RAMALLAH: A prisoner solidarity march is taking place in Ramallah. The march began with a demonstration in Al-Manarah, the city center. Al-Manarah has been covered in Democratic Front for the Liberatin of Palestine (DFLP) flags for two days.
People gathered as the midday call to prayer rang out in the main circle Tuesday morning. The protesters marched holding pictures of Samer Al-Issawi, Yasser Arafat, Marwan Bargouti, and others. Barghouti, a one-time supporter of the peace process who later became a leader during the Second Intifada, was arrested in an Israeli raid on his Ramallah home in April 2002. In 2004, he was convicted of five counts of murder and sentenced to five life sentences and an additional 40 years for another charge of attempted murder. Though many sources said Barghouti was supposed to be released during the October 2011 Gilad Shalit prisoner swap, he remained imprisoned. Al-Issawi, the man who has been on hunger strike for over 200 days,is being held under administrative detention without charge. He was released in a prisoner swap between Hamas and Israel. Under the agreement, he could not leave Jerusalem. He was captured by Israeli forces in Hizma, a town within the municipality of Jerusalem. His organs are shutting down, his eyesight has almost completely deteriorated and he is reportedly vomiting blood. Carrying photos Concerning DFLP involvement, Nayef Hawatmeh, the head of the once popular Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, recently requested entry to the occupied Palestinian Territories. Born in 1938 in Jordan, Hawatmeh comes from a Christian Palestinian tribe. He has a storied history with Israel which will most likely inhibit his return to Palestine. Hawatmeh was a founding member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and split from the group in 1969 when he formed the DFLP.
This prisoner solidarity demonstration is one of many taking place across the occupied West Bank ahead of President Obama's visit next month.
