Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 May 2017
49. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the hunger strike currently taking place among Palestinian prisoners; if he has raised this matter with the Israeli authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25703/17]
View answerSince I originally tabled this question, which seeks the Minister's views on the hunger strike among 1,500 Palestinian prisoners and calls on him to raise the matter with the Israeli authorities and to make a statement on the matter, the hunger strike has finished - this happened three days ago - on foot of a concession that will allow prisoners to get two visits every month. Talks are now taking place between the prison authorities and the prisoners. This is a victory, in a way, for the hunger strikers.
Thankfully, the hunger strike by Palestinian prisoners has ended following an agreement at the weekend. It is understood that a new arrangement for a second family visit per month, and possibly other understandings, was the basis for ending the strike. The hunger strike by over 1,000 prisoners was a matter of great concern as it was entering its seventh week. I am relieved that it has ended without tragedy. We spoke directly about the need to avoid a tragic outcome with the Israeli ambassador and in other contacts with the Israeli authorities. The EU missions in Palestine, including Ireland’s mission in Ramallah, issued a public statement concerning the hunger strikes calling on Israel to respect fully the rights of prisoners. A further EU statement at higher level was being prepared when the strike ended.
I have said on the record that I do not believe there is any positive use of hunger strikes. When we expressed the concern of the Irish Government, we had to be conscious that many prisoners, including some of those who were on hunger strike, have been convicted of serious and violent offences. In addition, we were conscious that we could express similar or stronger concerns about prisoners in many other jurisdictions in the region, including Israel. We raised this matter in a low-key way for two reasons. First, we cannot support or encourage the use of hunger strikes as a means of exerting pressure. I have rejected its use on numerous occasions internationally and I will continue to do so. Second, we are aware from our own history of the real risk of attitudes hardening on either side, leading to tragedy, and of the danger of hunger strikes leading to increased tensions and clashes on the streets. We did not want to say anything that could add to that risk. I will not comment on the specific issues raised by the strikers. We have little detail on what has been agreed. I reiterate that my essential position and that of the Irish Government is that detained Palestinians should have the same protections and conditions that Israel affords to its own citizens when they are under detention. Under international law, Palestinian prisoners should be held within their own territory. In that context, I emphasise that when Palestinians are being held in Israel, special attention must be given to ensuring family visits are realistically facilitated.
Nobody would ever advocate that anyone should ever go on hunger strike. I think the 1,500 prisoners in this case were driven to desperation. Most of those who are in jail in Palestine are not even tried. They are held after raids in the occupied West Bank as part of what is known as "administrative detention". It is akin to the system of internment without trial that was in existence in the North some years ago. At the end of April, the number of Palestinian prisoners stood at 6,100, some 300 of whom were children. As the Minister has said, the treatment of Palestinian prisoners is much worse than the treatment of Israeli prisoners, even though many of them have not been convicted of anything. For example, Palestinian prisoners have no access to phones, study or work. The main demand of the hunger strikers was to be able to access phones to call their families. Israel responded brutally, for example by transferring prisoners, placing prisoners in solitary confinement, blocking visits from lawyers and confiscating property. It began a media offensive against a particular leading prisoner. We have our own experience of hunger strikes in this country. I think everyone should condemn the Israeli response in this case.
I acknowledge that some of the demands of the prisoners were made to seek forms of treatment that are broadly in line with international law. It should always be the case that prisoners receive such treatment. Some of the other demands, such as those relating to prison conditions, seemed reasonable. I do not really know all the circumstances so I am not going to comment in any great detail. Prison conditions in the Middle East generally are not the same as in Ireland or in Europe. For these reasons, I do not wish to comment specifically on the demands which were made. I stress the obvious principle that all Palestinian and Israeli prisoners should enjoy the same conditions and protections that Israel deems appropriate for its own citizens.
Next month's 50th anniversary of the occupation of the Golan Heights, Gaza, East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Sinai Peninsula will be a massive political issue. We should be calling for an end to arbitrary arrests by the Israeli authorities. In most cases, it is utterly illegal for people to be held without trial. Military raids on homes, dozens of which take place routinely, need to be brought to an end. I commend the Israeli Medical Association - the doctors' trade union - for refusing to take part in the force-feeding of hunger strikers. This made it difficult for the Israeli Government to implement force-feeding as a threat. I support utterly the demands of prisoners for access to education, communication and family visits. We need to end the occupation and the military courts that are in place in the Occupied Territories. All political prisoners should be released. The Government's position should be to support those basic demands loudly and clearly.
I know that the Knesset passed a law two years ago authorising force feeding. My understanding is that this law has not been used to date. I am also aware that the Israeli doctors' organisation has stated that its members will not participate in force feeding. Fears that have been expressed about the use of force feeding have thus far not been borne out, but I want to avail of the opportunity here, in response to Deputy Coppinger, to say that I would consider the use of force feeding in the circumstances to be unacceptable.
