FRIENDS OF PALESTINIAN DETAINEES PROJECT

Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA) launched a pilot initiative called “Friends of Palestinian Detainees,” through which they paired 12 congregations with 12 detainees. The invitation is to have human contact at an international level, new relationships with the outside world, emotional and spiritual support from international people of faith and congregations, and an opportunity to have detainees’ stories and struggles heard and treated with dignity through interpersonal care and support.

FOSNA promotes the vision of Sabeel Jerusalem, an ecumenical liberation theology movement founded by Palestinian Christians in the Holy Land, joining Friends of Sabeel chapters around the world. FOSNA amplifies the voice of Palestinians by advocating in churches, communities, and governments for justice, peace, and liberation in Palestine.

Friends of Palestinian Detainees is partially inspired by Matthew 25:35-40. 

35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

In this context, a detainee is someone who is held in administrative detention. Administrative detention is a procedure that allows Israeli soldiers to hold prisoners indefinitely on secret information without charging them or allowing them to stand trial. The secret information or evidence cannot be accessed by the detainee nor their lawyer. The court issues an administrative detention order for a maximum period of six months but can be renewed for an unlimited time. 

Oak Life Church is a friend of Layan

Oak Life Church has been paired up with Layan. You can watch her tell her story.

Layan Nasir is a Palestinian Christian from the West Bank. She was first arrested and held in administrative detention in 2021 for handing out sandwiches to students participating in a student action on campus. Layan was then violently arrested from her home by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) with guns pointed at her parents’ heads a second time in April 2024.

On May 15, 2026, Layan was released from Damon Women’s Prison after 8 months. This was her third detention.

Now reunited with her family, we are praying for peace and protection against further injustice from Israel and will have ongoing projects to support the family in this transition.

The inhumane conditions that Layan experienced at Damon Women’s Prison persist—food, hygiene, fresh air, showers, and bedding are being withheld from the women still detained there.

Layan’s desire for this project is to shed light on the severe apartheid system that exists for Palestinians and the dire conditions of the internationally illegal use of the Israeli prison system. She does not want the focus to be on her but for the collective of her fellow Palestinians.

Another one of our partner churches in the Friends of Detainee project, Trinity UCC in Concord North Carolina is paired with 16 year old Mohamed Ibrahim, and US citizen from Palm Bay Florida. You can read his story here. 

ACTION ITEMS

1. Praise God for Layan’s release and pray for peace and continued protection as she reunites with her family.

2. Pray to our just and merciful God to open the eyes of the world, particularly those of our leaders in the United States, bringing a change of heart. Pray that we would find a way to end the genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza and the apartheid regime in Israel and the occupied lands.

3. Sign the petition to encourage our city leaders and the Port Authority to block all military cargo shipments from OAK to Israel: https://armsembargonow.com/.

4. Email key US and Israel government officials to call for the release of the 70+ women and girls known to be imprisoned in the Israeli “Damon Prison” and to draw attention to the horrific conditions under which they are surviving. Use this template to email Mike Huckabee, Israeli military heads, and the Red Cross.

5. Join the worldwide campaign to save the life of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya by following these steps to demand his release:

   • Add your name to the Petition to Free Dr. Abu Safiya.

   • Watch and share the appeal from Dr. Abu Safiya's son, Elias.

   • Write directly to Israeli Military Advocate General Itai Ofi (cc: Secretary Rubio), to demand the release of Dr. Abu Safiya.

   • Call and write to decision makers. Find call scripts, letter templates, and every contact you need.

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

• Watch an update on the political prisoners

• See more reporting on Palestinian prisoners

• Browse the Resource Bank to educate yourself and others regarding the history of Colonialism, the Zionist Movement, and oppressive systems that exist for Palestinians living in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem

• Watch this interview with Rev. Munther Isaac on the responsibility of churches to name apartheid

• Explore apartheid-free resources for faith-based communities

APARTHEID-FREE COMMUNITY

Oak Life Church is an apartheid-free congregation. We are part of the Apartheid-Free Communities network and have taken the following pledge to work towards dismantling apartheid:

• We affirm our commitment to freedom, justice, and equality for the Palestinian people and all people;

• We oppose all forms of racism, bigotry, discrimination, and oppression; and

• We declare ourselves an Apartheid-free community and to that end,

• We pledge to join others in working to end all support to Israel’s Apartheid regime, settler colonialism, and military occupation.

Learn more about Israeli apartheid and take the pledge at apartheid-free.org.