“Israeli” Occupation Arrested 750,000 Palestinian Detainees Since 1967

Local Editor

The Palestinian Ministry of Detainees and Ex-Detainees on Friday said that "Israeli" occupation forces have arrested 750,000 Palestinian since the occupation of Palestinian territories in June 1967, wrote Mohammad Mari of the Arab News.

On the occasion of the Palestinian Prisoner Day, the ministry said in its report there were 70,000 prisoners during the second Intifada that broke up in September 2000. It added that the number included 8,000 children and dozens of Palestinian legislators and former ministers. The report said that the "Israeli" security forces also targeted women, elderly men, teenagers, laborers, and heads of union, politicians, security personnel and disabled.

According to the report, "Israeli" currently holds some 6,000 Palestinians in 17 prisons and detention camps in "Israel" and in the West Bank. There are 300 prisoners under the age of 18. "Israel" also holds 37 women and 12 legislators.

The ministry said that the "Israeli" prison authority is barring Palestinian prisoners, and mainly those in solitary confinement, from family visits, access to education, telephones and satellite channels. The prison authority, the minister said, blocks the entry of clothes into prisons and imposes financial fines on prisoners.

It added that the prisoners are detained in jails dating back to the British Mandate period (1922-1948), which is lacking in modern-day infrastructure or gender-sensitive health care. The prisons are humid, unhygienic, deprived of natural sunlight and overcrowded.
The report said that 202 prisoners died since 1967 including 51 due to medical negligence, 70 due to torture, 74 due to liquidation after arrest and 7 were shot dead by Israeli prisons' guards.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian preachers in Palestinian territories dedicated the Friday sermons for the issue of Palestinian prisoners.

Palestinian preachers on Friday condemned the US veto against the draft resolution condemning continued Israeli settlement activities in Palestinian territories.
The preachers said the Palestinian people and leadership "will not forget the issue of freedom's prisoners."

They added that the Palestinian leadership "cannot reach a peace agreement with Israel before releasing all prisoners from all jails."

According to the preachers, the rival Palestinian movements of Fatah and Hamas "have to reach a unity deal and strengthen the steadfastness of Palestinian people to face the "Israeli" policies."