Situation of Palestinian political prisoners – NAM statement

CHAIR OF

THE COORDINATING BUREAU

OF THE NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT

Communiqué of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)

on the Situation of Palestinian Political Prisoners

1. The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) calls for urgent attention to the grave situation of Palestinian political prisoners being detained and imprisoned by Israel, the occupying Power, in blatant breach of the 4^th Geneva Convention, which is applicable to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. In this regard, the Movement recalls its “Declaration on Palestinian Political Prisoners”, adopted by the XVI NAM Ministerial Conference held in Bali, Indonesia, in May 2011.

2. NAM expresses its serious concern about the thousands of Palestinian prisoners partaking in the hunger strike that began on 27 September 2011, in protest of intensifying Israeli measures in violation of their human rights and the deterioration of the already inhumane conditions they are being subjected to in captivity. The Movement condemns the occupying Power’s response to the prisoners’ legitimate demands with further measures of collective punishment, including by imposition of solitary confinement, denial of the right to education, and obstruction of family visits, and calls upon Israel to cease all such measures and abide fully by its obligations under international law, including humanitarian and human rights law. NAM expresses its grave concern about the health of the prisoners on hunger strike and calls for efforts to ensure their well-being, including by the ICRC and the WHO, who must monitor and ensure compliance by the occupying Power with its legal and moral obligations vis-à-vis the prisoners.

3. NAM expresses alarm that, since the Israeli occupation began in 1967, at least 750,000 Palestinian civilians, including children, women and elected officials, have been detained and imprisoned by Israel, which continues its daily arrest campaign throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. NAM strongly condemns Israel’s continued use of all forms of physical and psychological mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners, including intimidation and forced interrogations, constant harassment and humiliation of prisoners, imposition of isolation for years, unsanitary and unhygienic conditions, medical neglect, denial of due process and even torture.

4. The Non-Aligned Movement welcomes the agreement recently mediated by the Arab Republic of Egypt for a prisoner exchange involving hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. NAM calls for the early release of all Palestinian political prisoners and for their speedy reintegration into the society, stressing the cumulative devastating impact of this illegal Israeli policy on Palestinian prisoners, their families and Palestinian society as a whole.

5. NAM expresses appreciation for the statement issued on 13 October 2011 by the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People on the situation of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons and for all of the Committee’s efforts with regard to this critical issue and towards the achievement of the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination and their independent State.

6. The Non-Aligned Movement pledges to continue to raise awareness of the Palestinian political prisoners’ plight and to mobilize international efforts, including by the High Contracting Parties to the 4^th Geneva Convention, to ensure that international law is upheld and that Israel, the occupying Power, complies with all of its legal obligations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, until the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement to the Question of Palestine in all its aspects consistent with international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions.

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New York, 17 October 2011