RAMALLAH, April 17, 2017 (WAFA) - Saeb Erekat, the Secretary-General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Monday called on the international community to hold Israel accountable for its systematic violation of Palestinian human rights, particularly rights of prisoners.

Saluting the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails “for their acts of heroism and steadfastness in resisting Israel‘s oppressive practices,” Erekat said in a statement marking Palestinian Prisoner’s Day, that the international community, human rights organizations and the High Contracting Parties to the Four Geneva Conventions must fulfill their obligations and assume their responsibilities with respect to Israel’s systematic violations of Palestinian human rights on top of which is the Palestinians’ prisoners.

 “It is time for the international community to take concrete action to ensure Israel’s adherence to its obligations under international law and safeguard the rights of prisoners,” said Erekat. “We also call upon the International Criminal Court to speed up the preliminary inquiry and open an immediate investigation into Israeli war crimes.”

Erekat demanded that Israel must release the prisoners if wants to achieve peace.

“After 50 years of occupation, Israel must immediately fulfill the long overdue rights of the Palestinian prisoners and accelerate their release for the achievement of peace. The Palestinian leadership will continue to exert its utmost efforts and urge the international community to put pressure on Israel to abide by and respect the rights of Palestinian prisoners enshrined in international law and conventions.”

The PLO official called upon Palestinians everywhere to support the Palestinian prisoners who started on Monday a hunger strike “against the Israeli illegal racist policies that gravely violate the international humanitarian law and the international human rights law.”

M.K.