Take Action Now to Help Save the Lives of 2,000 Hunger Strikers in Israeli Prisons!

Sign and we'll deliver yoursignature to the State Dept. on Monday!

Above: "Free Thaer Halahleh and all prisoners"

As we approach the 64th anniversary of theNakba -- thecatastrophe in which more than more than 750,000 Palestinians lost their homes and lands, and thousands of others their lives during the ethnic cleansing that accompanied Israel's creation -- between 1,600 and 2,000 Palestinian prisoners have joined one of thelargest hunger strikes in history.

Two strikers -- Thaer Halahleh and Bilal Diab -- have refused food for 73 days. Ten have refused food for more than 50 days and are now hospitalized. The International Committee of the Red Cross has said that Halahleh, Diab, and four others are in "imminent danger of dying."As the prisoners' health deteriorates, the State Department has beensilent.
Please ask the State Department to help save the lives of these nonviolent protestors! Help us get 10,000 signatures before Monday when, with the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee, we'll deliver our concerns to the State Department!

Above: Please sign the joint petition of the US Campaign and Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee.

The hunger strikers are protesting "administrative detention" -- a widely-used Israeli practice of detaining Palestinians without charge -- as well as solitary confinement, denial of family visits, and inadequate health treatment. About 300 Palestinians are currently in administrative detention, a policy which clearly violates Article 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states: "Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him."

The State Department claims to support the universality of human rights, yet it has publicly ignored the hunger strike. This silence speaks volumes to Israel, sending a condoning message, rather than one of commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Pressure from the State Department on Israel, on the other hand,could save the lives of the hunger strikers.

Take action now and tell the State Department to publicly demand that Israel end its unjust policies!

Above: Hunger Strike Fact Sheet Click to take part.

More are joining the strike every day, and many strikers and supporters have reached out to the international community to show support. In response to a call from the Palestinian Popular Struggle Coordinating Committees, US Campaign member group Jewish Voice for Peace is organizing a Day of Action next Thursday, May 17th, calling on people nationwide to fast in solidarity with the prisoners anddemonstrate outside Israeli consulates and embassies. May 17th will mark one month since the majority of strikers began refusing food.
Please sign up now to join the day of action!
You can sign up to fast, protest, or both, and to connect with others in your area taking part. There is also a hunger strike factsheet available here. This is a tremendous opportunity to show support and solidarity to these courageous resisters, taking the extraordinary step of starving themselves in a struggle for basic dignity and freedom.

Next Tuesday, Nakba Day, the US Campaign will join the US Palestinian Community Network, students fasting in solidarity with the hunger strikers, and several D.C. area member groups in front of the White House for a memorial commemorating and remembering the Nakba. Please click here for more information and join us if you can. 

-- US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation