Home News 17 April marks Palestinian Prisoners’ Day

17 April marks Palestinian Prisoners’ Day

by Salaamedia

By Humairaa Mayet

With the coronavirus affecting almost all countries around the world, and poverty-stricken countries more so, it has been determined that prisoners and refugees are undoubtedly the most affected populations. Prisoners and refugees live in closed quarters and cannot leave the buildings, tents, or pieces of land to which they are confined, thus making self-isolation and social distancing impossible.

As Israel bars treatment and stops medical equipment from entering the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, thousands of Palestinians are imprisoned in Israeli jails and detention centres. Some of them have been held captive for decades, such as Marwan Barghouti, Ahmad Sa’adat, and many others. Some of those taken captive by the Israeli State are children, yet are tried and imprisoned as adults.

The conditions of these Palestinians have not been made clear by Israel, yet one can only imagine the dire circumstances they must be under. In the past, pictures of Israeli military jails had surfaced and they showed cramped living spaces with Palestinian prisoners under constant surveillance by members of the police and the Israeli Defense Force.

Many countries have released political prisoners in an attempt to curb the spread of Covid-19, yet Israel has shown no inclination toward pardoning the affected parties.

Around the world, people commemorate those wrongfully imprisoned by Israel’s apartheid regime on 17 April and acknowledge their bravery and resilience. This year, marches and demonstrations will not take place in Palestine or across the globe as billions are under lockdown and quarantine.

Featured image via FreePik.

Related Videos