In Solidarity with the Palestinian Prisoners Hunger Strike: We all remain accountable! Giving an immediate halt to injustices and violations faced by the Palestinian people is a responsibility of all! April 17th was a Monday. It was a normal day for many. Not for the Palestinians who have their right to self-determination violated under the Israeli occupation and who commemorate on this day the first prisoners exchange deal between Palestine and the Israeli occupation since 1979. This year, the 38th anniversary of Palestinian Prisoners’ Day was marked by a massive hunger strike organized by more than 1500 Palestinian prisoners and supported by many in Palestine and worldwide. Since April 17th, several Palestinians organize mass protests in solidarity with the prisoners, chanting for Freedom, highlighting injustices and violations they face under the Israeli occupation. Their beloved ones remain behind bars and away from them but further restrictions on family visits due to Israeli policies make their sufferance worse. Indeed, the demands of the Palestinian prisoners starting with family visits are legitimate and the numbers only reflect the violations they face. According to latest statistics there are around 6500 Political prisoners; 300 children, 500 serving life sentences, 28 journalists, 500 under administrative detention and hundreds of sick prisoners. Torture, medical negligence, degrading treatment, solitary confinement and denial of the right to education remain common practice by Israel. Up until now, several statements were issued by UN calling Israel to abide by its legal obligations under international law or expressing grave concern. Israel was asked to unconditionally and immediately release Palestinian prisoners in human rights monitoring mechanisms, including in Universal Periodic Review. This year, there is huge international community support around the world, joining the hunger strike showing solidarity with Palestinian people. International community’s call, pressure and follow up on the Palestinian prisoners cause and to stop Israeli violations are much needed. Solidarity should be firm. In reality we all remain accountable with regard to the rights of Palestinians, particularly taking into consideration the Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. International community reflected their commitment in the Preamble to remove the obstacles to the full realization of the right of self-determination of peoples living under colonial and foreign occupation. Nevertheless, as the report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, clearly notes “Israel’s occupation is denying Palestine’s right to development and severely hampering its ability to attain even the minimum targets of the Sustainable Development Goals”.[1] In this respect, ANND issues this statement remaining in solidarity with Palestinian people, calling for the immediate implementation of the UN resolution allowing the Palestinians people to practice its legitimate right to Self-determination and to build its own and independent state; ANND calls upon the international community to ensure collective efforts on sustainable development to leave no one behind, particularly those Palestinians behind the bars

Recent publications