PLO chief urges immediate release of Palestinian inmates in Israeli jails amid COVID-19 outbreak

Secretary General of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Saeb Erekat has called on the international community to pressure the Tel Aviv regime to immediately release Palestinian prisoners from its jails amidst rising cases of infection with a new coronavirus in the occupied territories.

Erekat made the comments in letters addressed to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, foreign ministers of the European Union, Russia, China and Britain, Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit as well as Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Yousef bin Ahmad al-Othaimeen.

He stated that Palestinian detainees suffer from a lack of basic hygiene, and Israel’s policy of deliberate medical neglect in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.

The senior Palestinian official warned against the arbitrary measures recently taken by Israeli authorities against Palestinian prisoners, stating that the inmates have been deprived of cleaning materials and sanitizers.

Such practices could result in a catastrophe for more than 5,000 Palestinian prisoners, especially those who are the most susceptible. This includes elderly prisoners, those suffering from chronic diseases, inmates with weak immune systems as well as minors, Erekat pointed out.

Rights group urges pressure on Israel to protect Palestinian prisoners amid pandemic

A UK-based rights group calls on the European governments and parliaments to put pressure on the Israeli regime to provide Palestinian prisoners with enough protection against the coronavirus pandemic.

“International law and regulations, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, demand protection of prisoners' rights in times of epidemics, and the provision of appropriate medical care and special treatment for unwell prisoners. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, urged world countries to reduce the number of their prisoners, and take all measures to release those particularly vulnerable to the virus, such as the elderly ones and those afflicted with chronic diseases,” he highlighted.

The PLO chief finally emphasized that the Israeli regime bears full legal and political responsibility for the life and health of Palestinian prisoners, calling for immediate international and humanitarian actions to save them before it is too late.

Top activist urges int’l pressure over plight of Palestinian prisoners amid pandemic

A top Palestinian activist has called for Israel to be pressured over the plight of Palestinian prisoners amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

On March 25, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates called on the Israeli regime to immediately release over 5,000 Palestinian prisoners from its detention centers amid the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Palestinian foreign ministry calls on Israel to release prisoners amid coronavirus outbreak

The Arab League has already called for the release of the prisoners from Israeli jails.

The ministry announced in a statement that the Israeli Prisons Service (IPS) is not providing proper health protection to Palestinian prisoners, as Israeli authorities have demonstrated that they have no intention of easing apartheid to make sure Palestinians are able to face the epidemic under better conditions.

Palestinian prisoners threaten hunger strike over Israeli coronavirus response

Palestinian prisoners are threatening to go on hunger strike to protest Israeli officials’ failure to enforce measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

“Israel is in violation of its obligations under international law, the Geneva Conventions and human rights principles that demand Israel, as the occupying power, … take full and direct responsibility for the life and health of the prisoners,” the statement read.

“Palestine will continue to follow up on the health conditions of the prisoners in light of the outbreak of this pandemic with the relevant international parties, especially the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC),” it added.

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