Press Release

Israeli Occupying Forces are still detaining Gazans who have completed their sentences

 Ref:  68?2000

Date: 22 May 2000

 The Israeli Occupying Forces are is still detaining Gazans despite the fact that they have served their sentences. The detainees are the following: 1.      Salamah Mohammed Khier El Najar, 25 years old from Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza. He is currently held in Central Netsaan prison, Northern Israel. He was arrested on 3 December 1999 at Erez Checkpoint and was sentenced with 4 months imprisonment on the basis of entering Israel without permission. 2.      Mohamud Mohammed Musbah Al Batish, 20 years old from Jabalia refuge camp in Gaza. He is detained in Beer Shiva prison. He was arrested on 12 January 2000 at Erez checkpoint, and sentenced with four months imprisonment on the basis of entering Israel without permission. He then was transferred to Netsaan Central prison after his sentence was expired. It is worth mentioning that the Israeli Occupying Forces did not allow to the families of the above-mentioned detainees to visit them during their period of detention in breach of article 116 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 which asserts the right for detainees to receive visitors, family and relatives on a regular basis. PCHR expressed its deep concern over the continuing detention of Palestinian civilians as serving political purposes for the State of Israel in grave violations of  human rights and humanitarian law. PCHR urges the Israeli Authorities to immediately release all the Palestinian and Arab prisoners without conditions and discrimination.  “END”