OIC calls for intl. pressure on Israel to free Palestinian prisoners amid COVID-19 pandemic
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has called on the United Nations (UN) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to pressure the Israeli regime into releasing Palestinian inmates with chronic health issues amid the novel coronavirus pandemic in the occupied territories.
The General Secretariat of the 57-member international organization, in a statement released on Monday, expressed deep concern over the health conditions of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention centers, especially after reports revealed that some of them had contracted the potentially deadly respiratory disease.
The OIC then held the Tel Aviv regime “responsible for the lives of thousands of Palestinian prisoners,” stating that Israeli authorities continue arbitrary measures against the detainees and deprive them of their basic rights, including their right to appropriate medical treatment.
The organization urged all concerned international parties, particularly the UN and the ICRC, to compel Israel to free all Palestinian prisoners with chronic health problems, aged inmates, minor and female detainees as well as those being held in Israeli prisons under administrative detention.
Administrative detention is a form of imprisonment without trial or charge that allows Israeli authorities to incarcerate Palestinians for up to six months, which could be extended for an infinite number of times.
The OIC also called on world bodies to ensure that the human rights of all Palestinian prisoners are protected and that no violations are committed against them.
Separately, Israeli military forces arrested six Palestinians during separate overnight operations across the occupied West Bank on Tuesday.
The rights group Palestinian Prisoners' Society said Israeli troops raided the Christian town of Beit Jala, located 10 kilometers (six miles) south of Jerusalem al-Quds, and violently ransacked the family house of 62-year-old Nicola Rizqallah and his son Shibli, 33, before taking them away to an unknown location.
Israeli soldiers also stormed Jalazone refugee camp and detained three Palestinians there.
Moreover, a 50-year-old Palestinian was detained in al-Shuyukh town.
More than 7,000 Palestinian prisoners are currently being held in some 17 Israeli jails, with dozens of them serving multiple life sentences.
Over 500 detainees are under the so-called administrative detention in various Israeli prisons. Some prisoners have been held in that condition for up to 11 years without any charges being brought against them.
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