Anger in the West Bank and the 'Million Signatures' Campaign: A Movement to Save Prisoners from 'Silent Execution'
Protests are rising in the West Bank led by Palestinian organizations to pressure the Red Cross regarding prisoner treatment amid fears of 'silent executions' in Israeli jails.
In the cities of the West Bank, there has been a surge in simultaneous protests organized by prisoner institutions and national and Islamic forces. These protests aim to pressure the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to take responsibility for the humanitarian situation of Palestinian prisoners, who are increasingly perceived as facing what is described as 'silent execution' within Israeli prisons. Activists have warned of proposed legislation that could lead to the execution of prisoners, directly accusing the Israeli prison administration of enacting practices that include enforced disappearance, starvation, and torture, with reports indicating that 87 prisoners have died due to medical neglect and ill-treatment.
In Tulkarm, a protest march was organized in front of the ICRC office, where participants raised images of prisoners and banners calling for urgent international intervention. The protesters hold international organizations accountable for their silence regarding the systematic and ongoing oppression experienced by detainees. The mobilization efforts were in response to a widespread call from Palestinian factions and the families of prisoners, especially following an increase in violence within prisons since early October.
This intense activism highlights a growing sense of urgency within Palestinian society regarding the treatment of prisoners and reflects broader concerns about human rights violations in Israeli jails. The activists' demands for international support reveal the depth of frustration with the perceived inaction of global organizations like the ICRC, as conditions for Palestinian prisoners continue to deteriorate amidst an already volatile political landscape in the region.