Email the FCDO about Palestinian political prisoners

Despite the Gaza ceasefire agreement, Israel's apartheid regime continues, including its system of mass imprisonment as a tool of political repression. Even after the release of 1,968 Palestinian prisoners on 13 October, more than 9,000 remain in Israeli detention, including 400 children. The Israeli military has continued to conduct arrest raids across the West Bank, even during the week of the Gaza ceasefire.

On top of this, Palestinian human rights groups who have been advocating for the rights of those imprisoned are being attacked by Israel and the US, especially over submissions of evidence to the ICC.

Write the FCDO and demand the release of Palestinians still held prisoner by Israel, and support for Palestinian human rights groups documenting and advocating for justice for those who have been detained.

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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW231143017 BCX0">Dear Foreign Secretary, </div><div class="SCXW231143017 BCX0"><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW231143017 BCX0">I’m writing to implore you to please take urgent steps to ensure that Palestinians illegally detained by Israel, whether released or still imprisoned, receive the protection and justice they are entitled to under international law. Please also support Palestinian human rights organisations who are being blocked from their work advocating for the rights of prisoners because of attempts by Israel and the US to prevent submissions of evidence to the ICC.1,968 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel were released on 13 October as a part of the most recent ceasefire deal. The vast majority had been detained without charge or trial, including journalists, health workers and hospital patients who were detained by the Israeli military in an attack on al-Shifa hospital in Gaza in March 2024. Detainees were subjected to extreme forms of torture in Israeli detention, including: being stripped, blindfolded, cuffed and beaten, electric shocks, attacks by dogs, burns with chemicals and fire and sexual assault. Detainees were also denied food and water, as confirmed even by the Israeli High Court, and denied medical care. Israel refused access to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which is meant to ensure that international standards are upheld in detention.More than 9,000 Palestinians remain imprisoned by Israel, in the direst conditions imaginable. 400 of those imprisoned are children. More than 3,500 are being held in administrative detention, without charge or trial, renewable indefinitely. Despite the Gaza ceasefire, Israel has continued this week to conduct arbitrary arrest raids in Palestinian villages, towns and refugee camps in the occupied West Bank.Human rights experts have warned repeatedly that Israel’s policies and treatment towards Palestinian prisoners constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, including multiple forms of torture, ill-treatment, deliberate medical neglect, arbitrary detention, and unfair trials all of which amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).To make matters worse, Israel has repeatedly targeted Palestinian human rights organisations who raise these issues, especially when they have done so in the form of submissions of evidence to the ICC. Recently, the United States government has issued sanctions against Palestinian human rights organisations because of their work with the ICC, including Addameer, the primary Palestinian human rights NGO advocating against torture and on behalf of the rights of prisoners. These attacks have seriously impacted their ability to work, just at the time when it is most needed.This situation requires urgent action. The British government has responsibilities as a signatory to the Convention against Genocide and Torture, as well as the Geneva Conventions. The British government has acknowledged Israel’s grave violations of international law, including with respect to prisoners, and yet has continued to supply Israel with weapons used in its genocide in Gaza as well as its occupation and apartheid in the rest of Palestine.The British government must:1)      Impose comprehensive sanctions, including a full two-way arms embargo on Israel until it complies with its obligations under international law;2)      Urge for the immediate release of all Palestinians held illegally in Israeli detention;3)      Support Palestinian human rights organisations in their work to ensure that Palestinian victims of torture and other abuse can safely submit evidence to the ICC and other relevant bodies;4)     Issue a public statement rejecting the US government's political attacks and sanctions on Palestinian human rights organisations, including Addameer.</div></div>

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Email the FCDO about Palestinian political prisoners