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Ahmad Sa'adat احمد سعدات | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1953 al-Bireh, West Bank, Palestine |
| Nationality | Palestinian |
| Political orientation | Marxism–Leninism |
| Political party | PFLP |
Ahmad Sa'adat is the General Secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. He joined the group in 1969 and became General Secretary after the murder of Abu Ali Mustafa by Zionist forces in 2001. In response to the murder of Abu Ali Mustafa the PFLP assassinated Fascist "Israeli" minister Rehavam Ze'evi. After this, Sa'adat was imprisoned by the Palestinian Authority from 2002 to 2006 and by Israeli authorities since then.[1][2]
Early Life and PFLP 1953-2000
Ahmad Sa'adat was born in al-Bireh a city close to Ramallah, in the illegally occupied West Bank. In 1969 he joined the Marxist-Leninist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. He graduated from a UNRWA college in 1975. Prior to 2001 he was imprisoned repeatedly by Israel.[2]
Rise to Prominence 2000-2001
By 2000 Ahmad Sa'adat was a prominent public figure in the PFLP. On August 27, 2001 Abu Ali Mustafa, then General Secretary, was murdered in a targeted assassination by Israeli occupation forces. Quickly after, Sa'adat became General Secretary, and the armed wing of the PFLP was renamed the Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades. On October 17, 2001 Fascist Israeli minister and advocate of ethnic displacement Rehavam Ze'evi was assassinated at the Hyatt Regency hotel by 3 members of the PFLP.[3][2]
Imprisonment 2002-present
After the killing of Ze'evi, the collaborator government in the Palestinian Authority imprisoned Sa'adat in Jericho prison in 2002, where he was monitered by Western forces. In 2006 he was elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council from prison. Hamas, the party that won that election, vowed to free Sa'adat from prison. On March 14, 2006 Israeli forces invaded the prison Sa'adat was held in and kidnapped him and other political prisoners as part of Operation Bring Home the Goods.[2] He was tried by an illegal military court and sentenced to 30 years in prison for his leadership role in the PFLP.[4] He has been put into solitary confinement and transferred between prisons several times, including one transfer from Ramon prison on October 1, 2023.[5]
Efforts to free Ahmad Sa'adat
Ahmad Sa'adat was part of hostage negotiations for the captured Israeli Occupation soldier Gilat Shalit in 2011.[2] In January 2023, CodePink, a Socialist and Feminist Anti-War group, organized a petition calling for the freedom of Sa'adat.[6] Ahmad Sa'adat's freedom has been demanded as part of hostage negotiations in the current Israeli genocide in Gaza.[7]
References
- ↑ Hannah Priscilla (2022-01-23). "Brooklyn rally demands Israel release Palestinian political prisoner" Liberation News. Archived from the original on 2022-05-23. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Robert Inlakesh (2023-12-27). "Palestinian Leaders in Israeli Prisons: Who Is Ahmad Sa’adat?" Palestine Chronicle.
- ↑ Betsy Reed (2001-10-17). "Israeli minister assassinated" The Guardian.
- ↑ "Interview with Ahmad Saadat: Leading from Prison, Ending Negotiations, and Rebuilding the Resistance" (2014). Palestine Studies.
- ↑ "Samidoun-Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network" (2023-10-1). Occupation forces storm Ramon prison; transfer Ahmad Sa’adat and 90 fellow Palestinian prisoners.
- ↑ "Free Ahmad Sa'adat!" (2023-1-14). Codepink.
- ↑ "Live updates | Hamas is expected to respond soon to a proposal that includes hostage releases" (2024-2-2). Associated Press.