Samer Tariq Issawi
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Samer Tariq Issawi (born December 16, 1979, in Issawiyeh, north east of Jerusalem) is a Palestinian prisoner in Israel.[1][2]
On 15 April 2002, Samer was detained by the Israeli army in Ramallah as part of Operation Defensive Shield during the Second Intifada.[3] Samer, who was affiliated with the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine,[1] allegedly manufactured and distributed pipe bombs and in several instances fired indiscriminately at Israeli civilians. He was convicted of membership in an illegal organization, possession of explosives, and attempted murder.[1]
Nearly 10 years later, in October 2011, Samer was released along with 1027 Palestinian prisoners as a result of an Egypt-brokered deal between Hamas and the Israeli government for the return of Gilad Shalit.[4] However, on 7 July 2012, he was re-detained near for violating the terms of his release by leaving Jerusalem and entering the West Bank.[2][1] His lawyer Andre Rosenthal stated that he had been taking his car to be fixed at a garage in the West Bank.[5]
He was convicted of an 8-month sentence, which according to the terms of his release could include a reinstatement of the rest of his original 26-year sentence.[5] Issawi began a hunger strike on August 2012.
On 7 January 2013, a protest took place in Washington, D.C., in support of Issawi.[6]
Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian state, sent a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and began a publicity campaign on 13 February 2013 to raise awareness of the condition of Issawi and three other prisoners of Israel engaged in a hunger strike to protest that they were being held in prison without being convicted.[7]
On April 22, 2013, it was announced that Samer was ending his hunger strike. A deal had been reached where Samer would serve eight months for violating the terms of his bail, and then be released to Jerusalem.[8] However, he was detained again, six months after his release. In 2015 he renewed his hunger strike.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Greenwood, Phoebe (3 March 2013). "Palestinian hunger striker demands UK impose sanctions on Israel". The Guardian. London.
- ^ a b "Israel offers to deport frail Palestinian prisoner". Associated Press. 12 April 2013. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
- ^ Issawi, Samer (3 March 2013). "We are fighting for all Palestinians". The Guardian. London.
- ^ Lewis, Renee (13 February 2013). "Jailed Palestinian hunger striker faces death". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
- ^ a b "Israel sentences hunger-striking Palestinian". Al Jazeera.
- ^ samidoun (2013-01-06). "January 7: Global solidarity hunger strike to support Samer Issawi: Events and actions". Samidoun: Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network. Retrieved 2022-11-06.
- ^ "Abbas warns over Palestinian prisoner hunger strike". AFP. 12 February 2013. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
- ^ Sawafta, Ali (22 April 2013). "Palestinian prisoner gains deal from Israel to end eight-month fast". Reuters. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
- ^ "Samer al-Issawi declares new hunger strike in solidarity with female Palestinian prisoners". Ma’an News Agency. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2017.