Imprisoned Palestinian lawmaker, Marwan Barghouti stressed that he and hundreds of fellow prisoners in Israeli jails are going on with the “Freedom and Dignity” hunger strike, calling on parliamentarians across the world to stand by the legitimate demands of the Palestinian prisoners.
In a letter addressing international parliamentarians, Barghouti said that the Zionist authorities have detained 70 Palestinian lawmakers since 2002, noting that 13 lawmakers are still in Israeli jails , in a humiliating move to the Palestinian people.
“The Israeli occupation has jailed 800,000 Palestinians throughout 50 years, 6,500 of whom are still in prison. According to Israel all of us are convicted because of our desire for freedom.”
“If you are reading my letter, this means that the Israeli occupation has decided to go ahead with its repressive policy, practicing collective punishment against the Palestinian prisoners,” Barghouti said in his letter.
“When you receive this letter, it means that I was once again placed in solitary confinement. But we won’t keep mum, we won’t surrender and our will won’t be broken.”
Meanwhile, Barghouti stressed that the hunger strike is a “legitimate and peaceful way in a bid to withstand the Israeli violations of Palestinian prisoners’ rights, which are guaranteed by the international law.”
Barghouti who was sentenced by Israeli court to five life terms, said the Prisoners had no other choice but to go on hunger strike in order to get their basic rights like family visits, medical treatment and education.
The Palestinian lawmaker has been along with more than 1,000 prisoners on a hunger strike since April 17. On Monday (April 24), the Palestinian Committee of Prisoners’ Affairs said that the health of Barghouti was ‘dangerously deteriorating’.
Source: Al-Manar Website
