BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, passed a bill into law on Wednesday permitting the imprisonment of children under the age of 14 if the child committed acts of “terrorism,” according to a statement released by the Knesset.The legislation, labeled the “Youth Bill,” would allow Israeli authorities to imprison a child if convicted of […]

Ramallah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – Hundreds of Palestinians in Israeli prisons were observing a hunger strike Friday, in a new wave of protest that Palestinian officials said was expected to grow. Some of the strikers accused Israeli jailers of “harassment” while others refused food in solidarity with prisoner Bilal Kayed, who has been fasting for […]

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Ten new Palestinian prisoners on Sunday joined a mass open hunger strike in solidarity with prisoner Bilal Kayid, according to Issa Qaraqe, the head of the Palestinian Committee of Prisoners’ Affairs, a day after reports emerged that Kayid’s health had sharply deteriorated after almost 50 days without food. Qaraqe told the official […]

Dozens of New Yorkers gathered on Friday, 10 June to rally and march in support of Palestinian community leader, former Palestinian prisoner, and torture survivor Rasmea Odeh. Odeh will return to court on Monday, 13 June for a closed status hearing following her victory in the Court of Appeals, which rejected Judge Gershwin Drain’s exclusion of […]

On 13 June, Rasmea Odeh – former Palestinian political prisoner, torture survivor, and Palestinian community leader – will have a status hearing in chambers in Detroit before Judge Gershwin Drain. This hearing is the first after Odeh and her lawyers won a victory in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, sending her case back to […]

On the occasion of the passing of legendary athlete and struggler for justice, Muhammad Ali, Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network joins millions around the world in remembering Ali’s historic legacy of commitment to the liberation of oppressed peoples and his willingness to sacrifice in order to adhere to those principles. In 1985, Ali traveled to […]

Palestinian leftist and feminist parliamentarian and long-time prisoners’ advocate Khalida Jarrar was released from Israeli prison on 3 June after serving over 14 months imprisoned. Jarrar’s release was celebrated widely by comrades and supporters, and by international activists who urged her release since her 2 April 2015 arrest. Samidoun’s international coordinator, Charlotte Kates, spoke with […]

Israel’s best known human rights organization, B’Tselem, has lost all faith in the Israeli military justice system and will stop cooperating with it on behalf of Palestinian victims, the organization announced Wednesday. A quarter century of experience working with the army “has brought us to the realization that there is no longer any point in […]

Palestinian leftist legislator, feminist, and prisoners’ advocate Khalida Jarrar was released after 14 months in Israeli prison on Friday, 3 June, where she was met by a crowd of supporters at the Jubara checkpoint near Tulkarem. Jarrar will hold open receptions tonight, 4 June and tomorrow, 5 June, at the Palestinian Legislative Council offices, celebrating […]

Palestinian prisoner and former hunger striker Sami Janazrah has joined fellow administrative detainee and professor Imad Barghouthi – facing charges for so-called Facebook “incitement” following international campaigns to end their administrative detention without charge or trial. Despite earlier reports that charges of “incitement” against Janazrah had been denied, the military prosecution is now charging Janazrah […]