Ref: 1/2011

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)
expresses concern over the deteriorating conditions of six Palestinians detained
by the Palestinian General Intelligence Service (GIS). These Palestinians have
been on hunger strike since 26 November 2010. The High Court of Justice issued
decisions to release them. PCHR calls for their prompt release in application
of the decisions of the highest Palestinian judicial authority. PCHR also calls
for the release of Tamam Abu al-Saud who has been detained by GIS since 17
November 2011.

According to PCHR investigations, six
Palestinian individuals detained by the GIS initiated a hunger strike on 26
November 2011, demanding their release in application of decisions issued in
their favor by the High Court of Justice. These Palestinians are:

1. Mohammed Mahmoud Jamil Neiroukh, 23, from Hebron city, a student at
the Department of Industrial Engineering of Palestine Polytechnic University.
He has been in prison since 10 October 2008. A decision to release him was issued on
19 January 2010.

2. Wisam Azzam Abdul Muhsen al-Qawasmi, 23, from Hebron city, a
student at the Department of Business Administration of Al-Quds Open
University. He has been in prison since 80 October 2008. A decision to release
him was issued on 19 January 2010.

3. Majed Maher Rebhi Ubeid, 21, a worker from Hebron city. He has been in
prison since 11 September 2009.
A decision to release him was issued on 03 February
2010.

4. Ahmed “Mohammed Yosri” Rateb al-Oweiwi, 24, from Hebron
city. He has been in prison since 15 September 2009. A decision to release
him was issued on 03 February 2010.

5. Wael Mohammed Said al-Bitar, 42, from Hebron city. He has been in
prison since 15 September 2008.
A decision to release him was issued on 03 February
2010.

6. Mohammed Ahmed Mahmoud Souqeyeh, 34, from Jenin city. He has been
in prison since 06 February 2008.
A decision to release him was issued on 10 February
2010.

According to data made available by prisoners’
families to PCHR, the prisoners were questioned about their political
affiliation and activities from the beginning of their time in detention.
During questioning, many of them were subjected to maltreatment and torture

including beating, long periods bound in
painful shabeh stress position, insults and sleep deprivation. These conditions
inflicted physical and psychological damage on the prisoners.

In view of their continued detention, the above-mentioned
prisoners began a hunger strike, consuming only water and salt. As a result,
their health conditions have deteriorated and some of them were transferred to
Beit Jala Governmental Hospital on multiple occasions for treatment. On 04
January 2010, the prisoners, who are all civilians, appeared before the
military prosecution in preparation for their trial before military courts in
spite of the High Court of Justice decisions to release them. At the time of
publication of this press release, the six prisoners are still on hunger
strike, calling for the implementation of the release decisions.

An additional prisoner, Tamam Ahmed Abu
al-Saud, from Nablus city, has been detained by GIS since 17 November 2010. Abu
al-Saud was arrested in her house in Rafidia, west of Nablus. She was
transferred to the GIS headquarters in al-Makhfeyeh neighborhood of Nablus. On
the following day, 18 November, GIS members searched her house two consecutive
times. Later, Abu al-Saud was transferred from the GIS headquarters to Juneid
prison in Nablus. According to data made available to PCHR by Abu al-Saud’s
family on 04 January 2011, Abu al-Saud is still in detention and is being
questioned by the military prosecution in Nablus in preparation for her trial
before a military court.

PCHR calls for the release of all the
Palestinians detained by the security services in the West Bank in violation of
the provisions of the law and:

1. Reminds of the decision of the Palestinian High Court of Justice
dated 20 February 1999 holding that: “political arrests are illegal”.
All the executive authorities must respect the Court’s decision and must stop
carrying out illegal political arrests. These authorities must commit to the
principle of the rule of law and must implement the Court’s decisions to
release the prisoners.

2. Stresses that arrests are regulated by Palestinian law and fall
within the competence of the law enforcement officers, who are members of the
civil police and who receive orders and supervision directly from the Attorney
General. PCHR calls for an end to the intervention of military courts and the
military prosecution into civilian affairs and into the powers of civil courts
and the civil prosecution.

3. Calls for the restoration of the judiciary’ status by committing
the security services to respect and implement rulings issued by Palestinian
courts, especially as Article 106 of the Amended Basic Law of 2003 stipulates
that: “Judicial rulings shall be implemented. Refraining from or
obstructing the implementation of a judicial ruling in any manner whatsoever
shall be considered a crime carrying a penalty of imprisonment or dismissal
from position if the accused individual is a public official or assigned to
public service. The aggrieved party may file a case directly to the competent
court and the National Authority shall guarantee a fair remedy for him.”