Call the White House on Mohammed al-Qeeq’s 85th day of hunger strike to demand his immediate release: 001-202-456-1111
After calling, post here about the White House operator’s response.
Israeli forces captured al-Qeeq, a 33-year-old Palestinian journalist and father of two, in a 21 November nighttime raid on his Ramallah home.
On 25 November, al-Qeeq launched a hunger strike to protest torture by his Israeli interrogators. He continued after being placed in administrative detention – imprisonment without charge or trial – on 17 December.
Al-Qeeq has rejected an Israeli Supreme Court decision to “suspend” his administrative detention – until he recovers enough to leave the hospital – and a conditional offer for his release on 1 May, instead demanding immediate freedom and treatment in a Palestinian hospital.
His family, attorneys and an independent physician who visited al-Qeeq in HaEmek hospital have said he appears close to death.
Al-Qeeq is one of 6,900 Palestinian political prisoners held by Israel, including 650 administrative detainees and 18 journalists. Nearly all are tortured during interrogations by Israeli forces.
As Israel’s biggest economic and political supporter, the Obama administration shares responsibility for its crimes against Palestinians, including its administrative detention and torture of al-Qeeq.
Tell the White House:
* Mohammed al-Qeeq, a Palestinian journalist, is on his 85th day of a hunger strike protesting his torture and administrative detention without charge or trial by Israel.
* The United States must demand al-Qeeq’s immediate release and end all support for Israel’s political imprisonment and other crimes against Palestinians.
* Israel’s use of administrative detention and torture, and its attacks on Palestinian journalists and other civilians, are universally-recognized violations of human rights and international law.
* US aid to Israel breaks the Leahy Law, which bars assistance to military units known to violate human rights with impunity.
* The billions of dollars sent to Israel by the US could be better spent on pressing needs within the country. (Mention any domestic priorities, like health care, job creation or schools, that are particularly important to you.)
