Anonymous strikes in defense of Palestinian hunger strikers

Anonymous hacks UN site for “ignoring” Palestinian hunger strikers
9 May, 2012 – Al Akhbar

Hacktivist group Anonymous took down the main website of the UN on Wednesday after accusing the world body of “ignoring” the plight of several Palestinian hunger strikers protesting their detention without trial by Israel.

Anonymous announced on Twitter that they had taken down the site, which had returned to full operation as this article was written.

The group said the attack was aimed at raising international awareness on the fate of the hunger strikers, some of whom are nearing death, “because ignorance is not a bliss!”

The growing campaign for the hunger strikers came as Aziz Halahleh, father of 72-day hunger striker Thaer, condemned international organizations purporting to support the detained Palestinians as a “propaganda” stunt.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Tuesday called on Israel to transfer six Palestinians hunger strikers to hospital and allow visits from their families, while the EU “expressed concern” over their fate.

“The calls of the EU and the Red Cross – their demands to allow them to visit the families – are just a plot with the occupation,” he told Al-Akhbar.

“It is propaganda more than actual action to help the strikers, it is only a media game. Europe and all the other countries are interfering to help Israel and not to help Palestinians,” he added.

Over 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails began an open-ended hunger strike on 17 April 2012, in solidarity with Thaer, Bilal Thiab and other hunger strikers.

Aziz dismissed Israeli accusations his son, who is protesting against his detention without charge under Israel’s draconian administrative detention laws, was a criminal.

The medical condition of Thaer – who has a one-year-old daughter he has never seen outside of prison – is rapidly deteriorating and he could suffer organ failure in the coming days, according to Physicians for Human Rightsl.

“Our children (on hunger strike) are fighting for the freedom of our country and for the freedom of our children, they are not criminals,” Aziz said.

“We are very concerned about his health and we are not allowed to visit them. They are not allowed to get any treatment or freedom whatsoever,” he added. …more