Letters from Anan Yaeesh, Palestinian refugee detained in Terni

Letters from Anan Yaeesh

Anan Yaeesh is a Palestinian political refugee detained in Terni on charges of terrorism. 

Israel had requested his extradition to serve a life sentence. Italy refused the extradition but is still prosecuting him, in violation of international law, which recognizes the right to resist military occupation under Article 1.4 of the Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions.

Moreover, the court in L’Aquila rejected defense witnesses, including the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Palestine, Francesca Albanese, and Amnesty International.

However, testimony from the Shin Bet—Israel’s secret service known for its systematic use of torture—has been admitted.

From prison, Anan has written several letters: we decided to publish them on our website.

Letter dated September 24, 2024

To all Palestinians in this world. On every land and under every sky, there in the West Bank of resistance, there in Gaza of pride, there within the occupied territories, and there in refugee camps and the diaspora. To you, who have tested the limits of patience and before whom dignity bows, I say: do not grieve and do not despair, for by God, after hardship comes relief, and after patience comes victory. And know that every Palestinian in this world is a resistor. A resistor is not only the one who carries a weapon, but you are a resistor if you breathe, you are a resistor if you paint, you are a resistor if you write, you are a resistor if you dream. Simply being Palestinian makes you a resistor.

Do not think that this terrorist government led by Benjamin Netanyahu and the Nazi Ben Gvir only kills Palestinian fighters who take up arms! They also kill infants, the elderly, women, and children—even trees and stones do not escape their barbarism.

They want to eliminate the Palestinian people because they know you are the only free people in this enslaved world—but they are wrong. We never end: if one of us dies, ten are born in his place, and we are all resistance.

They appear on their channels and in their false media to portray the Palestinian resistor as a terrorist and to depict resistance as terrorism. I swear by God, you are mistaken and you have failed. We tell you that the women of the world can no longer give birth to anyone like the Palestinian resistor—he who sacrifices his youth and life for his homeland and his people. He who fears neither death nor prison, walks with his head held high, feet on the ground and head in the sky, proud as the mountains, with his eyes fixed on Al-Aqsa. And when he goes, he goes with courage, never in flight.

A Palestinian who withholds his soul and blood from Palestine has no right to be called Palestinian and no right to be buried in his land soaked with the blood of martyrs. The land will reject him—he will find neither warmth nor comfort, neither in life nor after death.

The organized Israeli terrorism, defeated in its battle in Gaza and the West Bank, now shifts towards Lebanon. Although it has caused death, destruction, and the displacement of thousands, it remains defeated in the face of the unbreakable determination of a people who will not bow. Its next target will likely be Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Yemen, in an attempt to realize the illusion of a greater state. However, with God’s help, this will mark the beginning of the end for this occupying regime.

Where are you, leaders of the Arab world? Where are the commanders of the armies who boast each year of the strength of their men, their weapons, and their planes? If we had just a quarter of the resources you possess, we would have not only liberated Palestine, but the entire world. But where are you? I do not ask you in the name of your religion, for it seems it no longer exists. But has the pride and honor that once distinguished your ancestors also disappeared? Is there anything left that can still move you?

I swear you will all be questioned about the blood spilled in Palestine and about the children killed, on a day when you will not be able to escape questioning. I do not weep for those who preceded us in martyrdom, for they have achieved a great victory—they believed in God and kept their promises. We pray that God reunites us with them in Paradise and honors them in the afterlife as they honored us in life.

We ask God to raise their rank in the hereafter, as they raised ours in this life, for they are the true guardians of dignity and sacrifice. They are the ones who lit the path after a long period of darkness.

We pray to God for the freedom of our brave prisoners in the jails of the Israeli occupation, for the healing of the wounded, and that He grants patience and comfort to the hearts of our people in Palestine and Lebanon. A salute to those hands that hold the trigger despite all suffering and challenges. And shame on those who watch without acting, devoid of mercy and humanity toward Palestine and its children. May all the women of the earth weep if the women of Palestine cannot rejoice.

A salute and great respect to the free men and women of the world, especially to the Italian people, who challenge all difficulties and break the silence to let the voice of freedom and the oppressed be heard, giving lessons in humanity and saying “enough” to the tyrant.

How could you not, when you yourselves resisted the Nazi and fascist occupation on this very land for years?

A tribute of deep respect to the voice of truth and the beacon of justice, Al Jazeera, which has always been the voice of the people and in support of the oppressed, unafraid of criticism. May God sustain you as a voice for Palestine and resistance.

Long live free and Arab Palestine!

Long live Palestine, its land and its people!

Long live the resistance—may God sustain it!

Glory and immortality to our noble martyrs!

Freedom for the prisoners of freedom!

A speedy recovery to our brave wounded!

O Palestinian people, I say nothing but what Allah, the Almighty, said in the Holy Qur’an:

104. “Do not lose heart in pursuing these people. If you are suffering, they are also suffering just as you are, but you expect from Allah what they do not expect. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.”

Anan Kamal Yaeesh

Letter dated May 9, 2024

Dear friend,

I should explain something to you. Today I am in an Italian prison because they want to show Israel that Italians are on their side—with Israel—so what’s happening is not normal.

For example, in 2005 when I was a child, I was arrested in an American and British prison because I was part of the Al-Aqsa Brigades. Israel tried to kill me four times for this reason. I was arrested again in 2006 and was expelled from Palestine in 2013 for the same reason. Israel made the same request in Norway in 2015, and for that same reason I came to Italy, sought asylum, and was granted it—because I’m part of the Al-Aqsa Brigades.

I was arrested in Jordan last year for the same reason, and now Italy has arrested me again for the same reasons.

So nothing new—but it's political, just to show that Israel has been after me for a long time, not just now, and I know, I’m sure, that whether I’m released or stay in prison for a few years and then get out, Israel will never stop, they won’t give up until they kill me.

And that’s the message they are sending me, but of course, they won’t talk about it on TV or in public.

And the Italian police know this. They are 100% sure that Ali and Mansour are just my friends. They did nothing and knew nothing, but they were arrested only so that the police could say they arrested a group of terrorists, not just Anan, the one Israel wants.

So my life is no secret—people may not know me, but every police force in every country knows me very well. It’s just a political game.

But, as I said before, I will never give up until we have our freedom—for Palestine and the Palestinians—because my life and everything I have belongs to Palestine. Palestine always deserves more.

Thank you, my dear, and thank you to everyone who supports us. Yes, Flavio told me that on April 30, a group of people came to court to support me. And as you surely know, Israel’s request was denied, but it's just a game between them.

But now, my court hearing will be public, not like before. So anyone can enter and watch. I’d love to see you there. Of course, I’ll be on camera, but I’ll be able to see everything.

Thank you all for your strength and positive words; and it’s true—we will never be terrorists, because resistance is an act of love. And I, who love life more than anyone else, would rather die to win the freedom of my people—to see all Palestinian children go to school without fear, to see all girls walk the streets without fear. So yes, I love my life. I have many dreams, like everyone else. I have many feelings in my heart. I want to live in peace and have a family. But Palestine comes first—before everything, even before my life.

Dear friend, once again thank you for everything, and I hope I can make you and all who are with you happy one day.

With all my best wishes and a big hug,

Your friend,

Anan Yaeesh

Palestine for Palestine