How Palestinian Hunger Strikes Counter Israel’s Monopoly on Violence

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Some 1,500 Palestinian prisoners are on the fourth day of an open-ended hunger strike led by Fatah leader Marwan Barghouthi. It’s been called the “Freedom and Dignity” strike …and is in protest against the abusive measures used by Israeli prison authorities against Palestinian prisoners, which are in violation of international law.

According to Addameer, as of March, 6,300 Palestinians were being held in Israeli prisons, 500 of whom were being held under administrative detention.

Is a hunger strike more than just symbolic? How does the Palestinian hunger strike counter Israel’s monopoly on violence?

To unpack this question, we have Basil Farraj.

Basil holds a B.A. in Peace and Global Studies from Earlham College, USA. He is a Thomas J. Watson Fellow undertaking an independent project about Palestinian identity, and its manifestations in the diaspora. Basil is a member of the Defence for Children International – Palestine Section’s General Assembly, and a grant advisor to the Pollination Project. His areas of interest include child rights advocacy, peace and justice theory and the building of effective and critical transnational solidarity.

Guest: Basil Farraj
Position: Writer and academic
20 Apr 2017 11AM English South Africa News

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