RAMALLAH, Ramzi Khoury, Head of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs, called today on the international community and human rights institutions to immediately intervene to protect the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, and to press the Israeli occupation government to implement previously reached understandings regarding the prisoners’ issue.

In a press statement, Khoury denounced the measures taken by the Israel Prison Service against the prisoners, including strict solitary confinement of many of them and the confiscation of electrical appliances from the rooms in several sections in the various prisons.

“The occupation government is not satisfied with depriving thousands of families of their children, but continues its arrogance against our heroic prisoners, torturing them and imposing penalties and arbitrary measures against them,” said Khoury.

He noted that the Israeli measures against the prisoners violate the Third Geneva Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners, Articles 46 and 48 of which provide for the need to provide a safe environment in the event of a transfer of prisoners and the need to inform them in advance of their transfer. Khoury added that Article 3 of the Convention prohibits attacks on life, physical integrity and personal dignity.

Earlier today, Presidential Spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said President Mahmoud Abbas was following with great interest and concern the unprecedented crackdown by the Israeli occupation authorities on the Palestinian freedom fighters in the Israeli prisons.

He said the President instructed Palestine’s ambassadors around the world, particularly in international organizations, to launch a wide range campaign to expose the crimes committed against the freedom fighters, which is in contradiction with the most basic human rights and all international laws.

Source: Palestine News & Info Agency