Calls for international community to save jailed Palestinian MPs

Ahrar Centre for Prisoners Studies and Human Rights renewed its calls for international organisations and governments to save 22 Palestinian MPs and two ministers who have been detained by Israel, statement said on Thursday.

All the MPs, including parliamentary speaker Aziz Duwaik, were arrested without having charge.

The MPs, who are affiliate to a number of Palestinian factions including Fatah, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Hamas, were freely elected in 2006.

Former Minister of Prisoners’ Affairs Wasfi Qabha is among the group being held by Israel. While others, including Fatah’s Marwan Barghouti and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine’s Ahmed Sa’adat, have been in Israeli jails since before they were elected.

The Ahrar centre’s Director Fu’ad Al-Khuffash said Israel is using the ministers are a means of pressure on certain political parties. He considered this part of a campaign to deplete the MPs’ power.

“And this is what the Israeli occupation is doing with all the Palestinian prisoners,” Al-Khuffash said.