In keeping with the League of Arab States' longstanding commitment to supporting the Palestinian cause, the General Secretariat (Palestine and Occupied Arab Territories Sector) held a seminar entitled “The Suffering of Palestinian Prisoners and Detainees in Israeli Prisons and the Situation of Deported Prisoners,” at the request of the Permanent Mission of the State of Palestine to the League. The seminar was convened on 2 December at the League of Arab States' headquarters in Cairo, with the participation of representatives of member states, heads of League of Arab States' sectors and directors of its departments, representatives of Palestinian institutions concerned with prisoners’ affairs, and prominent Palestinian figures.
Ambassador Dr. Faed Mustafa, Assistant Secretary-General and head of the Palestine and Occupied Arab Territories Sector, opened the seminar and delivered the address of the League of Arab States General Secretariat.
The seminar reflects the sustained concern for the plight of Palestinian prisoners, who endure grave violations in Israeli prisons, including torture, medical neglect, and the denial of basic rights. According to reports from the Palestinian Prisoners’ Affairs Commission, the number of Palestinian prisoners and detainees in these prisons exceeds 9,000, with violations increasing amid the recent escalation in the occupied territories.
The symposium featured three main sessions, firsthand testimonies, and direct participation from former prisoners who recounted their personal experiences of Israeli violations and practices. The sessions examined the reality of abuses in Israeli prisons, focusing on the various forms of mistreatment, including psychological and physical torture and denial of medical care, drawing on international and Palestinian reports.
Released prisoners also shared their experiences, adding a profound human dimension to the symposium and underscoring their resilience and steadfastness in the face of these violations.
A documentary film chronicling the suffering of prisoners was screened during the symposium. Speakers also addressed the situation of prisoners deported outside the Palestinian territories, who face additional difficulties in communicating with their families. The discussions further examined the prisoners’ demands and mechanisms of support, with particular emphasis on their urgent needs, including the immediate release of administrative detainees and the provision of human rights guarantees in accordance with international treaties.
The symposium also highlighted the role of official Arab support, including diplomatic pressure in international forums to impose sanctions on the Israeli occupation authorities.
As for official and community-based Arab support, the discussions explored mechanisms for joint Arab cooperation, including community awareness campaigns, the provision of international legal assistance, and intensified efforts to secure the release of prisoners.
It is worth noting that this symposium follows a series of Arab efforts to support Palestinian prisoners. The League of Arab States has repeatedly affirmed in its statements the necessity of releasing all prisoners and detainees, considering this an integral component of any political solution to the Palestinian question.
The Permanent Mission of Palestine expressed its gratitude to the League of Arab States for its prompt response to the request, stressing that such events enhance Arab and international awareness of the prisoners’ suffering and open avenues for greater support at both the official and popular levels.
