UN urges Israel to end mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners

Geneva [Switzerland], May 17 (ANI): The United Nations has urged Israel to abide by the international law and standards of detention in regard to the Palestinian prisoners. In a written statement, Michael Lynk, the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory under occupation, requested better and accessible health care, unrestrained family visits and an end to solitary confinement and administrative detention for Palestinian hunger strikers, reports the Anadolu news agency. Approximately 1,000 Palestinians in Israeli jails have been on a hunger strike for over a month now. "Prisoners everywhere have a right to engage in hunger strikes to protest their living conditions, and they should not be punished as a result," said Lynk's statement. "I deeply regret not having the opportunity to visit the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and to speak face-to-face with victims and witnesses of Israel's alleged violations of international humanitarian and human rights law," the statement added. Speaking on the many Palestinian prisoners in Israel, not in the occupied Palestinian territory, in violation of international humanitarian law, he said, "These transfers create significant barriers to the families of prisoners who wish to visit them, due to the difficulty of obtaining permits to enter Israel, and the often-arduous journey families must undertake to reach their relatives." According to reports, around 7,000 Palestinian, including 57 women and 300 children, are currently jailed in Israeli prisons. (ANI)