The Palestinian Prisoner’s Day that falls on 17 April is commemorated this year, amidst a brutal campaign by Israeli occupation authorities against the whole Palestinian people, against the freedom fighters held captive in Israeli jails.
It is estimated that there are over 4,400 POWs still in Israeli occupation’s prisons, including 33 women and girls, about 160 children under the age of 18, and over 500 administrative detainees, including 8 elected MPs. At least 600 POWs suffer from terminal or serious illness, such as cancer, and partial or total paralysis. The Israeli treatment of Palestinian POWs and administrative detainees may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity if properly investigated by ICC.
Israel continues to deny Palestinian POWs and detainees their basic rights guaranteed by international conventions and norms, and continue its repressive measures and practices that include solitary confinement, torture and the use of force that has escalated significantly since the escape of 6 Palestinian POWs from the high-security prison center of Gilboa.
