Ramallah (UNA/WAFA) – The Palestinian people in all governorates commemorated Palestinian Prisoner’s Day, which falls on April 17.
In Ramallah, a mass march was held to commemorate Palestinian Prisoner's Day. Participants included relatives of prisoners and released detainees, along with hundreds of citizens, members of the PLO Executive Committee and the Fatah Central Committee, representatives of various political forces and factions, prisoners' institutions, popular organizations, unions, and professional associations..
During the march, which started from Al-Manara Square and toured main streets in Ramallah, pictures of dozens of detainees in Israeli occupation prisons were raised, along with slogans demanding the reversal of the law to execute Palestinian prisoners, which was recently passed by the Knesset in the Israeli occupation state..
Prisoner support organizations and national and Islamic forces and factions decided to hold central events to commemorate Palestinian Prisoner's Day simultaneously in the centers of most Palestinian cities, under the title: "Together to overturn the law to execute prisoners."".
During a rally preceding the march, a member of the PLO Executive Committee stated that Prisoners' Day holds exceptional and particular significance this year, as the Knesset passed a law authorizing the execution of prisoners, at a time when the crimes of abuse and torture perpetrated by the occupation's prison administration are escalating, resulting in the deaths of at least 89 prisoners whose names are known, since October 7, 2023..
Abu Yousef stressed the importance of confronting the aforementioned law until it is overturned, and of mobilizing public and popular support for the prisoners and stopping the crimes and violations they are subjected to, especially those targeting leading figures such as the prisoners Marwan Barghouti and Ahmed Sa'adat..
For his part, Karim Younis, a member of the Fatah Central Committee and former dean of prisoners, affirmed that the occupation's prisons are witnessing unprecedented levels of repression and torture led by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, demonstrating the arrogance and brutality of the occupier in an attempt to subdue and break the prisoners..
He added: “Today, prisoners are facing an unprecedented confrontation on all levels, and the death penalty law is the best evidence of that.”".
Younis expressed doubt that Israel would carry out the death penalty against any Palestinian prisoner, given the expected repercussions, not only within the Palestinian territories..
In a speech on behalf of prisoners' institutions, the head of the Palestinian Prisoners Club, Abdullah al-Zaghari, delivered three messages. In the first, he stressed that national unity must be embodied not only in slogans uttered on some national occasions, but also in standing against the occupation's projects aimed at erasing the history of Palestine and its cause from the global political map..
In the second letter, Al-Zaghari said that the occupation rushed to pass a law to execute prisoners, as if it does not carry out executions or killings, and does not commit torture crimes against detainees.
He affirmed that this racist and fascist law will not pass, and that the Palestinian people will remain loyal to their prisoners, martyrs, and wounded..
He added that the third message is directed to the countries that have recognized Palestine, and to UN bodies and international human rights and humanitarian organizations, urging them to move beyond their current state of inaction and complicity in achieving justice for the Palestinian people and ending the occupation. This requires taking practical steps and implementing measures on the ground to hold Israel accountable, force it to withdraw from Palestinian territories, provide protection for the Palestinian people, release prisoners, and halt its acts of killing and genocide..
In Bethlehem Governorate, a vigil was held in Manger Square, with the participation of families of prisoners, citizens, representatives of national forces, and school students..
The participants raised pictures of prisoners and banners condemning the violations they are subjected to inside the occupation prisons..
Bethlehem Governor Muhammad Taha Abu Aliya stated that the issue of prisoners has always been a central focus of the Palestinian struggle, noting the escalation of measures taken against them, including the passage of a law authorizing the execution of prisoners. He called for strengthening the role of official and civil institutions and for engaging with international bodies to highlight the prisoners' situation..
For his part, former head of the National Library, Issa Qaraqe, stressed the importance of highlighting the conditions of the prisoners, calling for international intervention to stop the policies being implemented against them, to work towards abolishing the death penalty law, and to ensure respect for their rights in accordance with international laws..
For his part, the acting mayor of Bethlehem, Anton Marqos, pointed to the conditions of prisoners inside prisons, calling for international action to ensure their protection and to hold accountable those responsible for the violations committed against them.
In the Tubas Governorate, local activists, families of prisoners, and released prisoners participated in a central festival commemorating Prisoners' Day and rejecting the recently passed Israeli law authorizing the execution of prisoners. The event was organized by the Palestinian Prisoners' Club, the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, national action factions, the Factional Coordination Committee, and the Tubas Student Youth Movement..
The event included theatrical performances depicting the suffering of prisoners inside Israeli prisons..
The Governor of Tubas and the Northern Jordan Valley, Ahmed Al-Asaad, stated that commemorating Prisoners' Day underscores the importance of this occasion, noting that the prisoners continue their steadfast resistance within the prisons. He pointed out that the passage of the law to execute prisoners constitutes an escalation in the measures taken against them..
For his part, Mahmoud Sawafteh, speaking on behalf of the Factional Coordination Committee, said that the issue of prisoners is a central focus of the Palestinian cause, calling for intensified efforts to secure their release and urging international bodies to take action to stop the violations against them..
For his part, the Director of the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, Ahmed Abu Rashid, pointed out that the commemoration of Prisoner’s Day coincides with exceptional circumstances, in light of the continuation of Israeli measures against prisoners, demanding that protection be provided to them inside prisons.
In Nablus, representatives of official and popular organizations and a number of citizens participated in a festival organized in Balata camp, east of Nablus, as part of the activities commemorating Palestinian Prisoner's Day..
Participants in the festival, which was called for by the National Committee to Support Prisoners, the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, the Prisoner's Club, the Factional Coordination Committee, and Nablus organizations and institutions, raised Palestinian flags and pictures of detainees, demanding support and assistance for them..
Nablus Governor Ghassan Daghlas said that the issue of the detainees requires unifying efforts at various levels, noting the need to work to support them..
He pointed to the conditions of the detainees inside the occupation prisons, and the measures they are subjected to..
Speakers at the festival affirmed their rejection of the law to execute prisoners, calling for international action to stop the policies being implemented against them..
They also pointed to the conditions in which prisoners live inside prisons, calling on the international community and human rights institutions to assume their responsibilities towards them.
In Qalqilya Governorate, a demonstration was held in front of the municipality, with popular and official attendance, and the participation of the Minister of Local Government, Dr. Sami Hijjawi, along with national figures and institutions. Participants raised banners condemning the occupation's policies against prisoners and demanding their release..
During his speech, Qalqilya Governor Hussam Abu Hamda stressed the importance of strengthening popular and official mobilization in support of the prisoners' cause, noting that this issue will remain a top priority for the government until they gain their freedom..
For his part, Marwan Khader, spokesperson for the National Forces, said that the demonstration carries a clear message rejecting the death penalty law and all the repressive policies pursued by the occupation authorities against prisoners, calling for unifying efforts to support them and rally around them..
In his speech, the director of the Prisoners' Club, Lafi Nassoura, stressed the need to intensify efforts to support the prisoners in light of the escalating violations against them, emphasizing their rejection of all measures and laws that target their lives and rights..
In the city of Tulkarm, a public rally was organized in front of the Martyr Thabet Thabet roundabout in the city center, with the participation of families of prisoners, representatives of national action factions, and governorate institutions, where pictures of prisoners held in the occupation prisons were raised..
The Deputy Governor of Tulkarm and Coordinator of the National Action Factions, Faisal Salameh, said that the prisoners have made great sacrifices, pointing to the importance of commemorating Palestinian Prisoner's Day, which falls on April 17th of each year, and emphasizing support for them and their rights..
Salameh pointed to the measures taken against prisoners inside the occupation prisons, calling for efforts to internationalize their case in international forums and to pursue it legally..
For his part, Ibrahim al-Nimr, director of the Palestinian Prisoners Club office in Tulkarm, said that Prisoners' Day represents a national milestone for renewing support for prisoners, given the violations they are subjected to inside prisons, pointing to their difficult health and humanitarian conditions..
Al-Nimr added that the number of prisoners is close to 10, calling for international action to stop the violations against them, and pointing out his rejection of the law to execute prisoners..
In Jenin Governorate, local activists, families of prisoners, and released prisoners participated in a solidarity stand to commemorate Palestinian Prisoner's Day and to reject the recently passed Israeli law authorizing the execution of prisoners. The event was organized by the Palestinian Prisoners Club, the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, national action factions, and the Palestinian community in the homeland and diaspora..
During the vigil held in front of the Red Cross headquarters, participants raised Palestinian flags and banners condemning the occupation's violations against prisoners in its jails, demanding an end to torture and medical neglect and the repeal of the death penalty law..
Raghib Abu Diak, coordinator of the National Action Factions and head of the Prisoner's Club in Jenin, said that commemorating Prisoner's Day comes under exceptional circumstances, at a time when measures against prisoners inside prisons continue, noting that the approval of the law to execute prisoners represents an escalation in the policies pursued against them..
He added that the issue of prisoners is a central focus of the Palestinian cause, calling for intensified efforts to secure their release and for international intervention to stop the violations..
At the end of the vigil, Abu Diak handed a protest note to the Red Cross representative regarding the violations against the prisoners, demanding that the international organization assume its responsibilities towards them..
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