DaysofPal— Dozens of Palestinians gathered on Monday in Gaza City to protest in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons, amid growing concerns over escalating violations and deteriorating conditions inside Israeli prisons.
The demonstration, organized by the Committee for Prisoners’ Affairs affiliated with national and Islamic factions, was held outside the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Participants included families of prisoners, former detainees, and representatives of Palestinian factions.
Protesters raised photos of imprisoned Palestinians and prominent prisoner leaders, alongside banners calling for international protection and the repeal of Israel’s recently approved death penalty law for prisoners.
Demonstrators chanted slogans expressing continued support, vowing to stand by detainees until their release.
Participants urged the International Committee of the Red Cross to intensify prison visits, monitor detainees’ conditions closely, and ensure their protection.
They also called on international and human rights organizations to take responsibility for exposing alleged abuses and pressuring for their cessation.
During the protest, Mahmoud al-Ladawi, a representative of the national and Islamic factions and a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, General Command, described the situation as a “dangerous escalation” that violates international law.
He stated that the demonstration aimed to reaffirm solidarity with prisoners who, he said, have made significant sacrifices for their people.
Al-Ladawi warned that current policies targeting prisoners form part of a broader campaign against Palestinian rights but would not succeed in breaking their resolve.
He called for immediate international intervention to halt violations and secure the prisoners’ release, citing practices such as repression, torture, denial of medical care, and restrictions on family visits as clear breaches of international conventions.
Separately, Wissam Salem, speaking on behalf of prisoners’ families, said the protest sought to “raise the voice” about the suffering of detainees. She noted that families continue to live between hope and fear due to the harsh conditions faced by their relatives.
Salem criticized the death penalty law approved by the Israeli parliament, arguing that sentencing detained individuals to death constitutes a grave violation of human rights and international law.
She also highlighted the broader impact on families, including visitation bans and constant anxiety over the fate of their loved ones. Inside prisons, she said, detainees face shortages of food, medicine, and basic necessities such as clothing and blankets.
Salem called on international and humanitarian organizations to step up efforts to monitor conditions, ensure the delivery of essential supplies, and safeguard prisoners’ rights, warning that continued international silence risks enabling further abuses.
According to official figures, more than 9,600 Palestinian prisoners are currently held in Israeli prisons, including approximately 350 children and 86 women.
Rights groups report that many face torture, starvation, and medical neglect, with dozens of deaths recorded in custody.
Human rights reports from Palestinian and Israeli organizations have warned of intensifying abuse campaigns against prisoners, particularly since October 2023, coinciding with the ongoing war in Gaza.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=74208
