Palestinian Prisoners Day: A day of collective remembrance and solidarity

April 17th marks Palestinian Prisoners Day. A day of collective remembrance and solidarity with the thousands of Palestinians who have been imprisoned by Israel as part of a broader system of settler-colonial control. It highlights the central role imprisonment plays in the ongoing attempt to repress and erase Palestinian resistance, to de-develop and stifle Palestinian life and society. 

This year’s commemoration takes place against the backdrop of Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza and mass displacement in the West Bank, where mass arrests continue to be used as a tool to criminalise Palestinian existence and to suppress both advocacy and expressions of solidarity, including that shared across social media.

To mark the day, Makan is hosting an online mini-lecture, The Cage and the Spoon: Imprisonment & Prisoners’ Resistance in Palestine. The session will explore the use of imprisonment as a settler-colonial strategy from the early 20th century to the present, and centre the ongoing resistance efforts led by Palestinian prisoners and wider civil society.

If you’re interested in deepening your understanding of imprisonment in the context of Palestine and the vital role of prisoners’ resistance, we invite you to join us for this important conversation. You can also learn more about Palestinian Prisoners Day by checking out our interactive explainer here.