Iqbal Tamimi – "Will you remember my name?"
By Iqbal Tamimi • Jul 4th, 2008 at 21:14 • Category: Counter-terrorism, No thanks!, Features, Israel, Newswire, Palestine, Resistance, Somoud: Arab Voices of Resistance, Zionism
When one Israeli person is killed or kidnapped, the media makes sure every single person hearing the news would know the name of that person, giving the incident a human dimension. But this has never been the case with Palestinians who have been killed, imprisoned or kidnapped by the Israeli authorities.
Palestinians are considered as a demographically abundant population, it is alright not to know their names; they are ignored on a human level. Their names are never mentioned. When Palestinians are killed you only hear about numbers, their blood is diluted by the media manipulators who do not have the decency to respect human life on both sides.
This is why I thought of mentioning the names of a few young Palestinian men who died inside Israeli prisons. When you read their names, remember that each one of them has a family and friends, and each of them has his own dreams and hopes, and his blood screams at you, “WILL YOU REMEMBER MY NAME?” And most of all, almost all of them were killed inside Israeli prisons during interrogations before being convicted or standing in a court to a fair trial. The majority are very young, this is another tactic of Israeli authorities to empty the country of its people as soon as possible.
Fadi Abdellateef Abu Alrob, 19 years of age, born 1987 in the town of Qabatiya near the city of Jenin, has died inside the Israeli prison after 5 months of imprisonment. Jamal Elsaraheen, another young man from my hometown Hebron, died on the 16th of January 2006. Maher Dandan, from the city of Nablus died inside an Israeli prison on the 9th of June 2007. From the city of Tulkarm the young man Mohammad Elashqar, was shot by Israeli soldiers directly in the head at the Naqab prison on the 21st of October 2007!!!!!!!
Does this seem reasonable, all those young men dying at such a young age, maybe as young as yourself, or as your own son!
It would be total ignorance to think that all those young men died of natural causes. Fadi Abu Alrob, 19 years of age, was victim number 74 to die inside an Israeli prison since only December 1987 (those who I knew of). He died inside Jalbooaa Israeli prison after being denied treatment. This number does not include 193 prisoners killed while being arrested.
Jalbooaa prison was built in 2004 to the north of Palestine, copying US high security prisons in structure and system, and not far from Shatta prison in Beesan area. The prison of Jalbooaa is the sardine tin where 800 Palestinian prisoners are waiting their turn to die of medical neglect or direct assault by the Israelis. Or to be used as a negotiating card when the need arises.
Fadi Abdellateef was the second prisoner to die at Jalbbooaa prison, after Bashshar Arif Bany Oodeh 27 years of age, who died on the 23rd of June 2005 because of medical neglect as well. Bashshar is from the city of Tammoon.
Those young people died before savouring life, not because they were driving fast cars, or because they had injured themselves while being drunk or while playing dangerous sports. They all died because they were not only imprisoned by the racist cruel Israeli government, but because they were denied access to medical aid when they needed it too.
Please think of each of the following names as someone you know. For now, I have listed the names of only 42 young men only who were killed inside the Israeli prisons before even being tried, but the list is much longer than you would expect.
1- Khader Elias Fuad Altarzi, 19 years of age, from the Alsabra area in Gaza. Died in Soroka Hospital after a torture session on the 9th of February 1988.
2- Qandeel Kamel Ilwan, from Albraij Camp in Gaza, died on the 24th of February 1988 at Ashkelon Prison, of medical negligence.
3- Ibraheem Mahmood Mohammad Elraee, 28 years of age, from the city of Qalqeliya, died on the 11th of April 1988 of torture during the investigation.
4- Ayyad Mohammad Aql, 17 years of age, from Albraij camp in Gaza, died on the 2d of August 1988 after being kicked and hit severely during investigations.
5- Ata Yosif Ahmad Ayyad, 20 years of age, from Qalandya camp near Jerusalem, died on the 4th of August 1988 after being beaten and strangled during investigation.
6- Ali Ibraheem Alsamoodi, 30 years of age, from Alyamoon area near Jenin, died on the 16th of August 1988, shot down by the prison wards.
7- Asaad Jabr Zaki Elshawwa, 19 years of age, from Gaza, died on the 16th of August 1988 after being shot down by the prison wards.
8- Nabeel Mostafa Jameel Badah, 20 years of age, from Bait Haneena near Jerusalem, died on the 16th of August, 1988 after been beaten up until death.
9- Hani Theeb Saleem Elshami, 47 years of age, from Jabaliya camp near Gaza, died on the 23rd of August 1988 after being beaten to death.
10- Abdelminem Hasan Alqolaq, 56 years of age, from Khan Yonis near Gaza, died on the 7th of October 1988 of medical negligence.
11- Ibraheem Yaser Mohammad Elmtoor, 22 years of age, from Saeer town near Hebron, killed on the 7th of October 1988 after being beaten to death.
12- Abdallah Mohammad Abo Mahrooqa, 28 years of age, from Dair Elbalah near Gaza, shot dead on the 21st of October 1988.
13- Mohammad Mosa Hammad, from the town of Silwad near Jerusalem, died in prison of a heart attack on the 9th of January 1989.
14- Mahmood Yosif Oliyyan Almasry, 35, from Rafah near Gaza. Killed during torture sessions while investigation on the 6th of February 1989.
15- Nidal Zuhdi Omar Theeb, 22 years of age, from Alamaari camp near Ramallah. Shot dead on the 8th of February 1989.
16- Omar Mahmud Alqasim. 48 years of age, from Jerusalem. Died inside the prison due to Medical negligence, on the 4th of June 1989.
17- Mohammad Salah Hasan Alrifi, 50 years, from Altoffah neighbourhood of Gaza. Died inside the prison on the 10th of August 1989, suffering many illnesses and deprived of medical care.
18- Jamal Mohammad Abd-elati Abu Sharkh, 22 years of age, from Alshatea camp in Gaza, beaten to death, and strangled during interrogations.
19- Bader Mohammad Saeed Qaradeh, 12, from the city of Nablus, beaten to death on the 18th of December 1989.
20- Khalid Kamel Elsheekh Ali, 27, from Alrimal neighbourhood in Gaza, died during torture investigation session on the 19th of December 1989.
21- Mohammad Abdelrazzaq Eed, 67, from the city of Tulkarem, suffered a heart attack inside the prison and died immediately on the 4th of January 1990.
22-Raeq Husain Mousa Salman, 26, from the city of Tulkarem, died of lack of medical help on the 12th of February 1990.
23-Sabry Mansour Abed Rabboh, 18, from the city of Ramallah, he was shot down by the Israeli prison guards and died instantly on the 7th of July 1990.
24- Husam Salim Quraan, 24, from the city of Qalqeeliya, suffered a heart attack inside the prison and died on the spot on 28/8/1990.
25- Ateeyeh Abdelati Alzaaneen, 35, from the city of Bait Hanoon in Gaza, tortured to death on the 2nd of November 1990.
26- Abdulla Yusuf Alawneh , from the city of Jenin. Died on 11/11/1990. After 3 days of his release. He suffered health problems inside the prison caused by torture during detention.
27- Mustafa Abdulla Alakkawi, 36, from Jerusalem. Died on 4/2/1991 after being subjected to torture during interrogation.
28- Husain Abduraheem Harb, 21, from the city of Bait Ola near Ramallah. Died inside prison on the 14th of February 1991 of medical negligence.
29- Ali Hasan Abdulhaleem Alshahid, from city of Tulkarem, Died on the 8th of June 1991 after being beaten and tortured at the quarters of the Civil Administration.
30- Sami Noman Zorob, 33, from city of Khan Yonus in the Gaza Strip. Died on the 22nd of August 1991 of medical negligence.
31- Jasir Ahmad Ali Abu Rmaileh, 39, from Tulkarem camp, died of a heart attack at an Israeli prison on the 20th of October 1991.
32- Mustafa Mahmoud Barakat, 25, from Anabta town near Tulkarem, died during a torture session while being investigated by Israeli prison wardens on the 10th of January 1992.
33- Mousa Aberahman, 32,, from Noba village near Hebron. He was shot dead by the Israeli forces inside the prison on the 18th of January 1992.
34- Sameer Mohammad Salamah, 24, from Khan Yonis, Gaza. Died during torture and investigation on the 15th of February 1992.
35- Ahmad Ibrahim Barakat, 26, from Alain Camp in Nablus, killed by the Israeli prison guards on the 5th of May 1992.
36- Sameer Omar Khamees Omar, 17, from Alshatie Camp in Gaza. Killed by Israeli interrogators on the 14th of May 1992.
37- Mohammad Sulyman Husain Brais, 30, from Khan Yonis in Gaza. Tortured while interrogated. He died on the 29th of June 1992.
38- Hazim Mohammad Eid, 23, from Om Alsharayyet near Ramallah. He was killed by torture during an investigation session.
39- Husain Nimer Asad Obaidat, 22, from Almokabber mountain in Jerusalem. Died inside the prison of a “heart attack”.
40- Ayman Ibrahim Mohammad Barhoom, 20, from Rafah in Gaza. Died inside an Israeli prison on the 27th of January of medical negligence.
41- Ayman Saeed Hasan Nassar, 23, of Dair Albalah in Gaza. Died during investigation. He was beaten up without any mercy, by Israeli authorities on the 23rd of March 1993.
42- Mohammad Salamah Aljundi from Alarroob camp near Hebron, he was killed while tortured in Hebron’s central prison on the 10th of May 1993.<!–[if !supportEmptyParas]–> <!–[endif]–>
Iqbal Tamimi is a Palestinian journalist and poet from Hebron. She is the creator of a vibrant and important activists' network Palestinian Mothers, open to all who share the vision of peace and justice, men and women alike. She is working now in UK.
Email this author | All posts by Iqbal Tamimi






How true Iqbal! All last week, all we saw on TV in the West was the case of a Palestinian with bulldozer… Everytime an Israeli is killed, they talk about it for weeks! There is never a word mentioned on any news channel when the agression comes from Israel. They don't even mention the names of the dead! Not a word…
I will post it on Ottawa IndyMedia… One of the only places where I can publish in this country!
Love, peace & solidarity,
Crystal
You should see the "Israel-Palestine "peace" board I got dragged into by a Palestinian friend, http://www.mepeace.org they never seem to care about things like Omer, prisoners, restrictions on rights such as that of Khalid's travel restrictions, but now they are even posting links so that we learn the life stories of the victims of this latest tragedy. It is just double standards, the lives of an Israeli Jew are more valuable to them (and to the West) than the lives of Arabs and Palestinians.
Please read what Gilad wrote on this event here on the blog. We were talking about how it may just have been a crime, a nut, like happens a lot of times even in the US, but the fact that it was an Israeli of Palestinian origin made it "certain" that it was a terrorist act… and that Ramon and Olmert will destroy the home that his family lived in… This is just as crazy and sick. And the West should stand up and say, "WAIT!" but they won't question the judgment of Israel, ever.
Yes, Mary, I was cajoled into ME Peace too, can't believe it! Most disappointing – they are even having a messages of condolence thread for this bulldozer happening, pretty much 0000 for any Palestinian deaths or torturing or the Omer case – it's very Zionistic.
I will post this up on Digg, if it not already done but for future reference Iqbal – I will alter the title a little, maybe, A Dead Palestinian – Will You Remember My Name? I reckon it helps on Digg say, if you have Israel, (i), Palestine (ian) or Gaza in the title, which ideally, no more than 60 characters long. & of course, I have posted this on your Supporting Palestinian Prisoners facebook (zionist) group.
[...] Continued . . . [...]
"Crystal Robert, Everytime an Israeli is killed, they talk about it for weeks!"
Is that before or after they hand out the candies?
No one in this world shoud be treated unfairly, even if he is to be the biggest criminal.
But Israel is totally doing the opposit. They are occupying others land, and killing its people without any reason.
Their only non-reason which they and their supporters have is that they are permitting themselves to kill any person.. and to do whatever they can in order to keep them and their occupation safe.
Every thing is recorded and will never be forgotten, so no need to worry about that.
"A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic." — Joseph Stalin
We in the US always hear about the tragedies of Israeli suffering but hardly anything about the "meaningless" statistics of what happens to Palestinians.
It's almost as if someone is trying to control the narrative.
No escape
In my heart dwells the pain of the oppressed
Rivers of their wounds pour down
Drenching the ocean of my sorrow
I am the voice of the voiceless
The howl of little ones as they fade away
My whispers shoot like bullets
In the ears of the wicked
My words explodes
Before his eyes
Muting his lies
He looks away
Pretending not to see
Not to hear
My murmurs pierce his bubble
My tortured shadow follows
No escape
He runs to bed
Covers his head
Sleep might rid him of me
My chopped limps chases his dream
He drowns in my tears
In my blood
Unable to breathe
Unable to cry
No escape
Time passes… then he dies
Only to be greeted with my smile
He’d hoped he’d never see
As he was chained and taken away
To meet his deeds
No escape
.
Thanks, nice poem Nahida.
Folks, there is a case here due in court on 31st of this month. If enough of us get on the case, do you think?
ISRAEL DENIES RIGHT TO EDUCATION & LIBERTY
Defend Omar's right to education and liberty
Right to Education Campaign, Birzeit University, 7 July 2008
Detained under rules of Administrative Detention – please defend Omar's right to education and liberty & help guarantee his release on 31 July and raise your voice against the arbitrary detention of Palestinian students. [Action Alert with some handy links] http://right2edu. birzeit.edu/ news/article546
I've searched Spanish translations for this article and found nothing, so I'll translate it
nahida:
did you write it?
GREAT
Thank you Fawdawi for your kind efforts. you can't imagine how much this would mean to their families and loved ones. The list of name is sooooooo long. But I had to add some to give those victims a human face.
Bless you for bringing their suffering to the Spanish speaking world.
Fawdawi on July 28th, 2008 at 1:14:
Yes I did
Well, nahida, it's so beautiful that I'll translate it once I've finished Iqbal's article.
Do you write regularly or was it just an inspiration day? Anyway, it's great!
Fawdawi, thank you for that
I do write often, this is my blog with many of my poems and prose
http://poetryforpalestine.spaces.live.com/
[...] Palestine Think Tank Sobre el autor Yaotl Àltan es miembro de Tlaxcala, la red de traductores por la diversidad [...]
http://www.tlaxcala.es/pp.asp?reference=5661&lg=es
Here you have the Spanish translation of this article.
Fawdawi
Thank you, I just feel unable to say a word, you can't imagine how does it feel to be able to convey a message in another language. Have you done the translation yourself? I am sorry to ask beacause I do not read Spanish.
I owe a great deal to tlaxcala for translating my articles to other languages. Thank you Fawdawi again.