RAMALLAH, The State of Palestine warned against Israel’s retaliatory measures and crimes against Palestinian detainees, including actions amounting to torture, and calls for immediate intervention by the international community and international organizations to ensure their protection, today said a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates.
“Israel’s decision to impose additional forms of collective punishment on the 4600 Palestinians it unlawfully detains, including women and children, as well as their families, exacerbate the conditions of their illegal and inhumane incarceration. It is an outrageous and unacceptable indignity that is utterly incompatible with its obligations under international law, said the statement.
The escalation of crimes against Palestinian detainees is rooted in Israel’s discriminatory military courts that are widely recognized to be a stain on the principles of justice as they do not meet any standards of fairness or due process. Israel’s military court system is illegal and inhumane by definition and must be dismantled, it said.
“The State of Palestine holds Israel, the occupying Power, fully responsible for the health and well-being of Palestinian detainees, including, Zakaria Zubeidi, Mahmoud Abdullah Ardah, Muhammad Qassem Ardah, Yacoub Mahmoud Qadri, Ayham Nayef Kammaji and Munadil Yaqoub Infaat.” Palestinian detainees have long suffered Israel’s notorious criminal actions, including systematic and widespread torture and other cruel treatment. They must receive the protections and safeguards to which they are entitled.
The international community and international organizations, including United Nations Security Council, must ensure and uphold Palestinian detainees’ right to life and the highest attainable standards of living. The State of Palestine also calls on the ICRC and the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligations and protect Palestinian detainees, said the ministry.
The Palestinian struggle is marked by our people’s relentless persistence for freedom. We salute our detainees and their courage, determination, and spirit of resistance and steadfastness. We will work tirelessly to ensure their freedom, the statement concluded
Source: Palestinian News & Info Agenc