Today, April 17th, marks Palestinian Prisoners Day, a day that commemorates the steadfastness of the Palestinian people who are being held illegally in Zionist “prisons” without due process. Since the creation of the illegal state of “Israel”, the Zionist regime has been acting with impunity against Palestinians – conducting mass raids and kidnappings in the middle of the night, stealing Palestinians of all ages across across the occupied lands, holding them arbitrarily and in solitary confinement, and robbing the youth of countless young people.
“I write to you from the parallel time. Here, in this parallel time where place is still, we only use your normal time measurement units (like minutes and hours) when our temporal lines meet in the prison visitation room. These time measurement units are the only thing that did not change in your time, and we still remember how to use them…Love is my modest and only victory against my jailer” – Walid Daqqa
This day marks the steadfastness of the Palestinians but also marks the treachery of an illegal state that has been allowed to commit horrific war crimes against Palestinians for over 70 years. The Zionist state, through its mass incarceration campaigns, has kidnapped doctors, scholars, artists, students, children, mothers and fathers alike, leaving them to languish in their “prisons” until they die of torture, abuse, malnutrition, or eventually release them – broken both mentally and physically.
Today almost 10,000 Palestinians remain hostage in Zionist torture centres, including 400 children. Of these Palestinians, Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, who was kidnapped from Gaza over 150 days ago is reportedly in critical condition after enduring serious abuse at the hands of the IOF. Dr Hussam is one of many doctors who were kidnapped over the last year from Gaza, including Dr Adnan Al Bursh and Dr Iyad Rantisi, both martyred under brutal interrogations.
“We defeated any lingering sense of inferiority and turned the walls of prison into an opportunity. Hope in prison is like a flower that grows out of a stone.” – Khalida Jarrar
Prisoners are at the heart of the struggle and a symbol of our people’s unity and resistance. Do not let another Palestinian life be stolen. Empty the Zionist prisons! On this day, re-commit yourself to the cause, join a liberation group, attend a rally or an action, organize and raise your voice. From Turtle Island to Palestine, end all settler occupations. Abolish all cages, free them all!
