The Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement condemned the statements of the Israeli occupation's Police Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who called for the gunning of Palestinian detainees being held in Israeli occupation prisons.

The movement said, on Sunday, that Ben-Gvir's statements are a "black mark on the foreheads of all those dealing with the Israeli occupation, its supporters, and those who remain silent about its crimes," emphasizing that they reflect a heinous criminal mentality founded on the shedding of blood.

The movement reminded in its statement of Ben-Gvir's crimes and policies towards Palestinian detainees being held in occupation prisons. It reiterated that detainees are being deprived of food, water, and medical care, and face systematic torture.

Moreover, Ben-Gvir has advocated for and implemented policies of arming settlers, inciting murder, and confiscating lands.

The PIJ affirmed that the Palestinian people will confront the criminal policies of the occupation "with all strength and steadfastness," adding that the Resistance forces will not abandon Palestinian detainees being held in occupation prisons.

PFLP urges documenting violations and referring them to OCCand ICJ

In turn, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) held the Israeli occupation fully responsible for the lives of Palestinian prisoners, pointing out that "the criminal incitement calls of Ben-Gvir express the true criminal face of the Zionist genocide regime, revealing once again the extent of hatred and hostility towards the Palestinian people, and the grave violations against prisoners in particular."

The PFLP statement further noted, "The continued incitement of the fascist criminal Ben-Gvir against Palestinian prisoners and his continuation of his repressive measures and the escalation of retaliatory policies against them have received a response from Zionist decision-making circles, leading to Zionist prisoners committing war crimes against prisoners, and recording dozens of cases of execution and torture against prisoners after October 7th, while continuing to detain thousands of prisoners in extermination camps where all crimes and atrocities are committed against them."

The Popular Front concluded its statement by calling for documenting these calls issued by Ben-Gvir and referring them to the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice, considering them "clear evidence of condemnation against this criminal and his incitement to kill prisoners."

It also called on international institutions to "move urgently to protect prisoners in light of the escalation of Zionist crimes against them."

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Ben-Gvir threatens Barghouti, prisoner groups decry 'silent execution'

Ben-Gvir appeared in a video clip calling for the implementation of the death penalty for prisoners and shooting them in the head instead of giving them food, in response to accusations of practicing a policy of starvation in Israeli prisons.

🚨JUST IN: Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir:

The Palestinian prisoners must be killed by shooting them in the head, and until passing this law of execution of Palestinian prisoners, we will give them little to live on. pic.twitter.com/elhPFwd6q4

— Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) June 30, 2024

Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons face malnourishment: Haaretz

A report by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz has revealed that the Israeli occupation's Prison Service has been concealing the actual quantities of food provided to Palestinian detainees held in Israeli occupation prisons since the launch of Operation Al Aqsa Flood.

The revelation came to the forefront following a petition by the "Association for Civil Rights in Israel" (ACRI), which has brought this critical issue before the High Court of Justice, raising serious questions about the conditions under which these Palestinian detainees are being held.

According to the Israeli occupation's Police Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir the reduction in food supplies was implemented as a deterrent measure. However, this stance was not included in the official response to the court.

Ben-Gvir, in a statement, claimed, "There is no starvation, but my policy does call for reducing conditions, including food and calories."

In turn, the Prison Service legal advisor, Eran Nahon, at the Israeli occupation's Bar Association convention stated, "They [Palestinian detainees] will receive the absolute minimum required by law and by the conventions to which Israel is committed," adding, "Not a gram more. This is a security purpose, but I don't rule out that it could be policy. Policy is not a dirty word."

During the court hearing, the High Court criticized the reduction of food, and Justice Daphne Barak-Erez noted the lack of a medical expert opinion approving the food reduction. Meanwhile, relatives of terror attack victims have expressed strong support for harsher prison conditions. Herzl Hajaj argued in court, "You should be representing us. You should be defending Israeli citizens and not terrorists."

During the court session, the High Court expressed alleged disapproval of the reduced food rations, with Judge Daphne Barak-Erez pointing out the absence of a medical expert's approval for such measures.

For months, Palestinian detainees have been released from Israeli occupation prisons, showing signs of significant weight loss and its severe effects on their physical and mental health.

At the same hearing, Israeli settlers who are relatives of those who settled in the Gaza Envelope and faced Operation Al Aqsa Flood voiced their support for stricter conditions for Palestinian detainees. For example, Herzl Hajaj made a pointed statement in court, calling for the slow death of Palestinian detainees through famine and medical negligence noting, "You should be representing us. You should be defending Israeli citizens and not terrorists."

Read more: Released Palestinian detainees recount horrors in Israeli jails