Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

We Are Facing Two Viruses: Palestine’s Fight Against the Pandemic and Israeli Occupation

Ahmad Al Jaradat, who lives in Hebron in the West Bank, reports on how the Israeli occupation of Palestine has undermined efforts to stem coronavirus outbreaks and has exacerbated deteriorating living conditions. He describes the situation for hundreds of Palestinians in Israeli prisons, who are at high risk of contracting the virus.

Mirta Pacheco

May 1, 2020
Facebook Twitter Share
Palestinians, wearing protective masks amid fears of the spread of the novel coronavirus, take part in a protest in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, 16 March (AFP)

Ahmad Al Jaradat is a native of Hebron, a Palestinian city located 20 miles from Jerusalem. 80% of Hebron is under administrative and police control  by the Palestinian Authority. The other 20% is occupied by Israeli settlers. Ahmad explains the enormous difficulty people in Palestine face in confronting the coronavirus because of Iraeli occupation. All access to medical supplies, medicines, and other neccessities are controlled by the Zionist state. In Gaza the blockade is making everyday life harder for the 2 million people who live there. . “[They] have been under siege for a long time — twelve years up to now — which has affected efforts to face the virus at this moment. This has made the people and political parties there raise many alarms in the last days and weeks,”  explains Ahmad.

Due to the virus’ high infection rate, a major concern among Palestinians and international human rights organizations is the treatment of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Ahmad explains: “There are about 6,000 prisoners in different Israeli jails and these prisoners are living in crowded rooms and so far the Israeli occupation has not dealt seriously with the problem of the virus. They have not taken any measures, no limits, no procedures to protect the prisoners from the virus.”

Both the Palestinian Authority and various political and social organizations in the region are calling for the release of individuals over 50, children, and women. So far Israeli officials have not responded to this demand. In a show of global solidarity, several countries from the Middle East, Europe, and Jewish youth sectors in the United States have started a campaign to have Palestinian prisoners released.

Last Sunday, Ahmad sent La Izquierda Diario another video, denouncing the preventable death of a prisoner. On Wednesday, April 22, a young Palestinian prisoner,  Noor Jaber Barghoutti, died while serving an 8-year sentence for throwing a stone at a member of the Israeli army. He was only 23 years old. Noor was showing symptoms of infection, but the guards at the prison refused to help him. “Noor was unconscious, the Palestinian prisoners immediately notified the Israeli prison authorities to take him to a hospital, but the Israelis took half an hour to do anything.”

Noor’s family and fellow prisoners are alleging Israeli medical negligence. Even a pandemic will not stop Israel from its imperialist project to conquer Palestine and oppress Palestinians in order to make a profit.

Facebook Twitter Share

Middle East-Africa

Nigeria’s Unprecedented Election Shows Importance of Politicized Youth in Time of Crisis

Nigeria’s national election is shaped by deepening capitalist crisis, outsider candidates, and an activated youth.

Sam Carliner

February 28, 2023
The crowd at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, holding a huge Palestine flag that reads "Free Palestine"

The Palestinian Cause Is a Winner of the World Cup

Palestine, while not having a team at the FIFA World Cup, won the hearts of fans and national teams, and grew in international support during the games.

Julia Wallace

December 19, 2022
US President Joe Biden and DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi joke during a group photo at the G20 of World Leaders Summit on October 30, 2021

Biden Shores Up Imperialist Interests at U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit

The United States is hosting a U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit. The Biden administration’s supposed interest in developing African leadership is just a new strategy for U.S. imperialism to plunder the continent and counter China.

Sam Carliner

December 13, 2022
South African president Cyril Ramaphosa in a suit

“Farmgate” Threatens the Very Foundations of Capitalist Stability in South Africa

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa faces an impeachment vote Tuesday. More than a simple case of corruption, it’s a political crisis of the ruling party and of capitalist stability in the country.

Sam Carliner

December 5, 2022

MOST RECENT

“We Deserve a Living Wage:” on the Limits of the New Temple Grad Worker Union Contract 

A graduate worker at Temple reflects on the limits and strengths of the new contract won in the recent strike.

Femicide: The Face of a Patriarchal Capitalist Society

On March 8, the feminist movement flooded the streets of Mexico as part of a global day of mobilization. Among these thousands of women and dissidents, the main demand was an end to femicide and sexist violence.

Yara Villaseñor

March 31, 2023

Biden’s Proposed Budget Nothing but Empty Promises 

Earlier this month, Joe Biden announced his budget proposal, with a lot of promises. But the only thing we know he’ll deliver is that “nothing will fundamentally change.”

Molly Rosenzweig

March 31, 2023

At Least 39 Migrants Die in Fire at Detention Center in Mexico. The State Is Responsible.

The events of March 27 marked one of the darkest chapters in the Mexican State’s anti-immigrant policy, a policy that is increasingly subordinated to the interests of U.S. imperialism.