Protest to free hunger strikers and all Palestinian prisoners

New Yorkers protested outside the offices of G4S on Friday, 5 February, calling for the immediate release of Palestinian hunger-striking journalist Mohameed al-Qeeq from Israeli prisons, and an end to the security corporation’s dealings with the Israeli repressive state apparatus. Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network organized its weekly protest outside the offices of G4S, where participants distributed material about the corporation’s links with Israeli apartheid and about the case of Al-Qeeq, 33, who has been on hunger strike for 74 days against his administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial.

G4S is the subject of a global boycott campaign for its provision of control rooms and security equipment to Israeli prisons, checkpoints and police training centers that imprison, torture and abuse Palestinians. One protester, a mental health worker from Gaza, highlighted the impact of Israeli torture and repression on Palestinian lives and health. Despite G4S’ involvement in human rights abuses, not only in Palestine, but in the United States, Canada, South Africa, the UK and elsewhere, the United Nations continues to contract with G4S; hundreds of organizations in Palestine and internationally have demanded the UN drop its G4S contracts.

Protests in solidarity with Al-Qeeq and demanding his immediate release have recently taken place in Tampa, Berlin, Montreal and elsewhere. Another protest is scheduled in New York City outside G4S’ offices for Friday, 12 February.