Free Hana Shalabi

Hana Shalabi is a hero of the Palestinian resistance. She is now at risk of imminent death after being on a hunger strike since Feb. 16 to protest her arbitrary detention by Israeli security forces.

The Israeli Prison Service announced that it had transported Shalabi to the Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba pursuant to a Physicians for Human Rights’ recommendation, as her health has seriously deteriorated. Reportedly, however, she was refused admittance and was returned to a prison clinic.

Unsurprisingly, Ofer Military Court on March 25 rejected Shalabi’s legal appeal against being held in administrative detention.

Thirty Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have gone on hunger strike in solidarity with Shalabi, including 72-year-old Ahmad Al-Hajj Ali, one of 24 elected members of the Palestinian Legislative Council being held by Israel without charges or trials.

Ran Cohen, a PHR doctor, examined Shalabi and reported that she “is suffering … low blood pressure, severe weakness and inability to move about on her own and serious pain throughout her body. [She] has lost 14kg (31 lbs), her muscles are wasting and she is in excruciating pain.” (Associated Press, March 20)

PHR’s statement expressed concern over IPS’ conduct, including pressuring Shalabi to end her hunger strike and threatening to force-feed her, despite its prohibition by international treaties. It “called upon the local and the international community to act immediately and intervene” for her release and to protest Israel’s use of administrative detention.

Like thousands of others incarcerated, Shalabi’s “crime” is wanting to live free on her own land in her own country.

On Feb. 16, 50 Israeli soldiers and an intelligence officer, with attack dogs, ransacked Shalabi’s home in Burquin in the Occupied West Bank and arrested her only four months after she was released in a mass prisoner exchange, after her two-and-a-half-year incarceration.

Soldiers handcuffed and blindfolded her, ordering her to remain on the floor of a military jeep on her knees. When she moved, she was threatened. Her brother, Omar, who was also attacked, heard the intelligence officer say, “Hana must die.” (Electronic Intifada)

At Salem Detention Center, she was beaten and then transferred to HaSharon Prison in Ramallah. Immediately, she began a hunger strike in protest. For several days she was held in solitary confinement as punishment for resisting her detention through a hunger strike.

Israel is holding 320 Palestinians under its lawless administrative detention. Denied due process, prisoners are not told why they are detained, nor can they dispute the reasons. They can’t present evidence on their behalf, are not officially charged and have no right to a trial. The six-month detentions can be arbitrarily renewed.

Shalabi is an international hero for resisting U.S.-backed Israeli repression and occupation. Women demonstrated on the West Bank and in Gaza on International Women’s Day March 8 demanding her freedom. Solidarity actions have been held in several countries.

On March 25, hundreds of students, African National Congress ministers and Palestinians demonstrated at Abu Dis University, in Occupied Palestine, to support Shalabi. There, 55 students are on a solidarity hunger strike and promise more actions.

The U.S. government calls Israel “the most democratic in the Middle East,” but the people of the world know the truth.