Arab League calls for investigation into Israel’s violations against Palestinian prisoners

The Arab League today called on the UN to “send an international investigative committee to the Israeli prisons to observe the violations committed against Palestinian prisoners.”

This was stated in the Arab League’s statement, at the end of its extraordinary session with the permanent representatives, chaired by Algeria, held in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli prisons.

The statement considered the prisoners’ hunger strike to be

a means to achieve their legitimate human and political rights, beginning with their right to be treated as prisoners of war, in accordance with international law. They also demand an end to their tragic and inhumane detention conditions, including being deprived of their right to visit and communicate with their families, the harassment of their families, and ending the systematic racial discrimination against them.

The Arab League also condemned, in its statement, the Israeli authorities’ “continued detention of thousands of Palestinian and Arab prisoners, including children, women, political leaders and elected representatives” and demanded their immediate release.

It also called on the international community, world governments and parliaments, and all concerned international organisations and institutions to “uphold their moral and political responsibilities” and to intervene immediately to force the Israeli government to implement international humanitarian laws.

It also urged the Arab countries, institutions and individuals to support the Arab fund for prisoners, overseen by the Arab League, approved during its 24th summit in Doha in March 2013.