Al-Shalabi still on hunger strike

On day number 22 of her hunger strike, which marks the International Women's Day, Palestinian prisoner Hanaa Al-Shalabi is becoming an icon for addressing suppression and occupation. Hanaa has been addressed to as a symbol by several groups and organisations that celebrated the day in Palestine. Al-Shalabi, who lives in the village of Baruqin (close to Jeneen), was arrested by dozens of Israeli soldiers who had assaulted her with batons, insulted her and prevented her from saying goodbye to her family. Her father, who started a hunger strike two weeks ago in solidarity with his daughter, said that"dozens of soldiers surrounded the house, then asked about Hanaa and when she went out they quickly blindfolded her and pushed her inside a Jeep car without letting her talk to us. Then they insisted to check her clothes by taking them off when there wasn’t any female soldier to do it. When she tried to resist them, they started to insult and beat her brutally”. Hanaa's father continued: "Afterwards, Hanaa was sentenced to a six months administrative arrest, without any charge or investigation. That’s why she decided to go on hunger strike until she will be released and those who assaulted her will be held accountable". This is the second arrest for Hanna, and her father still does not see a reason for it as his daughter would rarely go out after she was released the first time. Her father has not been allowed to see Hanna since she was arrested. "I fear for my daughter as she’s got a very weak health and she cannot stand the hunger strike for long. Since her first time in jail, she never got her health back," the man said. However, her weak health did not hold Hanaa back from keeping her position, although it forced the court to reduce the period of arrest to four months. Issa QaraQe, minister of prisoners in the Palestinian National Authority, has issued the following statement: "Hanaa is fighting a war on behalf of all our prisoners in the occupation's jails and of the whole Palestinian nation. We are proud that a young woman is leading our struggle against occupation and injustice on the International Women's day. We expect the world to show solidarity to Hanaa and to support her cause". The minister added that he is "confident that Hanna will win the war against her jailers and the negotiations will end with the decision of an immediate release". Liberated prisoner Hayam Al-Bayad said: "All the events held today in solidarity with Hanaa Al-Shalabi will never compensate the value of her suffering and struggle. Hanaa’s fight, and that of Sheikh Khedr Adnan before hers, have raised our awareness of the administrative arrest policy, and pushed the Palestinian people to act against it". Al-Bayad expected more events to be set up show solidarity to the prisoners