Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 October 2021
113. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the six Palestinian prisoners who are on hunger strike to protest their administrative detention and imprisonment without charges or formal trial; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51389/21]
View answerI am aware of the cases to which the Deputy refers, including the concerns raised by the International Committee of the Red Cross regarding the health of two of the detainees. Irish officials are monitoring this matter closely, in cooperation with partners on the ground.
Ireland, and our partners across the EU, have repeatedly raised the treatment of Palestinian prisoners with the Israeli authorities. Ireland and the EU also provide financial support to Israeli and Palestinian civil society partners who are active in bringing these issues to light.
At the Human Rights Council, Ireland has called on the Israeli authorities, in accordance with their obligations under Article 9 of the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to refrain from conducting arbitrary arrests and to follow the acceptable procedure established by law regarding arrest and detention, most recently at the 46th session of the Council in February.
I, and my officials, regularly raise human rights issues in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory at the highest levels, and have done so directly with Israeli counterparts. I will continue to press on these issues.
