Maream-Jena Nabut
Media Studies Graduate Student at AUB
keywords: Palestine, Hunger Strike, #Intifada, AlQeeq, Palestinian prisoners, Journalist.
People living outside Palestine barely hear the daily news of the going on conflict between Palestinians and Israelis. They do not hear details of a young boy shot dead by Israeli occupation force, or the news of Israeli soldiers arresting not only men, but boys, girls, elderly, and even journalists. As a Palestinian who came from Palestine to study in Lebanon, I do still read the daily news of the on-going conflict in Palestine especially with my Facebook homepage that is filled with news agencies' pages. Moreover, as much as I would like to spotlight on many unfair stories happening back there, this time I will only focus on the news of a Palestinian journalist who was arrested by Israeli soldiers. Mohammad Al-Qeeq chose the path of going onto a hunger-strike to gain his freedom, but what happened next?
Mohammad Al-Qeeq became a symbol in Palestine not only for journalists, but for children, men, and all Palestinians. He used to work in an Arab channel before he was arrested by Israeli soldiers 90 days ago. He chose the path of going on a hunger-strike to force Israelis to release him. Al-Qeeq is not the first prisoner to choose this path, however the first to stay on hunger-strike without Israelis doing any actions to free him before he dies in prison. Mentioning that Israelis have always been afraid of losing a life of a Palestinian in their prisons and get blamed by the world of their cruel and brutal actions. Before Al-Qeeq, there were many who went on hunger strike and gained their freedom like Samer Issawi, Khader Adnan, Ayman Tbeesh, and many others. However, this time Israelis decided to teach Palestinian prisoners a lesson through torturing Al-Qeeq in order for them not to choose the same path he did.
Unfortunately it is known how no Palestinian can make Israelis do whatever he/she wants. And when previous prisoners put pressure on Israeli government to gain their freedom, Israel did not like it, yet set them free. Therefore, the latter decided it is time to stop Palestinians from making their own decisions and apply them. However, Al-Qeeq chose his path by himself, as his friends have mentioned, he is very stubborn and no one can change whatever he chooses. He said that his options are either "freedom" or becoming a "martyr", therefore he is refusing any kind of aid and any kind of Israeli choices except for the ones he mentioned. Moreover, his health situation is very bad and no previous prisoner who went on hunger strike been in bad health conditions as Al-Qeeq.
Al-Qeeq is not the only Palestinian prisoner in Israeli prisons. There are over 7000 Palestinians in Israeli prisons, over 500 of them have been imprisoned with no accusation and waiting for trial, over 170 are under-age, and over 25 are women and girls.
Media Studies Graduate Student at AUB
keywords: Palestine, Hunger Strike, #Intifada, AlQeeq, Palestinian prisoners, Journalist.
People living outside Palestine barely hear the daily news of the going on conflict between Palestinians and Israelis. They do not hear details of a young boy shot dead by Israeli occupation force, or the news of Israeli soldiers arresting not only men, but boys, girls, elderly, and even journalists. As a Palestinian who came from Palestine to study in Lebanon, I do still read the daily news of the on-going conflict in Palestine especially with my Facebook homepage that is filled with news agencies' pages. Moreover, as much as I would like to spotlight on many unfair stories happening back there, this time I will only focus on the news of a Palestinian journalist who was arrested by Israeli soldiers. Mohammad Al-Qeeq chose the path of going onto a hunger-strike to gain his freedom, but what happened next?
Mohammad Al-Qeeq became a symbol in Palestine not only for journalists, but for children, men, and all Palestinians. He used to work in an Arab channel before he was arrested by Israeli soldiers 90 days ago. He chose the path of going on a hunger-strike to force Israelis to release him. Al-Qeeq is not the first prisoner to choose this path, however the first to stay on hunger-strike without Israelis doing any actions to free him before he dies in prison. Mentioning that Israelis have always been afraid of losing a life of a Palestinian in their prisons and get blamed by the world of their cruel and brutal actions. Before Al-Qeeq, there were many who went on hunger strike and gained their freedom like Samer Issawi, Khader Adnan, Ayman Tbeesh, and many others. However, this time Israelis decided to teach Palestinian prisoners a lesson through torturing Al-Qeeq in order for them not to choose the same path he did.
Unfortunately it is known how no Palestinian can make Israelis do whatever he/she wants. And when previous prisoners put pressure on Israeli government to gain their freedom, Israel did not like it, yet set them free. Therefore, the latter decided it is time to stop Palestinians from making their own decisions and apply them. However, Al-Qeeq chose his path by himself, as his friends have mentioned, he is very stubborn and no one can change whatever he chooses. He said that his options are either "freedom" or becoming a "martyr", therefore he is refusing any kind of aid and any kind of Israeli choices except for the ones he mentioned. Moreover, his health situation is very bad and no previous prisoner who went on hunger strike been in bad health conditions as Al-Qeeq.
Al-Qeeq is not the only Palestinian prisoner in Israeli prisons. There are over 7000 Palestinians in Israeli prisons, over 500 of them have been imprisoned with no accusation and waiting for trial, over 170 are under-age, and over 25 are women and girls.
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