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The Mission of the State of Palestine would like to share this briefing with you, published to raise awareness of the plight of Palestinian political prisoners.

Since the onset of the occupation, Israel has practised the widespread arrest and arbitrary detention of Palestinians, including minors, as a tool to oppress the people of Palestine.  The practice is based on a distorted system of military laws and racist legislation that imposes itself as a force above the rule of international law.

The occupying power, Israel, have also adopted policies of repression, deprivation, and persecution against Palestinian prisoners in violation of all international and humanitarian laws.

This persecution continues despite the spread of Covid-19.  Since March, the Israeli occupying forces have so far arrested 357 Palestinians, including 48 children and 4 Women. And since the beginning of 2020, nearly 1324 Palestinians were arrested, including 210 children and 31 women.

The report outlines:

• The WHO, the Office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and other groups have called for a release of prisoners, with Michelle Bachelet saying “release every person detained without sufficient legal basis, including political prisoners, and those detained for critical, dissenting views.” In response, Israel released 500 Israeli criminals and gave them a monetary allowance, but tightened control over Palestinian political prisoners and suspended all family visits and any direct contact with their lawyers and without providing an alternative.

• Israel has been tightening its control over approximately 5,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 180 children, 41 female prisoners, 6 legislative council members, 430 administrative detainees, and 700 sick prisoners comprising more than 200 with chronic diseases that need comprehensive care.

• Palestinian prisoners have expressed their deep concern and fear over the spread of COVID-19 inside prisons which are not maintained to adequate hygiene standards and which do not offer prompt and thorough medical care.

International Accountability is Obligatory to Compel Israel to Fulfil its Commitments as an Arresting Authority and to Save the Prisoners’ Lives.

In light of Israel’s evasion of compliance with the provisions of international humanitarian law, the State of Palestine renews its demands to the United Nations bodies, the Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions, and the UN Special Rapporteurs, to immediately assume their responsibilities and to pressure Israel to fulfil its duties as an arresting authority. It also calls upon the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to communicate effectively with Palestinian prisoners to ensure providing them with means of communication with their families and lawyers. 

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