On the 12th anniversary of the attack on Jericho prison: Resistance continues until liberation
Samidoun,
14 March 2018
Samidoun
is republishing the following statement from the
Campaign to Free Ahmad Sa’adat, issued on the 12th anniversary of
the attack on Jericho prison by Israeli occupation forces. Free Ahmad Sa’adat
and all Palestinian prisoners!
is republishing the following statement from the
Campaign to Free Ahmad Sa’adat, issued on the 12th anniversary of
the attack on Jericho prison by Israeli occupation forces. Free Ahmad Sa’adat
and all Palestinian prisoners!
March 14,
2018 marks the 12th anniversary of the infamous Zionist attack on the Jericho
prison and the kidnapping of Ahmad Sa’adat, the General Secretary of the
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and his comrades Ahed Abu
Ghoulmeh, Majdi Rimawi, Hamdi Qur’an and Basil al-Asmar, along with Fuad
Shoubaki, in a violent attack on the Palestinian Authority prison. The
repercussions of this attack are still being felt today, as the kidnapped
Palestinian leaders face lengthy sentences inside the prisons of the Zionist
colonizer.
2018 marks the 12th anniversary of the infamous Zionist attack on the Jericho
prison and the kidnapping of Ahmad Sa’adat, the General Secretary of the
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and his comrades Ahed Abu
Ghoulmeh, Majdi Rimawi, Hamdi Qur’an and Basil al-Asmar, along with Fuad
Shoubaki, in a violent attack on the Palestinian Authority prison. The
repercussions of this attack are still being felt today, as the kidnapped
Palestinian leaders face lengthy sentences inside the prisons of the Zionist
colonizer.
The
assault on Jericho prison underlined the network of repression and
collaboration that had already seen Sa’adat and his comrades imprisoned in a
Palestinian Authority jail for over four years before the attack by Israeli
occupation forces. Not only was the PA imprisoning Palestinian leaders and
strugglers for their role in resistance to Israeli occupation, the prison at
Jericho was secured not solely by Palestinian guards but by U.S. and British
guards, colonial authorities maintained in place in order to cement their
imprisonment. Among the British guards at Jericho prison reportedly were those
who had previously served as prison guards against Irish republican prisoners
jailed for their struggle against British colonization of Ireland.
assault on Jericho prison underlined the network of repression and
collaboration that had already seen Sa’adat and his comrades imprisoned in a
Palestinian Authority jail for over four years before the attack by Israeli
occupation forces. Not only was the PA imprisoning Palestinian leaders and
strugglers for their role in resistance to Israeli occupation, the prison at
Jericho was secured not solely by Palestinian guards but by U.S. and British
guards, colonial authorities maintained in place in order to cement their
imprisonment. Among the British guards at Jericho prison reportedly were those
who had previously served as prison guards against Irish republican prisoners
jailed for their struggle against British colonization of Ireland.
Prior to
the attack, the U.S. and British guards left their positions in a clear sign of
coordination that made clear that their mission to “ensure the security” of the
prisoners was always a mere facade; instead, they were present to serve the
interests of the occupation, which carried out its assault on Jericho with
U.S.-made and U.S.-funded weaponry and armed bulldozers. The imprisonment of
Ahmad Sa’adat and his comrades is a direct result of the actions of U.S. and
British forces alongside that of the Israeli occupation – not to mention the
treachery of the Palestinian Authority.
the attack, the U.S. and British guards left their positions in a clear sign of
coordination that made clear that their mission to “ensure the security” of the
prisoners was always a mere facade; instead, they were present to serve the
interests of the occupation, which carried out its assault on Jericho with
U.S.-made and U.S.-funded weaponry and armed bulldozers. The imprisonment of
Ahmad Sa’adat and his comrades is a direct result of the actions of U.S. and
British forces alongside that of the Israeli occupation – not to mention the
treachery of the Palestinian Authority.
It was
the continued security cooperation of the Palestinian Authority with the
Zionist occupation that meant that these Palestinian strugglers and leaders
were locked up and held behind bars for over four years in a “Palestinian”
prison, even in defiance of the Palestinian Authority’s own laws and courts.
They were seized after the armed wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation
of Palestine carried out the assassination of far-right, racist extremist
Zionist tourism minister Rehavam Ze’evi in retaliation for the Israeli assassination
of PFLP General Secretary Abu Ali Mustafa; like the attack on Jericho, the
assassination of Abu Ali Mustafa was conducted by Zionist forces using
U.S.-made and -provided helicopter-fired missiles directly into his Ramallah
office.
the continued security cooperation of the Palestinian Authority with the
Zionist occupation that meant that these Palestinian strugglers and leaders
were locked up and held behind bars for over four years in a “Palestinian”
prison, even in defiance of the Palestinian Authority’s own laws and courts.
They were seized after the armed wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation
of Palestine carried out the assassination of far-right, racist extremist
Zionist tourism minister Rehavam Ze’evi in retaliation for the Israeli assassination
of PFLP General Secretary Abu Ali Mustafa; like the attack on Jericho, the
assassination of Abu Ali Mustafa was conducted by Zionist forces using
U.S.-made and -provided helicopter-fired missiles directly into his Ramallah
office.
Palestinian
Authority security coordination ensured that Ahmad Sa’adat and his comrades
were under full view of the occupying forces at all times, where they could be
attacked and abducted at the whim of the occupier. Indeed, the pretext used for
the assault on Jericho was that recent Palestinian Legislative Council
elections had indicated that Palestinians were unwilling to allow their prisons
to be used any longer to jail their own leaders and strugglers. However, 12
years later, security coordination continues and Palestinian resisters remain
behind bars in PA prisons. The Israeli occupation prisons and PA security
services are a “revolving door” for Palestinian strugglers who face repression,
surveillance and imprisonment at every turn.
Authority security coordination ensured that Ahmad Sa’adat and his comrades
were under full view of the occupying forces at all times, where they could be
attacked and abducted at the whim of the occupier. Indeed, the pretext used for
the assault on Jericho was that recent Palestinian Legislative Council
elections had indicated that Palestinians were unwilling to allow their prisons
to be used any longer to jail their own leaders and strugglers. However, 12
years later, security coordination continues and Palestinian resisters remain
behind bars in PA prisons. The Israeli occupation prisons and PA security
services are a “revolving door” for Palestinian strugglers who face repression,
surveillance and imprisonment at every turn.
Today,
Sa’adat and his comrades are leaders behind bars as their resistance continues
at the heart of every mass hunger strike, protest and struggle of the
Palestinian prisoners’ movement. Sa’adat was subjected to over three years in
solitary confinement until the 2012 mass hunger strike won his return to the
general population along with 18 other prominent Palestinian leaders. He was
sentenced to 30 years in prison on charges of “incitement” and his leadership
role in the PFLP, while Abu Ghoulmeh, Rimawi, Qur’an and al-Asmar are all serving
life sentences in Zionist colonial prisons.
Sa’adat and his comrades are leaders behind bars as their resistance continues
at the heart of every mass hunger strike, protest and struggle of the
Palestinian prisoners’ movement. Sa’adat was subjected to over three years in
solitary confinement until the 2012 mass hunger strike won his return to the
general population along with 18 other prominent Palestinian leaders. He was
sentenced to 30 years in prison on charges of “incitement” and his leadership
role in the PFLP, while Abu Ghoulmeh, Rimawi, Qur’an and al-Asmar are all serving
life sentences in Zionist colonial prisons.
In
Israeli prisons, they continue to struggle, on the front lines of daily
confrontation of the Zionist occupation, from their confrontation of the
attacking forces and raids that invade their cells daily to their political
struggle for the liberation of Palestine and their people. In messages released
from prison, they urge solidarity with all imprisoned strugglers, urge
Palestinian unity to confront the occupier and tell their stories of
imprisonment, resistance and struggle. They are among the over 6,100
Palestinian political prisoners who daily lead the Palestinian struggle for
liberation and inspire the strugglers everywhere around the world who stand
with Palestine.
Israeli prisons, they continue to struggle, on the front lines of daily
confrontation of the Zionist occupation, from their confrontation of the
attacking forces and raids that invade their cells daily to their political
struggle for the liberation of Palestine and their people. In messages released
from prison, they urge solidarity with all imprisoned strugglers, urge
Palestinian unity to confront the occupier and tell their stories of
imprisonment, resistance and struggle. They are among the over 6,100
Palestinian political prisoners who daily lead the Palestinian struggle for
liberation and inspire the strugglers everywhere around the world who stand
with Palestine.
On this
notorious anniversary, the Campaign to Free Ahmad Sa’adat renews its call and
its dedication to intensify and build its efforts to struggle for the
liberation of Ahmad Sa’adat, Ahed Abu Ghoulmeh, Majdi Rimawi, Hamdi Qur’an,
Basil al-Asmar and all of the Palestinian strugglers imprisoned for their
commitment to liberation for their people and for the world. Their imprisonment
highlights the importance of confronting Zionist colonialism and U.S. and
British imperialism and also PA security coordination and collaboration in
order to free the Palestinian prisoners and win a free, liberated on the entire
land of historic Palestine.
notorious anniversary, the Campaign to Free Ahmad Sa’adat renews its call and
its dedication to intensify and build its efforts to struggle for the
liberation of Ahmad Sa’adat, Ahed Abu Ghoulmeh, Majdi Rimawi, Hamdi Qur’an,
Basil al-Asmar and all of the Palestinian strugglers imprisoned for their
commitment to liberation for their people and for the world. Their imprisonment
highlights the importance of confronting Zionist colonialism and U.S. and
British imperialism and also PA security coordination and collaboration in
order to free the Palestinian prisoners and win a free, liberated on the entire
land of historic Palestine.
