The European Union has called on Israel to respect international humanitarian law on the treatment of prisoners, after widespread rioting in the West Bank over the treatment of hunger striking Palestinian prisoners.
European Union spokesperson Catherine Ashton stated,
"The EU calls on the government of Israel to allow for the immediate restoration of their family visiting rights and calls for the full respect of international human rights obligations towards all Palestinian detainees and prisoners,"
“Under international law, detainees have the right to be informed about the reasons underlying any detention and to have the legality of their detention determined without undue delay. The EU calls upon Israel to bring formal charges against any individuals detained, with a view to bringing them to a fair trial without undue delay."
The statement comes after Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas spoke about the prisoners on Friday, saying,
"We will not forget, and we will not leave you to suffer behind the bars of the occupation."
Meanwhile at least 500 Palestinian protestors were reported to have gathered outside Ofer Prison, as one of many rallies held across the West Bank, and thrown rocks at Israeli soldiers, lightly injuring two soldiers. Palestinian medics said that 156 Palestinians were treated for tear gas inhalation and 2 were injured by gunfire from live ammunition.
