The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) said that on the morning of June 15, occupation authorities arrested Ibrahim Abu Hijleh, a member of both the DFLP Politburo and the Palestinian National Council. The Palestinian leader had languished in Zionist jails for 10 years before being released through a prisoner exchange that took place only eight months ago.

The official spokesman of the Democratic Front said the Israeli border patrol and security forces surrounded the Monjed neighborhood in Ramallah, cut communications lines and imposed a curfew to create an atmosphere of terror in the area. Later they burst into the home of the DFLP leader to arrest him.

According to the spokesperson, this arrest is part of Israel’s aggression against the Palestinian people and is a desperate attempt to break the will of the people and their leaders, especially the outstanding role played by Abu Hijleh in national political struggles and in campaigns supporting prisoners.

The spokesperson also said that Abu Hijleh suffers from several ailments due to long years of detention and medical negligence on the part of his Israeli jailers. He placed the blame for Hijleh’s deteriorating health on the occupation authorities, who were responsible for subjecting the Palestinian leader to repeated physical assaults. According to the spokesperson, the Democratic Front will not remain silent about this abuse and the physical assaults; the organization is calling on international and humanitarian organizations to intervene and exert pressure on the Zionist government to respect international laws and agreements.

Central Information Office
Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine
June 16, 2012