Gaza: Ministry of Prisoner Affairs praises Ban Ki-moon's call for the release of all Palestinian prisoners

The Ministry of Prisoners and Former Prisoners in the Gaza Strip has praised the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, for calling on the Israeli occupation to release all Palestinian prisoners being currently held in its jails.

In a press release, the Ministry’s undersecretary, Mohammed Ketri, said that although this was a belated call, it is nonetheless an important step in the right direction. Its significance stems from the fact that the UN Secretary General is an international figure who has prestige, weight and symbolism. Ketri stressed that for this step to become a reality, there is also a need to exert effort; to work on and pressure the Israeli government.

Ketri noted that there are positive indicators of a change in the international position towards Palestinian prisoners suffering in Israeli jails as well as in the international community’s policy.

He however pointed out that there was still considerable ‘bias’ in favour of the Israeli occupation, saying that the international community’s silence and pro-Israel stance encourages Israel to persist in its crimes and to continue to violate international conventions. The Minister pointed out that; “If the international community wants to free Shalit, it should also demand freedom for the thousands of Palestinian prisoners who are being subjected to all forms of abuse and torture in the Occupation’s prisons”.