-Qiq will stand firmly against Israeli jailers and he will be the victorious, his wife said.
He has only two choices: either freedom or martyrdom, she stressed.
She called on journalists’ trade unions and media institutions to put an end to Israel’s fierce and unjustified attack against Palestinian journalists.
Mohammed al-Qeiq, 33, Correspondent at al-Majd Saudi Channel, was arrested from his house in Ramallah. He was then subjected to tough interrogation, during which he was exposed to torture, including shackling (Shabeh), before being placed under administrative detention. He started his protest hunger strike since 24 November against his detention without trial or charge.
The Israeli human rights organization, B’Tselem, said international law stipulates that administrative detention may be exercised only in very exceptional cases. Nevertheless, Israeli authorities routinely employ administrative detention on thousands of Palestinians.
The Palestinian journalist Mohamed al-Qeiq, 33, is going on open hunger strike for the 55th day despite the increasing deterioration of his health, his family affirmed on Monday.
Qeiq’s wife, Faiha Shalash, said that the lawyer told her that her husband is determined to continue his open hunger strike, despite the seriousness of his condition, until releasing him on no condition. She warned of losing her husband or becoming paralyzed as a result of his serious and worsening health condition.
She stressed that the family will keep on organizing daily events to mobilize the local and international public opinion in order to intervene to support detainee Qeiq, who is waging a difficult battle against Israeli occupation.
The family called on Palestinians to participate in the march, in cars, that will be organized on Tuesday from Doura municipality to Ibin Rushd roundabout in al-Khalil city center.
Qeiq’s wife, Faiha Shalash, said that the lawyer told her that her husband is determined to continue his open hunger strike, despite the seriousness of his condition, until releasing him on no condition. She warned of losing her husband or becoming paralyzed as a result of his serious and worsening health condition.
She stressed that the family will keep on organizing daily events to mobilize the local and international public opinion in order to intervene to support detainee Qeiq, who is waging a difficult battle against Israeli occupation.
The family called on Palestinians to participate in the march, in cars, that will be organized on Tuesday from Doura municipality to Ibin Rushd roundabout in al-Khalil city center.
17 jan 2016
Prisoner Muhammad al-Qeiq has lost 25 kg of his overall weight and is ceaselessly vomiting blood, his wife told the PIC.
Speaking in an exclusive statement to the PIC, al-Qeiq’s wife, Fayhaa Shalash, raised alarm bells over the sharp exacerbation rocking her husband’s health status as his hunger-strike has entered its 54th day.
Shalash appealed to all humanitarian and media institutions, along with the International Federation of Journalists, to urgently step in and work on releasing her husband before it is too late.
The wife quoted lawyer Abu Esneineh, who visited al-Qeiq in the hospital, as stating that the prisoner has lost 25 kg and goes through frequent blackouts.
Prisoner al-Qeiq is also unable to stand up on his own and walk on his feet. His left hand has been tied to the hospital bed.
Shalash added that her husband refuses to take vitamins and that he has been vomiting and urinating blood.
She urged the international human rights bodies to assign a follow-up committee to keep tabs on her husband’s critical health condition.
Speaking in an exclusive statement to the PIC, al-Qeiq’s wife, Fayhaa Shalash, raised alarm bells over the sharp exacerbation rocking her husband’s health status as his hunger-strike has entered its 54th day.
Shalash appealed to all humanitarian and media institutions, along with the International Federation of Journalists, to urgently step in and work on releasing her husband before it is too late.
The wife quoted lawyer Abu Esneineh, who visited al-Qeiq in the hospital, as stating that the prisoner has lost 25 kg and goes through frequent blackouts.
Prisoner al-Qeiq is also unable to stand up on his own and walk on his feet. His left hand has been tied to the hospital bed.
Shalash added that her husband refuses to take vitamins and that he has been vomiting and urinating blood.
She urged the international human rights bodies to assign a follow-up committee to keep tabs on her husband’s critical health condition.
16 jan 2016
The Israeli military court of the Ofer prison in the occupied West Bank rejected an appeal to end the administrative detention of hunger-striking Palestinian prisoner Muhammad al-Qiq on Saturday.
Palestinian Minister of Prisoners’ Affairs Issa Qaraqe told Ma’an that the court ruled to maintain the six-month administrative detention period for al-Qiq, despite the continuation of a more than 50-day hunger strike by the prisoner.
Al-Qiq began the strike on Nov. 24, 2015, to protest his administrative detention, which allows Israel to hold him on secret evidence without charge for six-month intervals that can be renewed indefinitely.
Qaraqe said the court’s rejection of the appeal “proves intentions of revenge” by Israel against the Palestinian prisoner, referring to al-Qiq’s detention as arbitrary as Israeli prosecution had yet to press specific charges against him.
A lawyer for the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society, Jawad Boulos, told Ma’an earlier this week that the 33-year-old journalist has been held at the HaEmek Medical Center in Afula handcuffed to a hospital bed, and that he was in critical condition.
Head of the society, Qadura Fares said that as of Thursday, the Israeli Prison Service had given no indication it was willing to negotiate with al-Qiq.
While the Palestinian Authority Committee for Prisoners' Affairs warned that the Israeli authorities may be preparing to force-feed al-Qiq, Physicians for Human Rights Israel told Ma'an on Wednesday that doctors at HaEmek Medical Center had "no intention" of force-feeding him.
Al-Qiq, a journalist with Filistine al-Yawm and father of two, is one of many Palestinian prisoners to use hunger strike to protest administrative detention in Israeli jails.
While the policy is permissible under international law in extreme circumstances, critics argue that Israel uses it as a punitive measure on a routine basis to circumvent the justice system.
Several Palestinians last year were able to secure their release from Israeli custody following grueling hunger strikes, including Khader Adnan, who was released after 56 days on hunger strike, and Muhammad Allan, after 66 days.
Both hunger strikes brought the prisoners close to death.
Over 660 Palestinians were being held by the Israeli Prison Service under administrative detention as of last month, according to prisoners’ rights group Addameer.
Imprisoned journalist enters his 52nd day of hunger strike
The Palestinian journalist Mohamed al-Qiq, 33, has entered his 52nd day of hunger strike despite the continued deterioration of his health.
Family sources have earlier told the PIC reporter that their son removed on Thursday the vitamin pipes that were forcibly tied to his arm and voiced his firm rebuff of being force-fed.
According to his lawyer, al-Qeiq kept shouting and expressing his rejection of any form of medical intervention by Israeli medics, no matter how critical his health status might be.
After visiting the prisoner in Afula Hospital, his lawyer pointed out that al-Qeiq was now in critical condition, suffering severe weakness, muscle pains, and eye trouble.
Al-Qeiq's hands and one of his feet were handcuffed to the hospital bed, while he was being watched by six prison guards, the lawyer added.
Mohamed al-Qeiq has been on hunger strike since November 25, 2015 in protest at being sentenced administratively, with neither charge nor trial, for six months.
The hunger-striker’s health has sharply gone down. He has been transferred to the Afula hospital, where he has been diagnosed with chronic headaches, stomachaches, and ceaseless vomiting. He has also lost 13 kilograms of his overall weight.
Journalist al-Qeiq was kidnapped from his family home in Ramallah on November 21, 2015 and had been subjected to exhausting investigation and torture rounds which made him declare an open hunger strike.
Palestinian Minister of Prisoners’ Affairs Issa Qaraqe told Ma’an that the court ruled to maintain the six-month administrative detention period for al-Qiq, despite the continuation of a more than 50-day hunger strike by the prisoner.
Al-Qiq began the strike on Nov. 24, 2015, to protest his administrative detention, which allows Israel to hold him on secret evidence without charge for six-month intervals that can be renewed indefinitely.
Qaraqe said the court’s rejection of the appeal “proves intentions of revenge” by Israel against the Palestinian prisoner, referring to al-Qiq’s detention as arbitrary as Israeli prosecution had yet to press specific charges against him.
A lawyer for the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society, Jawad Boulos, told Ma’an earlier this week that the 33-year-old journalist has been held at the HaEmek Medical Center in Afula handcuffed to a hospital bed, and that he was in critical condition.
Head of the society, Qadura Fares said that as of Thursday, the Israeli Prison Service had given no indication it was willing to negotiate with al-Qiq.
While the Palestinian Authority Committee for Prisoners' Affairs warned that the Israeli authorities may be preparing to force-feed al-Qiq, Physicians for Human Rights Israel told Ma'an on Wednesday that doctors at HaEmek Medical Center had "no intention" of force-feeding him.
Al-Qiq, a journalist with Filistine al-Yawm and father of two, is one of many Palestinian prisoners to use hunger strike to protest administrative detention in Israeli jails.
While the policy is permissible under international law in extreme circumstances, critics argue that Israel uses it as a punitive measure on a routine basis to circumvent the justice system.
Several Palestinians last year were able to secure their release from Israeli custody following grueling hunger strikes, including Khader Adnan, who was released after 56 days on hunger strike, and Muhammad Allan, after 66 days.
Both hunger strikes brought the prisoners close to death.
Over 660 Palestinians were being held by the Israeli Prison Service under administrative detention as of last month, according to prisoners’ rights group Addameer.
Imprisoned journalist enters his 52nd day of hunger strike
The Palestinian journalist Mohamed al-Qiq, 33, has entered his 52nd day of hunger strike despite the continued deterioration of his health.
Family sources have earlier told the PIC reporter that their son removed on Thursday the vitamin pipes that were forcibly tied to his arm and voiced his firm rebuff of being force-fed.
According to his lawyer, al-Qeiq kept shouting and expressing his rejection of any form of medical intervention by Israeli medics, no matter how critical his health status might be.
After visiting the prisoner in Afula Hospital, his lawyer pointed out that al-Qeiq was now in critical condition, suffering severe weakness, muscle pains, and eye trouble.
Al-Qeiq's hands and one of his feet were handcuffed to the hospital bed, while he was being watched by six prison guards, the lawyer added.
Mohamed al-Qeiq has been on hunger strike since November 25, 2015 in protest at being sentenced administratively, with neither charge nor trial, for six months.
The hunger-striker’s health has sharply gone down. He has been transferred to the Afula hospital, where he has been diagnosed with chronic headaches, stomachaches, and ceaseless vomiting. He has also lost 13 kilograms of his overall weight.
Journalist al-Qeiq was kidnapped from his family home in Ramallah on November 21, 2015 and had been subjected to exhausting investigation and torture rounds which made him declare an open hunger strike.
Three young men and one journalist suffered bullet injuries during violent clashes on Friday afternoon with the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at the northern entrance to Bethlehem city.
According to the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) reporter in the city, journalist Safia Omar suffered a bullet injury as she was covering the confrontations between local young men and Israeli soldiers north of Bethlehem city.
Meanwhile, two Red Crescent paramedics suffered injuries from glass fragments when Israeli rubber bullets shattered the windshield of their ambulance during clashes between soldiers and local young men in al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem.
In al-Khalil, violent clashes broke out on the same day between young men and soldiers at Beit Ainoun junction, north of Sa'ir town, following the funeral procession of 20-year-old Mu'ayed Jabbareen, who was killed on Thursday for an alleged stabbing attack.
Similar events took place in al-Aroub refugee camp, north of al-Khalil city.
According to the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) reporter in the city, journalist Safia Omar suffered a bullet injury as she was covering the confrontations between local young men and Israeli soldiers north of Bethlehem city.
Meanwhile, two Red Crescent paramedics suffered injuries from glass fragments when Israeli rubber bullets shattered the windshield of their ambulance during clashes between soldiers and local young men in al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem.
In al-Khalil, violent clashes broke out on the same day between young men and soldiers at Beit Ainoun junction, north of Sa'ir town, following the funeral procession of 20-year-old Mu'ayed Jabbareen, who was killed on Thursday for an alleged stabbing attack.
Similar events took place in al-Aroub refugee camp, north of al-Khalil city.
15 jan 2016
The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) on Thursday extended the detention of a Palestinian journalist for eight days and slapped a travel ban on the Second Deputy-Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC).
A PIC news reporter quoted local sources as stating that the Israeli court at the Jalama lock-up, in 1948 Occupied Palestine, extended the remand of journalist Mujahed al-Saadi for eight days pending further investigation.
Al-Saadi, working as a reporter and photojournalist for the Palestine Today TV Channel, was kidnapped by the Israeli occupation soldiers a couple of days ago from his own family home in the occupied West Bank province of Jenin.
Meanwhile, the IOA banned the PLC Second Deputy-Speaker, Hassan Khreisheh, from travelling to Turkey via the al-Karama border crossing.
Khreisheh was quoted by the Quds Press as saying that the IOA informed him of the ban after he had been detained for four hours at the al-Karama crossing and without specifying the reasons for the ban.
MP Khreisheh was on his way to Turkey to take part in a pro-Palestine event.
He said the IOA has renewed a travel ban to which he had been subjected to over the past seven years.
The MP said such arbitrary bans make part of Israeli attempts to quell anti-occupation voices overseas.
Khreisheh slammed the silence maintained by the Palestinian Authority (PA), chaired by Mahmoud Abbas, over Israeli bans on Palestinian MPs.
A PIC news reporter quoted local sources as stating that the Israeli court at the Jalama lock-up, in 1948 Occupied Palestine, extended the remand of journalist Mujahed al-Saadi for eight days pending further investigation.
Al-Saadi, working as a reporter and photojournalist for the Palestine Today TV Channel, was kidnapped by the Israeli occupation soldiers a couple of days ago from his own family home in the occupied West Bank province of Jenin.
Meanwhile, the IOA banned the PLC Second Deputy-Speaker, Hassan Khreisheh, from travelling to Turkey via the al-Karama border crossing.
Khreisheh was quoted by the Quds Press as saying that the IOA informed him of the ban after he had been detained for four hours at the al-Karama crossing and without specifying the reasons for the ban.
MP Khreisheh was on his way to Turkey to take part in a pro-Palestine event.
He said the IOA has renewed a travel ban to which he had been subjected to over the past seven years.
The MP said such arbitrary bans make part of Israeli attempts to quell anti-occupation voices overseas.
Khreisheh slammed the silence maintained by the Palestinian Authority (PA), chaired by Mahmoud Abbas, over Israeli bans on Palestinian MPs.
Palestinian prisoner Muhammad al-Qeiq rejected taking vitamins on Thursday as he entered the 51st day of a hunger strike he began to protest his incarceration in Israeli occupation jails without charge or trial.
Al-Qeiq’s family told a PIC news reporter: “We’ve been officially informed by lawyer Abu Esneineh that our son removed the vitamin pipes that were forcibly tied to his arm and voiced his firm rebuff of being force-fed.”
According to the lawyer, al-Qeiq kept shouting and expressing his rejection of any form of medical intervention by Israeli medics, no matter how critical his health status might be.
Earlier on Tuesday, in a serious contravention to international laws, the IOA applied the force-feeding law on the detained Palestinian journalist Muhammad al-Qeiq in an attempt to suspend his hunger-strike against his will.
Al-Qeiq has been on hunger strike since November 25, 2015 in protest at being sentenced administratively, with neither charge nor trial, for six months.
The hunger-striker’s health has sharply gone down. He has been transferred to the Afula hospital, in 1948 Occupied Palestine, where he has been diagnosed with chronic headaches, stomachaches, and ceaseless vomiting. He has also lost 13 kilograms of his overall weight.
Journalist al-Qeiq was kidnapped from his family home in Ramallah on November 21, 2015 and had been subjected to exhausting investigation and torture rounds.
Vidar calls for supporting the hunger striker al-Qeiq
Vidar, the Turkish Assembly of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, expressed its total support with the Palestinian journalist Mohamed al-Qeiq who has been on hunger strike for 51 days.
Vidar called on international human rights institutions and the free world to stand with al-Qeiq’s demand for freedom.
The Turkish organization considered the Israeli practices against Palestinian prisoners as a war crime that violates the international law.
Vidar hailed the strong determination of the hunger striker al-Qeiq, expressing its solidarity with his family.
Meanwhile, the international Tadamun (solidarity) society for human rights organized on Thursday a sit-in outside the Red Cross Headquarters in Beirut in coordination with the National Commission for the Defense of the prisoners in Israeli jails, and the Arab Organization to protect and support journalists and prisoners of conscience.
Representatives of Palestinian factions and Lebanese officials and journalists have participated in the event, stressing their total support for al-Qeiq’s protest steps.
Mohammed al-Qeiq, 33, Correspondent at al-Majd Saudi Channel, was arrested from his house in Ramallah. He was then subjected to tough interrogation, during which he was exposed to torture, including shackling (Shabeh), before being placed under administrative detention. He started his protest hunger strike since 24 November against his detention.
The Israeli human rights organization, B’Tselem, said international law stipulates that administrative detention may be exercised only in very exceptional cases. Nevertheless, Israeli authorities routinely employ administrative detention on thousands of Palestinians.
Al-Qeiq’s family told a PIC news reporter: “We’ve been officially informed by lawyer Abu Esneineh that our son removed the vitamin pipes that were forcibly tied to his arm and voiced his firm rebuff of being force-fed.”
According to the lawyer, al-Qeiq kept shouting and expressing his rejection of any form of medical intervention by Israeli medics, no matter how critical his health status might be.
Earlier on Tuesday, in a serious contravention to international laws, the IOA applied the force-feeding law on the detained Palestinian journalist Muhammad al-Qeiq in an attempt to suspend his hunger-strike against his will.
Al-Qeiq has been on hunger strike since November 25, 2015 in protest at being sentenced administratively, with neither charge nor trial, for six months.
The hunger-striker’s health has sharply gone down. He has been transferred to the Afula hospital, in 1948 Occupied Palestine, where he has been diagnosed with chronic headaches, stomachaches, and ceaseless vomiting. He has also lost 13 kilograms of his overall weight.
Journalist al-Qeiq was kidnapped from his family home in Ramallah on November 21, 2015 and had been subjected to exhausting investigation and torture rounds.
Vidar calls for supporting the hunger striker al-Qeiq
Vidar, the Turkish Assembly of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, expressed its total support with the Palestinian journalist Mohamed al-Qeiq who has been on hunger strike for 51 days.
Vidar called on international human rights institutions and the free world to stand with al-Qeiq’s demand for freedom.
The Turkish organization considered the Israeli practices against Palestinian prisoners as a war crime that violates the international law.
Vidar hailed the strong determination of the hunger striker al-Qeiq, expressing its solidarity with his family.
Meanwhile, the international Tadamun (solidarity) society for human rights organized on Thursday a sit-in outside the Red Cross Headquarters in Beirut in coordination with the National Commission for the Defense of the prisoners in Israeli jails, and the Arab Organization to protect and support journalists and prisoners of conscience.
Representatives of Palestinian factions and Lebanese officials and journalists have participated in the event, stressing their total support for al-Qeiq’s protest steps.
Mohammed al-Qeiq, 33, Correspondent at al-Majd Saudi Channel, was arrested from his house in Ramallah. He was then subjected to tough interrogation, during which he was exposed to torture, including shackling (Shabeh), before being placed under administrative detention. He started his protest hunger strike since 24 November against his detention.
The Israeli human rights organization, B’Tselem, said international law stipulates that administrative detention may be exercised only in very exceptional cases. Nevertheless, Israeli authorities routinely employ administrative detention on thousands of Palestinians.
14 jan 2016
In an unprecedented step on Tuesday, 12 January 2016, Israeli forces applied the force-feeding law against the administrative detainee, journalist Mohammed al-Qeeq, who has been on a hunger strike for about 50 days. Al-Qeeq was handcuffed and then forcibly administrated intravenous fluids.
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) is gravely concerned over the risks that may result from force-feeding al-Qeeq. Moreover, PCHR calls upon the international community to promptly intervene to save his life and stop force-feeding.
It should be noted that the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) approved on 30 July 2015 in the second and third reading of the amendment to the so-called "Law to Prevent Harm of Hunger Strike", which PCHR warned of its consequences at that time and demanded its immediate annulment.
Many international bodies have also warned of the adoption of such law, which is considered by the United Nations Special Rapporteur against torture as means of torture, and by the Special Rapporteur on the right to health as a serious violation.
Mohammed Usamah al-Qeeq (33) has been on an open hunger strike since 25 November 2015 in protest against placing him under 6-month administrative detention. Al-Qeeq has since refused to eat or undergo medical tests, so his health status deteriorated.
Therefore, Al-Qeeq was taken to al-Afoulah Hospital in Israel and is still there, as his health condition is getting worse. Human rights sources reported that he suffers from permanent headache and pains in the stomach and joints, vomits blood and lost 13 kilograms.
It should be mentioned that on 21 November 2015, Al-Qeeq, Correspondent at al-Majd Saudi Channel, was arrested from his house in Ramallah.
He was then subjected to tough interrogation, during which he was exposed to torture, including shackling (Shabeh), before being placed under administrative detention. Therefore, he started a hunger strike.
PCHR is concerned over the life of Mohammed al-Qeeq, and:
1. Calls upon the international community to pressurize the Israeli forces to stop all attempts to forcibly feed him fearing for his life;
2. Reiterates its call upon the international community to urgently move to stop the Israeli serious and systematic abuses against the Palestinian detainees in the Israeli prisons;
3. Emphasizes that administrative detention is illegal and falls under the category of political arrests, constituting a violation of the detainee’s right to a fair trial, including his right to receive an adequate defense and to be informed of the charges against him; and
4. Stresses that the force-feeding is considered as a form of torture and degrading treatment under the international law.
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) is gravely concerned over the risks that may result from force-feeding al-Qeeq. Moreover, PCHR calls upon the international community to promptly intervene to save his life and stop force-feeding.
It should be noted that the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) approved on 30 July 2015 in the second and third reading of the amendment to the so-called "Law to Prevent Harm of Hunger Strike", which PCHR warned of its consequences at that time and demanded its immediate annulment.
Many international bodies have also warned of the adoption of such law, which is considered by the United Nations Special Rapporteur against torture as means of torture, and by the Special Rapporteur on the right to health as a serious violation.
Mohammed Usamah al-Qeeq (33) has been on an open hunger strike since 25 November 2015 in protest against placing him under 6-month administrative detention. Al-Qeeq has since refused to eat or undergo medical tests, so his health status deteriorated.
Therefore, Al-Qeeq was taken to al-Afoulah Hospital in Israel and is still there, as his health condition is getting worse. Human rights sources reported that he suffers from permanent headache and pains in the stomach and joints, vomits blood and lost 13 kilograms.
It should be mentioned that on 21 November 2015, Al-Qeeq, Correspondent at al-Majd Saudi Channel, was arrested from his house in Ramallah.
He was then subjected to tough interrogation, during which he was exposed to torture, including shackling (Shabeh), before being placed under administrative detention. Therefore, he started a hunger strike.
PCHR is concerned over the life of Mohammed al-Qeeq, and:
1. Calls upon the international community to pressurize the Israeli forces to stop all attempts to forcibly feed him fearing for his life;
2. Reiterates its call upon the international community to urgently move to stop the Israeli serious and systematic abuses against the Palestinian detainees in the Israeli prisons;
3. Emphasizes that administrative detention is illegal and falls under the category of political arrests, constituting a violation of the detainee’s right to a fair trial, including his right to receive an adequate defense and to be informed of the charges against him; and
4. Stresses that the force-feeding is considered as a form of torture and degrading treatment under the international law.
13 jan 2016
The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) have applied the force-feeding law on the detained Palestinian journalist Mohammad al-Qeiq, by introducing solutions into his body against his will, which is a serious practice and contrary to international conventions.
Head of the Palestinian Authority’s detainees and ex-detainees committee, Issa Qaraqe, said that the journalist captive is the first prisoner on hunger strike on whom "force-feeding" law has been applied. The "force-feeding" law was approved by the Israeli government in July, 2015, in order to break the will of the hunger strikers.
Qaraqe explained in a press statement on Tuesday that the "Ethics Committee" in the Afula hospital, which consists of three doctors, a psychiatrist, and a social worker, and has the power to force the captives on hunger strike on nutrition under the pretext of threat to their lives, had tied up captive al-Qeiq, and connected him to a monitor and to an infusion pump, to introduce fluids into his body intravenously.
He pointed out that in spite of the prohibition of the force-feeding law by all legal agencies, the World Medical Association (WMA) and the Israeli Medical Association (IMA), the Israeli government did not take into account the international legal position of the force-feeding.
Earlier, an attorney for the detainees’ committee, Heba Masalha, revealed that the Israeli Ethics Committee held a meeting and decided to feed the prisoner on hunger strike Mohammed al-Qeiq intravenously by force, taking advantage of his physical weakness, to be the first Palestinian prisoner on hunger strike on whom the force-feeding law is applied.
Head of the Palestinian Authority’s detainees and ex-detainees committee, Issa Qaraqe, said that the journalist captive is the first prisoner on hunger strike on whom "force-feeding" law has been applied. The "force-feeding" law was approved by the Israeli government in July, 2015, in order to break the will of the hunger strikers.
Qaraqe explained in a press statement on Tuesday that the "Ethics Committee" in the Afula hospital, which consists of three doctors, a psychiatrist, and a social worker, and has the power to force the captives on hunger strike on nutrition under the pretext of threat to their lives, had tied up captive al-Qeiq, and connected him to a monitor and to an infusion pump, to introduce fluids into his body intravenously.
He pointed out that in spite of the prohibition of the force-feeding law by all legal agencies, the World Medical Association (WMA) and the Israeli Medical Association (IMA), the Israeli government did not take into account the international legal position of the force-feeding.
Earlier, an attorney for the detainees’ committee, Heba Masalha, revealed that the Israeli Ethics Committee held a meeting and decided to feed the prisoner on hunger strike Mohammed al-Qeiq intravenously by force, taking advantage of his physical weakness, to be the first Palestinian prisoner on hunger strike on whom the force-feeding law is applied.
By Khalid Amayreh in West Bank
Muhammad Elqeiq, a 33-year-old journalist from Dura in the southern West Bank, is fighting for his life in an Israeli detention facility. He has been on an interrupted hunger strike for 49 days in protest against his unlawful incarceration by the Israeli security authorities.
Palestinians often resort to hunger strikes to protest unlawful detention by Israel.
On Monday, 11 January, his wife, Faihaa Shalash, said the Israeli occupation authorities accuse her husband of "incitement” a charge routinely leveled against critics of the Israeli occupation and persecution of Palestinians.
"Elqeiq is in critical condition after 48 days on hunger strike and his life is at risk," said Issa Qaraqe, the Palestinian minister of prisoner affairs.
On Tuesday, his family urged the public in Dura to attend a rally in Hebron to show solidarity with the young journalist and call on human rights groups and foreign diplomats based in Israel and the Palestinian Authority to exert maximum pressure on the Israeli government to free Elqeiq.
Israel, which is detaining hundreds of Palestinians without charge or trial, is refusing to spell out any specific charges against him
Observers as well as Israeli and Palestinian human rights groups note that the Israeli military authorities use administrative detention as "a sword drawn against Palestinian activists' throats" for the purpose of deterring criticisms of the Israeli occupation.
Elqeiq violated no law, stabbed or attempted to stab no one, and never hurled a stone on any Israeli.
His ultimate weapon has always been his pen.
I personally know Muhammed. He is a gentleman and completely peaceable person with no propensity to indulge in violence. Whatever he has done falls within the universally recognized right to press freedom and freedom of expression
He also holds moderate views and should not be viewed as an extremist.
Hence, I urge all conscientious people to press for his immediate release.
Muhammad Elqeiq, a 33-year-old journalist from Dura in the southern West Bank, is fighting for his life in an Israeli detention facility. He has been on an interrupted hunger strike for 49 days in protest against his unlawful incarceration by the Israeli security authorities.
Palestinians often resort to hunger strikes to protest unlawful detention by Israel.
On Monday, 11 January, his wife, Faihaa Shalash, said the Israeli occupation authorities accuse her husband of "incitement” a charge routinely leveled against critics of the Israeli occupation and persecution of Palestinians.
"Elqeiq is in critical condition after 48 days on hunger strike and his life is at risk," said Issa Qaraqe, the Palestinian minister of prisoner affairs.
On Tuesday, his family urged the public in Dura to attend a rally in Hebron to show solidarity with the young journalist and call on human rights groups and foreign diplomats based in Israel and the Palestinian Authority to exert maximum pressure on the Israeli government to free Elqeiq.
Israel, which is detaining hundreds of Palestinians without charge or trial, is refusing to spell out any specific charges against him
Observers as well as Israeli and Palestinian human rights groups note that the Israeli military authorities use administrative detention as "a sword drawn against Palestinian activists' throats" for the purpose of deterring criticisms of the Israeli occupation.
Elqeiq violated no law, stabbed or attempted to stab no one, and never hurled a stone on any Israeli.
His ultimate weapon has always been his pen.
I personally know Muhammed. He is a gentleman and completely peaceable person with no propensity to indulge in violence. Whatever he has done falls within the universally recognized right to press freedom and freedom of expression
He also holds moderate views and should not be viewed as an extremist.
Hence, I urge all conscientious people to press for his immediate release.
12 jan 2016
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) on Tuesday detained at least seven Palestinians in predawn raids across the West Bank.
In Nablus, eyewitnesses affirmed to the PIC correspondent that a number of Israeli military vehicles stormed Jabal al-Tur area and broke into a number of local homes.
Two youths were arrested during the raid, which led to the outbreak of violent clashes amid heavy fire of tear gas bombs and rubber bullets.
The sources highlighted that Mujahid al-Sadi, a journalist working for Filistin al-Yaum (Palestine Today), was arrested after IOF soldiers brutally stormed his house in Jenin and attacked his family members.
Al-Sadi, who earlier spent several years in Israeli jails, was questioned for long hours before being taken to Salem military camp.
In Bethlehem, overnight clashes broke out in al-Khudar town, south of the city, when Israeli forces stormed the town amid heavy firing of live and rubber bullets.
Local sources told our reporter in the city that Palestinian youths responded by throwing stones at the invading soldiers.
A number of tear gas inhalation cases were reported among the protesters, the sources added.
At least one detainee was taken in Bethlehem, while two other youths were arrested in Beit Awa town in al-Khalil.
Israeli forces have detained hundreds of Palestinians since the outbreak of Jerusalem Intifada at the beginning of October.
Palestinian prisoners' rights group Addameer estimated in December that Israel was holding 6,800 Palestinian prisoners, including 470 minors.
In Nablus, eyewitnesses affirmed to the PIC correspondent that a number of Israeli military vehicles stormed Jabal al-Tur area and broke into a number of local homes.
Two youths were arrested during the raid, which led to the outbreak of violent clashes amid heavy fire of tear gas bombs and rubber bullets.
The sources highlighted that Mujahid al-Sadi, a journalist working for Filistin al-Yaum (Palestine Today), was arrested after IOF soldiers brutally stormed his house in Jenin and attacked his family members.
Al-Sadi, who earlier spent several years in Israeli jails, was questioned for long hours before being taken to Salem military camp.
In Bethlehem, overnight clashes broke out in al-Khudar town, south of the city, when Israeli forces stormed the town amid heavy firing of live and rubber bullets.
Local sources told our reporter in the city that Palestinian youths responded by throwing stones at the invading soldiers.
A number of tear gas inhalation cases were reported among the protesters, the sources added.
At least one detainee was taken in Bethlehem, while two other youths were arrested in Beit Awa town in al-Khalil.
Israeli forces have detained hundreds of Palestinians since the outbreak of Jerusalem Intifada at the beginning of October.
Palestinian prisoners' rights group Addameer estimated in December that Israel was holding 6,800 Palestinian prisoners, including 470 minors.
