GAZA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of Palestinians, relatives of prisoners held in Israeli jails, staged a demonstration in Gaza City on Monday to protest the treatment of detainees and call on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to intervene.
The demonstrators gathered outside the ICRC headquarters in western Gaza at the invitation of Palestinian factions. They waved Palestinian flags, held photos of prisoners, and carried banners demanding the protection of detainees and an end to what they described as medical neglect and torture in Israeli prisons.
Hazem Qassem, spokesperson for the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), said during the protest that Palestinian prisoners are subjected to "serious violations," including starvation, torture, and assaults.
Qassem urged the international community and human rights organizations to take effective measures to pressure Israel to halt such violations, stressing that the issue of prisoners should remain a priority on both national and international agendas.
According to Palestinian authorities, more than 9,400 Palestinians, including women and children, are currently held in Israeli prisons.
Earlier on Monday, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa met in Ramallah with Julien Lerisson, head of the ICRC delegation in Israel and the Palestinian territories, according to a statement issued by Mustafa's office.
The statement said the two sides discussed efforts to address conditions facing Palestinian prisoners, including allegations of physical and psychological abuse, inadequate medical care, and malnutrition.
Mustafa also called on the ICRC to expand humanitarian interventions in the Gaza Strip, including increasing the number of field hospitals, facilitating the entry of medical supplies, and supporting the evacuation of wounded Palestinians for treatment abroad. ■
