Thiago Avila and Rima Hassan MEP placed in solitary confinement in windowless cells – Hassan for writing ‘Free Palestine’ on cell wall
Freedom Flotilla crew members Thiago Ávila and Rima Hassan were placed by Israeli authorities into solitary confinement in what their lawyers described as “punitive and inhumane conditions”. The pair are among the eight crew of the humanitarian vessel Madleen, which was rammed and commandeered by Israeli forces in the darkness hours of Monday morning.
Avila was placed in isolation in the notorious Ayalon (formerly Ramleh) prison after beginning a ongoing hunger and thirst strike in protest at Israel’s illegal attack on the vessel in international waters, which he began two days ago. Flotilla organisers say he has also been abused “aggressively” by prison authorities, but stopping just short of actual violence.
French MEP Rima Hassan was placed in isolation under inhumane conditions in the equally notorious Neve Tirtza prison after writing “Free Palestine” on a wall in Givon Prison. She was moved to a small, windowless cell with extremely poor hygienic conditions and denied access to the exercise yard. She was moved back to Givon this evening.
The other crew members remain as hostages to the Israeli authorities. Lawyers from Palestinian human rights legal group Adalah lawyers continue to try to secure their immediate release and are demanding an end to retaliatory measures. The eight crew members are charged with illegal entry to Israel, even though they were made to go there by force after being attacked in international waters by the Israeli military, an act of piracy and a war crime.
Despite the Madleen’s status as a British-flagged vessel entitled to the protection of the British state and UK military, UK PM Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy have refused to condemn the criminal attack and taking of the crew as hostages. Lammy has ordered Foreign Office officials not to seek the usual legal advice on his or the department’s public statements, as he knows the department’s lawyers and naval maritime law experts will tell him that Israel acted unequivocally illegally.
Four of the Madleen’s crew have already been deported by the Israeli government. Eight, including Hassan and Avila, remain held hostage. Israel continues to impose a starvation blockade on Gaza and to murder those seeking food at its mercenary-camps-masquerading-as-aid-stations daily.
A separate land march on Gaza, expected to involve thousands from all around the world, begins tomorrow with the aim of breaking the blockade and releasing the tens of thousands of tonnes of aid blocked by Israel at the Gaza-Egypt border. More than ten thousand Palestinian civilians remain held hostage by Israel in indefinite ‘administrative detention’, including children. Rape, torture and murder of Palestinian hostages, both male and female, are common.
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So let’s just check 1948 Israel v Britain, Britain at fault, 1950s Israel v Nasser, Nasser at fault, 1960s Israel v Syria, Syria at fault, Israel v Arafat, Arafat at fault, Israel v Saddam, Saddam at fault, Israel v Iran, Iran at fault, Israel v Hamas, Hamas at fault, Israel v peaceful bedouins on the West Bank, peaceful Bedouins at fault, Israel v United Nations, UN at fault, Israel v journalists, journalists at fault, Israel v paramedics, paramedics at fault, Israel v UNWRA, UNWRA at fault, Israel v an unarmed, small boat in international waters, small boat at fault I think we can see an 80-year long pattern emerging here. It appears it is ALWAYS someone else’s fault….. But perhaps it isn’t. People* eventually work that out.
* Not Starmer and Lammy apparently, though there may be “other” reasons for their reticence?
What else would you expect from dehumanised Zionist barbarians?
They know no better.
Do Lumpen Leopards change their spots?
As well as the likes of this moral protest kick them in the economic bollocks!
Support BDS & Starbucks & McDonald’s have lost billions plus have been booted out of a number of Middle East Countries.
A Record number of organisations are divesting from Genocide.
The Illegal Occupation Force economy has likely been hit by £400b in the last 20 months.
Organisations like Palestine Action have disrupted the Genocide supply chain with some providers pulling out.
The Zionist Govt is reviled around the world & the oppressed of the world has woken up.
A record number of countries (a large majority) at the UN have recognised a Palestinian state and condemned Israel + supported a ceasefire.
The ICJ has ruled that there is a case of “Plausible Genocide.”
Perhaps as Curtis Mayfield sang:
“Keep on, keeping on.”
Yours in Peace & International Solidarity!
I see that the multi-million supporters of Israel, who GIVE them aircraft, bombs, advice, access to navigational information, missiles, and undying protection at the UN reckon they had nothing to do with the Israeli attack on Iran. Similarly, the plonker in Number 10 who has authorised spy-flights by the RAF, and authority to use Akrotiri to deliver heavy weaponry to Israel, plus loads of cover for their illegal activities employed one of their number from the IDF special units and invited senior members to secret talks (about which we know zilch … it’s only OUR country!), also denies involvement. Well, Trump and Starmer would never lie would they? Apart from every minute of every day.