Ref: 28/2006
Date: 15 March 2006
Time: 12:30 GMT
PCHR Condemns the Detention of the PFLP Secretary-General and his Colleagues
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) crime in the Jericho central prison on 14 March 2006. This crime resulted in the death of 2 Palestinians and in the detention of the Secretary-General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and scores of political prisoners, criminal prisoners, and members of the Palestinian Security Forces.
PCHR’s initial investigation indicates that at approximately 19:00 on Tuesday, 14 March 2006, IOF completed its large-scale military operation that started in the morning hours of the same day. The operation aimed to apprehend Ahmad Saadat, the Secretary-General of the PFLP and the elected member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), a number of PFLP activists charged with assassinating Rehavam Ze’vi (Israeli ex-Minister of Tourism), and General Fuad El-Shobaki, a member of the Fatah Revolutionary Council who is charged with smuggling the Karen A arms shipment.
During the operation, IOF bombarded the prison and governorate complex before and after bulldozing the buildings inside. The bombardment included tank shells and rockets fired from attack helicopters. The operation ended with the detention of the aforementioned as well as scores of political and criminal prisoners, security guards, and members of the National Security Service, who use the governorate building as their headquarters. In addition, 2 Palestinians were killed, one a prison guard and the other a prisoner detained on criminal charges. Another 50 Palestinians were injured.
This operation was initiated 15 minutes after the sudden withdrawal of American and British monitors charged with guarding Saadat, in accordance with an agreement, drafted mainly by the United States. Israeli, American, and British officials attempted to deny any prior coordination between them. However, the Israeli Defense Minister, Shaul Mofaz, said in statements to Haaretz newspaper after the operation that Israel knew before hand about the time of the monitors’ withdrawal from Jericho prison. Further, he stated that the army had been prepared for over a week to storm the prison and kidnap the prisoners.
PCHR had previously stressed that no party, whether the IOF, Palestinian National Authority, or international community, has the right to formulate an agreement that violates International Humanitarian Law. This position was stated in reference to the agreement regarding Saadat’s detention in Jericho prison (refer to the Center’s press release dated 4 June 2002). Thus, the Centre raises question over the international community’s role in enforcing past and future agreements to which Israel is a party.
PCHR condemns the attack on the Jericho central prison, and the subsequent results of the attack; and stresses that this crime is a realization of Israeli threats to impose additional punishment against the Palestinian people. The Centre stresses that the IOF policy of escalation against Palestinian civilians will increase tension in the region, and threatens to cause additional casualties among Palestinians. The Centre calls upon the international community to act immediately to stop these crimes; and renews the call to the High Contracting Parties of the 4th Geneva Convention to fulfill their responsibility to ensure the protection of Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The Centre holds the Israeli government responsible for the well-being of the Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel.
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