By Hosea Parah, Abuja
The Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria, Abdullah Abu Shawesh, has urged the international community to take action in order to put an end to the inhumane treatment and severe physical and mental torture of Palestinians. Shawesh emphasized that these actions have resulted in health problems for numerous detainees.
In a statement released on Monday, Shawesh expressed concern over the inadequate and scarce provision of food to detainees, which has led to severe weight loss and deteriorating health conditions. He also highlighted the lack of access to water, proper hygiene, and clothing, which has exposed prisoners to various skin diseases.
Shawesh further emphasized that Palestinian detainees have been enduring catastrophic conditions and unbearable measures in Israeli prisons and detention centers for over seven months. They are confined in cramped cells, housing 10 to 15 prisoners each, and are subjected to daily torture, ill-treatment, and medical negligence.
The Ambassador pointed out that these violations are a result of brutal arrest operations by the occupying army, which involve severe beatings, destruction of prisoners’ homes, and threats and insults to their families.
According to Shawesh, the number of detainees in the past seven months has reached 8,725, excluding those from Gaza who are subjected to enforced disappearances.
He also highlighted the call made by the head of the Prisoners’ Affairs Commission, Qaddoura Fares, for the World Health Organization to pressure Israeli authorities to allow visits to Palestinian prisoners.
Shawesh criticized the silence of the international community, stating that these crimes are being committed in plain sight, with an increasing number of martyrs and sick detainees without access to medication, which could lead to catastrophic consequences at any moment.
Furthermore, Shawesh noted that 18 Palestinians have lost their lives in Israeli prisons during the past seven months due to torture, medical negligence, starvation policies, and other practices that violate international law.
The Ambassador called on the international community to take immediate action to end the unjust situation and alleviate the suffering of Palestinian prisoners.