Palestine Solidarity Project » political prisoners

Beit Ommar’s Children Face Harassment, Detention

PSP — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 02:41:53 +0000

Since the middle of June, over a dozen youth from Beit Ommar under the age of 18 have been arrested, most of whom live near the illegal Israeli settlement, Karmei Tsur. In one instance, a 7 year old boy was also given a summons to present himself to Israeli security in the Etzion settlement, an incident the Israeli military reportedly now says was a “mistake” and that the summons was meant for another, older boy of the same age. This week a 12 year old boy will also be attending a military court hearing after being arrested last month.

As a campaign of harassment and intimidation, all of these arrests occur in the middle of the night, when often-masked commandos raid homes, forcing everyone out into the street, including women and small children, sometimes for several hours, while the search the home and detain the male youth. Parents are often faced with the awful choice of turning their sons in or risk having their young children terrorized during these night raids. The younger siblings of these boys often suffer lasting symptoms of trauma, including sleeplessness, bed-wetting and extreme anxiety.

Yousef Abu Hashem, 18, was arrested at a flying checkpoint in a northern district of the West Bank where he was working. He is the son of National Committee member and PSP member Ahmed Abu Hashem (Abu Maria). His older brother, Tha’er, was then arrested from his home early Thursday morning along with 3 other boys from the village. They have 5 younger siblings and one 2-week old niece who were all in the home at the time Tha’er was arrested.

‘Amar Abu Maria, 17, nephew of popular resistance leaders in Beit Ommar Mousa and Yousef Abu Maria, was summoned to present himself for “investigation” at the Etzion military base two weeks ago. After Israeli soldiers came to his home several times in the middle of the night looking for him, and told his mother they would “come in shooting” the next time, his father drove him to the military base where he turned himself in. He has been detained ever since.

As an attempt to respond to the extensive adverse affects these arrests have had on the community, the Beit Ommar city council, in cooperation with several NGO’s including the Addameer center for prisoner rights and Save the Children, are holding a series of events for the families of previously detained youth to provide information on how families can support their traumatized children and advocate for their rights while they are in occupation prisons.

5 Youth Arrested Overnight in Mass Military Invasion of Beit Ommar

PSP — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:38:21 +0000

At approximately 2am Wednesday, December 3, 25 Israeli military jeeps, carrying over 100 soldiers, entered the village of Beit Ommar in the Hebron District. They then set up three checkpoints inside the village, one on the north-west side of town near the city council building, and two in the center of the village. The soldiers split into 3 groups and began invading homes and destroying property. They broke into the homes of Ahmed Abu Maria, a PSP volunteer, Ahsan Abu Ayyesh, Sa’id Abu Ayyesh, the father of Mehdi Abu Ayyesh who died in October after being shot in the head by an Israeli soldier last March, Ahmed Ikhlayl, Beder Ikhlayl, and Faisal Mahmoud Ikhmess. Soldiers invaded the homes with german shepherds, frightening the children who lived there and ransacking the houses. Soldiers stole money from the home of Sa’id Abu Ayyesh.

During the invasion, 5 youth from the village were arrested: Yousef Abu Maria, 17, son of Ahmed Abu Maria, was arrested for the second time in 3 years. He has also been shot twice by the Israeli military in the last 3 years. Also arrested were Mohammed Sa’id Abu Ayyesh, son of Sa’id Abu Ayyesh and Mehdi’s brother, Nadem Ikhlayl, Mehdi ‘Adee, and Abed Bregieth. The 5 were taken to an undisclosed location, no reason for their arrests were given to the families.

Hundreds March in Beit Jala Against the Occupation and for Palestinian Unity

PSP — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:41:56 +0000

As a close to a week of demonstrations, informational sessions, and visits to various communities in the Betlehem District, the “House of Abraham” group, sponsored by the Lutheran Church of Beit Jala, along with the Beit Jala Prisoners Society and leading muftis throughout Palestine, including the high Mufti of Jerusalem, marched arm in arm through the streets of Beit Jala signifying both their opposition to Israeli Occupation and the need for unity within Palestinian communities. They were followed by drumming scout troops, representatives of the Prisoners Society with banners reading “imprisoning youth is against international law”, and hundreds of youth from summer camps sponsored by the House of Abraham from Hussan, Deheishe Refugee camp, Beit Jala and Beit Ommar. After a march through the town, the people gathered at a sports club where various representatives of Palestinian religious society addressed the crowd, renewing their commitments to Palestine as a multi-religious society, where Christians and Muslims share common dreams and goals. The entire week was attended by a large delegation from Germany, including religious leaders, community leaders, and a mayor who were there to show solidarity with the people of Palestine.

200 March in Ni’lin, Dismantle Part of Annexation Barrier

PSP — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:30:32 +0000

On Friday, July 10, more than 200 people from the village of Ni’lin and their Israeli and international supporters marched towards the Annexation Barrier, which cuts through the agricultural land of Ni’lin. This week, participants managed to reach the fence itself, and quickly began dismantling it, 5 years after the International Court of Justice declared it illegal under international law. Tear gas was fired at the group but the dismantling continued for some minutes.
Suddenly, from the group of youth throwing stones, 10 undercover Israeli military personnel, dressed as stone-throwers, began arresting people. Two residents of Ni’lin were arrested.
Demonstrations in Ni’lin began in early 2004, when construction of the Annexation Barrier was first announced. Construction was then delayed for a several years due to a court case in the Israeli court system. Demonstrations began again last year when the construction resumed. Since that time 5 Palestinians have been killed in the unarmed demonstrations, the youngest 10 year-old Ahmed Mousa. Over 100 residents of Ni’lin have also been arrested for participation in the demonstrations over the last year.

Mohammed Abu Maria Released from Prison After 8 Months

PSP — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:19:47 +0000

Mohammed “Hamude” Abu Maria, long-time committee member of the Palestine Solidarity Project, was released from Qetziot prison after 8 months of Administrative Detention, where he was held without charge or trial. Hamude was welcomed home Wednesday afternoon by fireworks and dozens of friends and community members, as well as by his three children, 8 year-old Thikra, 5 year-old Qais and 3 year-old Shahed, as well as by his wife, Feryal.

Hamude was the last of three PSP committee members to be arrested and held in Administrative Detention, a tactic used to intimidate and attempt to quell PSP’s anti-occupation work. While PSP continued its struggle throughout the imprisonment of three of its key organizers in the last year, we are thrilled that they are all home again!