PSC released a statement after Palestinian prisoners suspended the hunger strike after Israeli authorities yielded to the demand to enter negotiations with the prisoners’ chosen leaders:
https://palestinecampaign.org/psc-statement-dignity-won-struggle-continues/
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We need your help – can you participate in a day of social media action on Tuesday, 30th May to support the Palestinian prisoners’ hunger strike?
Although the strike has been ongoing for over a month and prisoner health is failing, the Israeli state refuses to open negotiations – whilst the international community and media remain silent.
Below we outline what the situation is in Palestine, and how you can help raise awareness of it by using your public profile and social media outlets. For the strike to be successful there must be media attention and international pressure on the Israeli government.
What’s happening in Palestine?
There are currently 1,300 Palestinian hunger strikers are putting their lives at risk to demand an end to a number of illegal practices – including the denial of family visits, appropriate medical care for sick prisoners, and the end of solitary confinement and imprisonment without charge or trial (so called administrative detention). Marwan Barghouti, often referred to as ‘the Palestinian Mandela’, is the leader of the open-ended strike. The strike has seen an incredible display of solidarity in Palestine and around the world. Nearly every Palestinian family has seen a family member imprisoned by the Israeli state. Palestinians suffer one of the highest rates of incarceration in the world, illustrating the fact that imprisonment is a basic tool of the 50-year-old occupation.
The prisoners have been on strike for over a month. Their health is seriously deteriorating and the Israeli state refuses to negotiate their basic demands for human rights. UN Special Rapporteur Michael Lynk has called on Israel to comply with international law and standards for detention.
What you can do
On Tuesday 30th May, the PSC is organising a solidarity fast & vigil outside the BBC for the Palestinian hunger strikers. We’re hoping to generate huge social media noise around this issue and make sure the media can’t ignore it.
There are a range of things you can do to help –
- Pledge to fast until sundown on Tuesday and post about it on social media, using the hashtag #dignitystrike. Here are some suggested posts –
- Today I’m fasting to support Palestinian #dignitystrike for basic human rights. RT if you think Israel should comply with international law!
- Human rights are for all, including Palestinian prisoners on the #dignitystrike. Tell @foreignoffice to say so! http://palestinecampaign.iparlsetup.com/lobby/hungerstrike
- Today I’m fasting in solidarity with Palestinian #dignitystrike – RT if you think media like @BBCWorld should cover!
- Participate in the #Saltwaterchallenge on Tuesday. Saltwater is the only thing the hunger striking prisoners have survived on since April 17. Make a video of yourself drinking a glass of saltwater and upload it to your social media channels, including the hashtags #saltwaterchallenge and #dignitystrike. You can also do this if you are already fasting for Ramadan. Here are some suggested posts –
- I’m doing the #saltwaterchallenge to stand with 1,500 Palestinian prisoners protesting inhumane conditions in the #dignitystrike.
- Palestinian prisoners on #dignitystrike are demanding their basic human rights. Please join me in the #Saltwaterchallenge in solidarity!
- Israel must respect Palestinian human rights as demanded by #dignitystrike – RT my #saltwaterchallenge if you agree!
- On Tuesday, change your profile picture on social media to the image below – a symbol of defiance and steadfastness throughout the strike.
- Join us at the vigil outside the BBC on Tuesday 30th from 17:00 – 19:00. More details here.
- Write to the Foreign Office and ask them to urgently raise the issue with Israel here.
- Share this post throughout your organisation, or to anyone else you think would be interested, and ask them to take part too!
Thank you for your support. For more information, please email [email protected] or call 020 7700 6192.