EP Body Voices Support for Hunger-Striking Palestinian Prisoners

Neoklis Sylikiotis heads European Parliament mission to Palestine.

Brussels, 29 Rajab 1438/26 April 2017 (MINA) — The European Parliament’s Delegation for relations with Palestine expressed its support Tuesday to the hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails as they enter their eighth day of protest for the respect of their human rights and dignity.

KUNA quoted Delegation Chair Neoklis Sylikiotis as saying in a statement “Palestinian prisoners’ rights are already being violated under international law by their transfer out of Palestinian territory to jails in Israel – this is a clear violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.”

“Further, prisoners are being punished by being deprived of their family visits; they suffer medical negligence and are subject to administrative detention on secret evidence without charge or trial, for indefinite periods. This in itself is a form of psychological torture,” he said.

Sylikiotis called on EU High Representative Federica Mogherini to insist in any dialogue with Israel that all the Palestinian political prisoners and all the Palestinian children being held illegally be immediately released, that Palestinian prisoners must be held within the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and that their human right to a fair trial be respected.

Palestinian strike leader Marwan Barghouti sent a message to the Delegation in which he said the prisoners confirm their decision to strike regardless of the sacrifice, suffering and pain. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)