Arab Parliament calls for 'an end to the suffering' of Palestinian security detainees
Ahram Online, , Monday 24 Apr 2017
Under the slogan of "Freedom and Dignity", 1,500 Palestinian security detainees in Israeli prisons started a hunger strike on 17 April protesting their mistreatment by authorities


The Arab Parliament issued a call on Monday urging the Arab and international communities to "put an end to the suffering of Palestinian detainees", following news of a large-scale hunger strike in Israeli prisons.

The statement called on international organizations, including the United Nations, to pressure Israel to abide by international law regarding the rights of Palestinian security detainees, many of whom have been on hunger strike for over a week.

Declaring the slogan "Freedom and Dignity", 1,500 Palestinians in Israeli prisons started a hunger strike on 17 April protesting abuse at the hands of authorities.

The strikers are calling for an end to arbitrary detention, the release of minors, an end to solitary confinement, and the right to proper health care, education, family visits.

In it's statement on Monday, the Arab Parliament requested that fact-finding committees be sent to inspect the conditions of Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons and to exert pressure for their release.

The statement also condemned the ongoing arbitrary detention of Palestinians and the arrest of Palestinian minors.

"Israel continues its assaults on the Palestinian people ... through killing, detention and land appropriation," the statement said.

The call for the hunger strike was made by Marwan Barghouti, secretary general of the Fatah movement, who has been in prison since 2002 and is serving five life sentences.

Barghouti was placed in solitary confinement last week. The strike was also supported by solidarity marches in the West Bank and Gaza, drawing tens of thousands of supporters.


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