Solidarity with the Palestinian political prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli jails
Today marks one month since around 1500 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails started a hunger strike, protesting the denial by Israeli authorities to respect basic rights, enshrined in international law, like access to medical care, against the torture and other forms of violence they endure and for the right to receive family visits, amongst other demands.
At a moment when, given the duration of their protest, faced with the inflexibility of the Israeli Authorities, the health of these prisoners further deteriorates, we divulge a statement in “Solidarity with the Palestinian political prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli jails” cosigned by peace movement organizations from several countries, demanding the respect for the rights and the liberation of these political prisoners.
The statement:
Solidarity with the Palestinian political prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli jails
The undersigned organizations demand the respect for the rights and the release of all Palestinian political prisoners from Israeli jails, and state their heartfelt solidarity and strong concern for the health and well-being of the estimated 1500 of these prisoners on hunger strike since last April 17th.
The mass hunger strike, started on the International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners in Israeli jails, is a protest against their unjust imprisonment and the inhumane conditions they are subjected to.
Over one million Palestinians have passed through Israeli jails since the beginning of the occupation, around 6500 are presently detained including political leaders and elected members of the Palestinian Legislative Council, 400 of these prisoners are under eighteen years old, 300 are being held without any charges, many have been imprisoned for decades.
Denouncing once more the policy of occupation, colonization, ethnic cleansing and terrorism by the State of Israel against the Palestinian people, with the support of US imperialism and EU complicity, we restate the Palestinian people’s sovereign right to constituting their independent and sovereign state, within the borders prior to the 1967 war, with its capital in East Jerusalem and the respect of the refugees’ right to return, according to the United Nations’ Resolution 194
Signatory Organizations:
All India Peace and Solidarity Organization
Belgrade Forum for a World of Equals – Serbia
Brazilian Centre for Solidarity with Peoples and Struggle for Peace
Czech Peace Movement
Forum Against the War – Italy
INTAL – Belgium
Peace and Neutrality Alliance – Ireland
Portuguese Council for Peace and Cooperation
South African Peace Initiative
Swiss Peace Movement
United States Peace Council
Civic Association Soldiers Against War - Czech Republic
Association for the Defense of Peace, Solidarity and Democracy - Iran
British Peace Assembly
Romanian Peace Council
Mexican Movement for Peace