Mahd Al-Mashreq Initiative issued on Orthodox Good Friday, April 10th, an updated bulletin, including a profile of Palestinian Christian prisoners held in Israeli prisons, praying for their swift release and freedom. The initiative defines itself as an Arab Palestinian Christian initiative that affirms the Arab Palestinian national and liberation identity of the Christians of the Levant as an integral and deeply rooted component of the fabric and identity of the Arab world, and its profound Christian-Islamic cultural heritage. It publishes its newsletters twice a year, during Christmas and Easter.

According to their press release, Malah Al-Ard, “believes in the pioneering and historical role of Palestinian Christians and their active participation in the Palestinian liberation struggle, which has spanned more than a century.”

The Initiative also believes in the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and to liberate themselves from occupation, and in the responsibility placed upon them (the indigenous Christians) to actively participate, with enlightened and progressive thought, in the various humanitarian issues facing their society and in shaping the present and future.”

The Mahd Al-Mashreq Initiative explained that “one of its goals is to contribute to deepening a shared societal awareness of the historical and contemporary role of Palestinian Christians within the Palestinian national liberation movement, and to empower and motivate Palestinian Christian youth to fulfill their roles and responsibilities in meeting the diverse needs of Palestinian society. It also aims to contribute to exposing the narrative of Christian Zionism by amplifying the authentic Christian voice that opposes settler colonialism and supports the Palestinian cause.”

The initiative extended its greetings to the Palestinian people, saying: “We remain hopeful in the resurrection, for just as light emerged from the darkness of the tomb, so too is our hope for freedom. Despite the ongoing genocide, apartheid, annexation, and displacement that our Palestinian people endure throughout Palestine, which has left thousands of martyrs and wounded, we especially highlight the issue of prisoners and the silent genocide they face in brutal detention centers.

“The occupation has abducted more than 9,500 Palestinian prisoners, not including those forcibly disappeared, who are subjected to various forms of its crimes, including murder, rape, starvation, and torture. The darkness of the prisons has deprived them of their families and loved ones. Furthermore, the Israeli Knesset recently approved the “Law to Execute Prisoners,” which constitutes a full-fledged war crime and a new chapter in the apartheid regime, perpetuating the crime of genocide. Yet, we remain more determined than ever to persevere and insist on freedom.”

Among the prisoners whose names appear in the booklet are: Marwan Ibrahim Ma’adi, Nael Samir Halabi, and Ramez Samir Awwad, John William Qaqish, Samer Mina Al-Arbid, Rami Rizq Fadayel, Layan Sami Nasser, Jafri Suleiman Qawwas, Cesar Basel Haddad, Raef Abdullah Khoury, the child Qais Elias Aqel, and Shadi Suhail Khoury, against whom the occupation court issued a ruling, and the Supreme Court is scheduled to consider his appeal against the conviction and ruling on April 16, 2026.

Note that the Arabic version of this list can be seen here

Following is the PDF file of the list of detainees