M returns to the prison where he was held, as a political prisoner periodically

April 17th is Palestinian Prisoners Day, a date to remind the public that thousands of Palestinian prisoners are imprisoned in Israeli jails under extreme difficult circumstances, where they are exposed to various forms of torture and inhumane treatment.

This day comes as widespread Israeli practice of detaining Palestinians is increasing day by day, despite the atmosphere of quietness that is prevailing in the region.

The Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are being exposed to harsh, humiliating and inhumane treatment, starting with the imprisonment itself, continuing in interrogations and investigations and many times ending without any court ruling in administrative detention.

Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are living under extreme difficult circumstances where jails lack even of minimal international standards regarding the treatment of prisoners. The cells are overcrowded, the beds are insufficient and the prisoners suffer from an unhealthy and dirty surrounding with no fresh air, no sunlight and no possibility to meet even the basic hygiene needs. Especially in the winter there is also a lack of sufficient clothes, blankets and covers.

Palestinian prisoners are exposed to various forms of torture such as handcuffing, suspending, cursing, beating, deprivation of sleep and interrogation for an extended period of time. They are exposed to solitary confinement in special sections of the prison as well as to constant movement from one prison to another to avoid stability in one area and being among their friends and comrades. In addition, very often Palestinian prisoners are deprived from meeting their relatives.

The quality and quantity of food offered to the prisoners does not satisfy the minimum human requirements. This as well as the medical maltreatment in Israeli prisons is a violation of international law, in which it is stated that any occupying force at least has to meet the occupied citizen's basic demands.

We, as human rights organization, demand the Israeli occupation to stop the above described practices regarding Palestinian prisoners, and to end the inhumane and humiliating treatment of Palestinian prisoners.

We demand from the Israeli government to abide by the international law, especially to the International Geneva Convention from 1949, in particular the laws regarding prisoners and detainees.

The International Community is demanded to intervene to stop the continued suffering of Palestinian prisoners by pressuring Israeli occupation to abide by international conventions.

We demand the International Community to stop the silence regarding the every-day tragedy of Palestinian prisoners, and intervene to stop the constant violation of Palestinian prisoner's human rights.