Hamas movement called on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) today, Saturday, to guarantee the rights of Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli occupation prisons, based on the Geneva Conventions and their additional protocols.
The movement explained in its statement that the prisoners suffer from practices described as “war crimes,” including physical and psychological torture and medical neglect, in addition to starvation and deprivation of water and medicine.
Hamas confirmed that the testimonies received from the released prisoners about their exposure to abuse before their release and until the last moments of their release reveal the extent of the violations, which represent a clear violation of international laws regarding the treatment of prisoners.
The movement called on the ICRC to intensify its efforts in following up on the conditions of the prisoners and transferring the reports it monitors to the relevant international bodies to ensure respect for their rights in accordance with international humanitarian law.
The movement stated that the ongoing crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people and their prisoners reflect its nature that contradicts international laws and human values, stressing that this reality increases its adherence to the path of resistance and work towards ending the occupation and establishing the Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
In a related context, the ICRC previously expressed its dissatisfaction with the conditions of the release of Palestinian prisoners, highlighting Israel’s practices towards them, such as forcing them to raise their hands tied behind their heads, which was described as “painful and inhumane treatment.”
The testimonies of the released prisoners were consistent with their apparent health conditions, as signs of malnutrition and weight loss were evident in most of the prisoners included in the recent exchange batches.
Earlier, the Euro-Mediterranean Observatory for Human Rights commented on the worsening health conditions of freed Palestinian prisoners and detainees, stating that it highlights how Israel has turned its prisons into centers of systematic torture, likening them to “graves for the living.”
On January 19, a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and Israeli occupation went into effect in three stages, each lasting 42 days. During the first, negotiations were held to start the second and third stages, with the mediation of Qatar and Egypt and the support of the United States.
