The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) expressed grave concern on Thursday over the ongoing and escalating Israeli occupation’s brutal crimes and unprecedented violations against thousands of Palestinian prisoners.
These violations, documented by relevant legal institutions, include executions, torture, starvation, rape, isolation, and cases of enforced disappearance, particularly affecting detainees from the Gaza Strip.
Since October 7, 2023, 18 prisoners have died in Israeli detention centers, with the identities of many others who have died remaining undisclosed.
The OIC condemned the continued arbitrary detention campaigns conducted by Israeli forces, which have led to an increase in the number of Palestinian prisoners to over 9,700.
This number includes 80 female prisoners, 52 journalists, over 250 children, more than 3,380 administrative detainees without charge or trial, and nearly 600 prisoners serving life sentences, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The organization called for an urgent international investigation into the inhumane conditions and ongoing Israeli violations against Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
These actions are deemed to constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, representing a blatant violation of all standards and rules set forth by international humanitarian law, the Human Rights Charter, the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, and other relevant international treaties.
The OIC urged the international community and relevant human rights institutions to fulfill their responsibilities and to hold Israeli authorities accountable for their treatment of Palestinian prisoners according to applicable international conventions. The organization reaffirmed its solidarity with and support for Palestinian prisoners and their resilience, committing to work towards conveying their message and suffering to the global community to achieve freedom and justice for them.
