These Chains Will Be Broken Read online

  PRAISE FOR

  These Chains Will Be Broken

  “Ramzy Baroud’s book of Palestinian prisoners’ stories is a remarkable work. With each story, there is a roll-call of the best of humanity: courage, struggle, determination, generosity, passion, humility and, above all, defiance of injustice. Everyone, especially those of us in the West subjected to unerring propaganda, should read this searing and beautiful book. Then understand all over again that peace and justice are not possible in the world until the Palestinians are free.”

  —John Pilger, award-winning Australian journalist, author and broadcaster/documentary maker

  “In this must-read ‘history from below,’ the Palestinians who tell their stories show prison to be a microcosm of life under conditions of occupation and colonization. As the contributors convey the crushing violence of the Israeli state that imprisons them, they also demonstrate how, against all odds, Palestinians continue to engage in practices of resistance, community-building, creativity, and intellectual production; persist in their love for one another and their homeland; and remember as well as dream of a free Palestine. Read the testimonies by these men, women and children—organic intellectuals, all—in this powerful and searingly beautiful book that helps realize the promise that the chains of Zionism will be broken.”

  —Cynthia Franklin, Professor of English at the University of Hawaì i and member of the USACBI Organizing Collective

  “Prison is one of the most vicious tools used by oppressive regimes. One could easily say that it embodies modern-day slavery, a reality I myself have experienced first-hand. Since Israel’s 1967 invasion and occupation of Palestinian territories, there have been over 750,000 Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli jails, including over 23,000 women and 25,000 children. These unjustified detentions have been perpetrated in order to punish people for their persistence and struggle to gain their freedom, realize justice, and retain their dignity. Ramzy Baroud’s new book, These Chains will be Broken, is a powerful collection of stories of Palestinians who have not just been primary witnesses of Israeli brutality, but also shining examples of determined individuals willing to stand up for their rights, speak their conscience, and fight for their humanity. Baroud’s book provides agency to those whose stories have been suppressed and marginalized for decades. He brings their voices alive with his vivid, spirited, and powerful storytelling to be heard by millions. While their oppressors try to deny their existence and humanity, Baroud brings them back and, with their memories, the plight of many thousands in Israeli jails waiting for the day they will celebrate their freedom and the liberation of their homeland. The lively, beautiful, and painful narratives recited in These Chains will be Broken are a must-read for anyone with a burning conscience and a determined will to see that oppression is not forgotten, freedom will be gained, and justice will ultimately prevail.”

  —Prof. Dr. Sami A. Al-Arian, Director and Public Affairs Professor, Center for Islam and Global Affairs

  “In this book, you will delve into the lives of men and women, read intimate stories that they have chosen to share with you, stories that may surprise you, anger you and even shock you. But they are crucial stories that must be told, read and retold. When you read this book, you will have a frame of reference that will enable you to imagine, now and always, what life in an Israeli prison is like. These are the stories of men and women who have collectively decided to never break, no matter how great the pressure and the pain.”

  —Khalida Jarrar, Freed Prisoner, Member of the Palestine Legislative Council

  “Unjust imprisonment is an atrocity and a desecration of international law. Therefore, it is important to understand the personal plights of people who have suffered extreme injustices that have stripped them of their freedom, their loved ones and their human rights. This book is essential in helping us develop a compassionate understanding of the plight of Palestinian prisoners and the Palestinian people. I pray for an existence where people from diverse backgrounds can live in an environment of mutual respect, peace and harmony.”

  —Maryum Ali, Social Worker, Public Speaker, Daughter of Legendary American boxer and political dissident, Muhammad Ali

  These Chains

  Will Be Broken

  Palestinian Stories of

  Struggle and Defiance in

  Israeli Prisons

  RAMZY BAROUD

  FOREWORD

  Khalida Jarrar

  AFTERWORD

  Richard Falk

  Clarity Press, Inc.

  © 2020 Ramzy Baroud

  ISBN: 978-1-949762-10-5

  EBOOK ISBN: 978-1-949762-09-9

  Production team:

  Abdallah Aljamal

  Romana Rubeo

  Sylvia DeMelo

  Fida Jiryis

  Yousef Aljamal

  In-house editor: Diana G. Collier

  Cover design: R. Jordan Santos

  Cover image and extensive interior artwork by Dalia Alkayyali, see Table of Illustrations

  Clarity Press, Inc.

  2625 Piedmont Rd. NE, Ste. 56

  Atlanta, GA. 30324

  https://www.claritypress.com

  To Razan al-Najar (1996-2018):

  Martyrs don’t die; they soar.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  TABLE OF ILLUSTRATIONS

  FOREWORD

  Khalida Jarrar, Member, Palestinian

  Legislative Council

  INTRODUCTION: Palestine’s Organic Intellectuals

  Ramzy Baroud

  HANAN IS “TENDERNESS”

  Wafa Ibrahim Samir al-Bis

  GHADEER

  Mohammad al-Deirawi

  MY BROKEN LEG: MY SOARING SPIRIT

  Dareen Tatour

  FOR MY LITTLE BROTHER

  Jalal Lutfi Saqr

  AVENGING SABRA AND SHATILA

  Kifah Sobhi ’Afifi

  ME AND ISLAM

  Mohammad Mohammad Abu Hasira

  THE GIRL WHO DID NOTHING

  Dima Ismail al-Wawi

  DECODING THE WORLD OUTSIDE

  Hilal Mohammad Jaradat

  LOVE BEHIND BARS

  Nael al-Barghouti and Iman Nafi’

  HUMANITARIAN HERO

  Mohammed Khalil al-Halabi

  THE COHORT OF DEFIANCE

  Khalida Jarrar

  “I CANNOT LOSE MY HUSBAND”

  Mohammad Adeeb al-Qiq

  “THEY HELD A FUNERAL FOR ME”

  Azmi Ahmad Mansour

  THE BOY FROM HARIS

  Ali Yasin Shamlawi

  THE “BOSTA” IS AN IRON CAGE

  Khadija Ahmad Ibrahim Khweis

  LAST WORDS

  Fouad Qasim al-Razim

  MIRACULOUS BIRTH

  Rafat Salah Mi’rif

  MOHAMMAD’S WATCH

  Bilal Khaled al-Tammam

  “NO PAIN LIKE MINE”

  Israa’ Riyad Ja’abis

  “I SEE YOU IN MY HEART”

  Faris Baroud

  AFTERWORD: Why International Law Matters to Palestinian Prisoners, but Not to Israel

  Richard Falk, former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories

  APPENDIX: Israeli Prisons

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I WOULD LIKE TO START by thanking all the women and men who shared intimate, difficult and often harrowing episodes of their lives with us. To these prisoners and their families, thank you for making this book possible. By allowing us into your lives and the lives of your loved ones—those who are still in prison or those who have passed away—you opened a window to the often unseen, unheard and unexplored trauma experienced by hundreds of thousands
of Palestinians in the last few decades.

  Wafa Samir al-Bis from Gaza was the first to share her story with us. The dignified and articulate way in which she communicated her painful memories made us feel that we had taken the first step in the right direction to produce this volume.

  Fouad al-Razim, Mona Ja’abis, Mohammad al-Deirawi, Dima al-Wawi, Jalal Saqr, Kifah Sobhi ’Afif, Hilal Jaradat, N’imeh Shamlawi, Bilal al-Tammam, Farida Mi’rif, Azmi Mansour, Khadija Khewis, Khalil al-Halabi, Fayha’ Shalash, Mohamad Abu Hasira, Iman Nafi’ and Dareen Tatour, this is your book. It carries your words, voices, sentiments, poems and every other form of expression that you used to communicate this material to us. I hope that we did your powerful experiences some justice in the way we constructed, interpreted and presented your narratives.

  Khalida Jarrar, a freed prisoner, educator and beloved Palestinian leader has shared her story with us, and has helped situate the book so beautifully and effectively in a proper revolutionary context by writing the Foreword as well. Thank you, Khalida. You are a role model for a generation of women and men in Palestine.

  Richard Falk, Professor Emeritus of international law at Princeton University, has provided an essential legal context to this book. As the former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories (2008-2014), Professor Falk helped define a legal discourse on Palestinian human rights, one that challenged all attempts at marginalizing the rights of the Palestinian people. His contribution to this book is most precious. Thank you, Richard.

  I would also like to thank the production team who helped in gathering material, conducting interviews, translating and editing. Abdallah Aljamal, a brilliant journalist in Gaza, was indispensable to the process of gathering the original Arabic material. His tireless work in research, liaising with numerous individuals and conducting initial interviews helped identify the prisoners and their families whose stories are told in this book. His immaculate text, prepared in Arabic and based on the writings and interviews with many of the freed prisoners or families of prisoners, was the main source of raw material upon which this book has been written. Thank you, also, to the other researchers and journalists, Sama’a Abu Sharar and Haifa Irshaid, in Lebanon and Jordan, respectively, for helping to conduct interviews with freed Palestinian prisoners outside Palestine.

  A special thank you to Romana Rubeo, who has assisted in the process of producing this book from its inception to the final stages of editing and presenting the text. Her input and active participation in preparing and finalizing all content have made this book possible. Romana, your vital assistance in this project is most appreciated. Thank you.

  Yousef Aljamal, a young Palestinian scholar, translator and writer, helped in facilitating much of the material contained in this book. Yousef also assisted in research and offered most valuable advice throughout the writing process. I thank him for his continued assistance and support.

  A special thank you to the wonderful proofreading and editing team consisting of Sylvia DeMelo, Fida Jiryis and Suzanne Baroud. Their immaculate editing, their invaluable suggestions regarding the text and their patience are responsible for producing the quality content presented in this volume. I thank them all very much for their excellent work and for being so generous with their time. Moreover, Fida Jiryis has helped in preparing, writing and editing the text of Azmi Mansour’s story: “They held a funeral for me.”

  Lena Khalaf Tuffaha translated two important passages in the book, a poem by freed prisoner Dareen Tatour and a song by the late Ria Baroud, which helped give both stories more substance and depth. Thank you, Lena, for all of your help.

  A special thank you to the talented artist, Dalia Al Kayyali, for producing the original art to be used as a cover for this book. Thank you also to the artists Deb Van Poolen, Marguerite Debaie and Tashi Farmilo-Marouf.

  Thank you to Professor Cynthia Franklin, Claude Zurback, Joe Catron, Professor J. Kēhaulani Kauanui, M. Healani Sonoda-Pale, Roger Fowler, Professor Sami Al-Arian, Michel Tellone, veteran journalist Tim Llewellyn, journalist Salwa Amore, and Maryum Ali, a community leader and daughter of the legendary American boxer and political dissident, Muhammad Ali.

  Keeping in mind that John Pilger has had a profound influence on my writing and journalistic work, his endorsement of this book was particularity special and heartwarming. Thank you, John, for your support and for all the critical work that you continue to produce.

  Thank you, Diana G. Collier and Clarity Press, for taking on this project, for creating a platform for these powerful, yet often unheard Palestinian voices, and for all the quality and courageous work that you publish.

  Last but not least, thank you to my ever patient, loving and supportive children, Zarefah, Iman and Sammy. You remain my true inspiration in this life.

  —Ramzy Baroud

  TABLE OF ILLUSTRATIONS

  1 Dalia Alkayyali (b. 1976), Soul Rebellion 1 (2014) Ink on mixed media paper, 8.3 x 11.7 in.

  2 Dalia Alkayyali, The Key (2015) Acrylic on canvas, 20 x 40 in.

  3 Dalia Alkayyali, Soul Rebellion 2 (2014) Ink on mixed media paper, 8.3 x 11.7 in.

  4 Dalia Alkayyali, Soul Rebellion 3 (2014) Ink on mixed media paper, 8.3 x 11.7 in.

  5 Dalia Alkayyali, Untitled, Inspired by Mahmoud Darwish poem (2018) Ink on mixed media paper, 11.69 x 16.53 in.

  6. Dareen Tatour (b. 1982)

  7 Dalia Alkayyali, I Came from There (2017) Acrylic on canvas, 48 x 48 in.

  8 Dalia Alkayyali, Freedom (2013) Ink on mixed media paper, 8.3 x 11.7 in.

  9 Dalia Alkayyali, Peace in the City, Part 2 (2018) Mixed media, 36 x 48 in.

  10 Dalia Alkayyali, Soul Rebellion 4 (2014), Inspired by Taqfiq Zayyad poem, “Here We Shall Stay” Ink on mixed media paper, 8.3 x 11.7 in.

  11 Dalia Alkayyali, Soul Rebellion 5 (2014), Inspired by Taqfiq Zayyad poem, “Here We Shall Stay” Ink on mixed media paper, 8.3 x 11.7 in.

  12 Dalia Alkayyali, Love in Palestinian Way (2015) Copic marker on mixed media paper, 11.69 x 16.53 in.

  13 Dalia Alkayyali, Heaven, Part 3 (2014) Mixed media (paper, acrylic and ink) on canvas, 31 x 31 in.

  14 Dalia Alkayyali, Untitled, In Memory of Mahmoud Darwish (2014) Acrylic on canvas, 20 x 24 in.

  15 Dalia Alkayyali, The Pigeons Fly, Inspired by Mahmoud Darwish poem (2013) Oil on canvas, 36 x 48 in.

  16 Dalia Alkayyali, Freedom (2013) Ink on mixed media paper, 8.3 x 11.7 in.

  17 Dalia Alkayyali, Alquds (2011) Copic marker on mixed media paper, 8.3 x 11.7 in.

  18 Dalia Alkayyali, Soul Rebellion 6 (2014) Ink on mixed media paper, 8.3 x 11.7 in.

  19 Dalia Alkayyali, Soul Rebellion 7 (2014) Ink on mixed media paper, 8.3 x 11.7 in.

  20 Dalia Alkayyali, To My Mother (2014) Oil on canvas, 36 x 48 in.

  21 Dalia Alkayyali, Heaven, Part 2 (2014) Mixed media (paper, acrylic and ink) on canvas, 31 x 31 in.

  22 Dalia Alkayyali, Yafa (2011) Copic marker on mixed media paper, 18 x 24 in.

  23 Dalia Alkayyali, Peace in the City, Part 5 (2018) Mixed media, 36 x 48 in.

  24 Dalia Alkayyali, Yafa (2011) Copic marker on mixed media paper, 18 x 24 in.

  25 Romana Rubeo, Map of Prisons

  1

  FOREWORD

  PRISON is not just a place made of high walls, barbed wire and small, suffocating cells with heavy iron doors. It is not just a place that is defined by the clanking sound of metal; indeed, the screeching or slamming of metal is the most common sound you will hear in prisons, whenever heavy doors are shut, when heavy beds or cupboards are moved, when handcuffs are locked in position or loosened. Even the bosta—the notorious vehicles that transport prisoners from one prison facility to another—are metal beasts, their interior, their exterior, even their doors and built-in shackles.

  No, prison is more than all of this. It is also stories of real people, daily suffering and struggles against the prison guards and administration. Prison is a moral position that must be m
ade daily, and can never be put behind you.

  Prison is comrades—sisters and brothers who, with time, grow closer to you than your own family. It is common agony, pain, sadness and, despite everything, also joy at times.

  In prison, we challenge the abusive prison guard together, with the same will and determination to break him so that he does not break us. This struggle is unending and is manifested in every possible form, from the simple act of refusing our meals, to confining ourselves to our rooms, to the most physically and physiologically strenuous of all efforts, the open hunger strike. These are but some of the tools which Palestinian prisoners use to fight for, and earn, their very basic rights and to preserve some of their dignity.

  Prison is the art of exploring possibilities; it is a school that trains you to solve daily challenges using the simplest and most creative means, whether it be food preparation, mending old clothes or finding common ground so that we may all endure and survive together.

  In prison, we must become aware of time, because if we do not, it will stand still. So, we do everything we can to fight the routine, to take every opportunity to celebrate and to commemorate every important occasion in our lives, personal or collective.

  I am honored to be part of this book, sharing my own story and writing this preface. In this book, you will delve into the lives of men and women, read intimate stories that they have chosen to share with you, stories that may surprise you, anger you and even shock you. But they are crucial stories that must be told, read and retold.

  The stories in this book are not written to shock you, but rather to illustrate even a small part of the daily reality endured by thousands of men and women, who are still confined within high walls, barbed wire and metal doors. When you read this book, you will have a frame of reference that will enable you to imagine, now and always, what life in an Israeli prison is like.

  And every story, whether included in this book or not, is not a fleeting experience that only concerns the person who has lived it, but an event that shakes to the very core the prisoner, her comrades, her family and her entire community. Each story represents a creative interpretation of a life lived, despite all the hardship, by a person whose heart beats with the love of her homeland and the longing for her precious freedom. Each individual narrative is also a defining moment, a conflict between the will of the prison guard and all that he represents, and the will of the prisoners and what they represent as a collective, capable, when united, of overcoming incredible odds.