Just who are these Palestinian Hunger Strikers?

The twitterati are out in force, pushing their #palestinianheroes - the four Palestinian hunger strikers who are occasionally depriving themselves of food and water  as the latest ploy to get an increasingly cynical world to notice. Who are these men?   Well, the twitterati were hoping you didn't ask that question.

From Captain Barak Raz, in the IDF Spokeperson Unit


There are four prisoners who are currently on hunger strike - two of whom belong to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror organization. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror organization  terror network in the Jenin area is considered to be among the most dangerour terror networks in the West Bank and has been responsible for dozens of terror attacks and many more attempts that have been thwart through effective counter-terrorism. In recent months, the PIJ has been attempting to reorganize its network in the Jenin area. As a reminder, in January, thirteen members of a PIJ terror cell in the Jenin area were arrested befo carrying out a kidnapping of an Israeli civilian or soldier.  The cell was found near the Eyal Crossing, just outside the Tel Aviv greater metropolitan area. Inside the car, they had ropes, duct tape, ski-masks, knives, and a fake gun.


Jaffar Ibrahim Mohammed Az Aladin
A Palestinian Islamic Jihad operative from the Jenin area, who was detained during the week of the Gaza operation, Pillar of Defense. He was arrested for his involvement in reestablishing a PIJ terror network in the Jenin area, and has been jailed several times in the past for his involvement in terror activity.  His brother, Tarik Az Aladin, is a senior figure in the PIJ and is currently deported to the Gaza Strip as part of the Gilad Shalit exchange. From the Gaza Strip, Tarik Az Aladin has been involved with directing PIJ operatives in the West Bank.

Tarik Hussin Awad Daar Hussein 
Arrested for his involvement of reestablishing the PIJ network in the Jenin area.

The other two prisoners on hunger strike are terror operatives who have been released as part of the Gilad Shalit exchange and have been recently rearrested for returning to terror activity, therefore violating the terms of their release:

Samar Tarek Ahmed Issawi
A member of the Democratic Front of the Liberation of Palestine terror organization  in the Issawiya-Jerusalem area and belongs to a family known to be heavily involved with the terror network.  Two of his brothers have been arrested on multiple occasions for their involvement in terror activity, and his sister has been convicted of assisting with smuggling funds for the DFLP.  He is currently serving the remainder of his 26 year sentence (starting in 2002), for involvement in the DFLP, several counts of attempted murder, trafficking and possession of weaponry, and for conducting training for terror operatives.  Issawi was rearrested on July 7, 2012 for violating the terms of his release by returning to activity in the West Bank.

Iman Ismail Salame Sarawna
A Hamas  terror organization operative from the Hebron area. Originally arrested in 2002 and sentenced to 38 years for planting an explosive device that injured 18 civilians, attempted kidnapping of a soldier, and involvement in a shooting incident on soldiers. Immediately upon his release in the Gilad Shalit exchange, Sawarana returned to his involvement with Hamas and was rearrested on January 30, 2012.