GUE/NGL MEPs have today condemned Israel's use of interment without trial as a weapon against Palestine as they join with activists from all over the world to mark the International day of Solidarity with Palestinian political prisoners.

Since 1967, over 800,000 Palestinians have been detained and today over 6200 Palestinians remain in Israeli jails.

The group also called for the immediate release of all imprisoned political leaders and members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC).

“13 members of the PLC are currently being detained by Israel,” said Irish MEP Martina Anderson. “And the recent shocking arrest of Khalida Jarrar is Israel's latest act of oppression against the Palestinian people and their democratic rights.”

Anderson, Chair of the EP's Delegation for relations with the PLC, continued: “A Palestinian leader, parliamentarian and a feminist, Khalida Jarrar has long fought for Palestinian prisoners and their rights. Now, just months after an Israeli military court tried to forcibly transfer her from her home in Ramallah to Jericho, she too has found herself behind bars for committing no crime whatsoever.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms Israel's use of administrative detention as a way of silencing any kind of resistance to the occupation.”

GUE/NGL MEPs also highlight that transferring prisoners from the occupied territories into Israel is a clear violation of the Geneva Convention, as is Israel's repeated use of solitary confinement and isolation against Palestinian prisoners. Israel's imprisonment of women and children and the treatment of Palestinians in detention is deplorable and must be condemned by the international community.

GUE/NGL Press Contacts:
Emily Macintosh +32 470 85 05 08
Gay Kavanagh +32 473 84 23 20
European United Left / Nordic Green Left
European Parliamentary Group