During the course of the recent hunger strikes by Palestinian prisoners, I called on the Israeli authorities to seek a solution which would avoid a tragic outcome, and I made clear here in the Dáil my view that the widespread use by Israel of administrative detention should cease, and that the punitive conditions imposed on Palestinian prisoners while Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was in captivity should be ended. I was very pleased when agreement was reached last month following successful Egyptian mediation between the Israeli authorities and the various groups of prisoners, apparently addressing these and other issues. I am therefore concerned at reports that some of the terms of those agreements may still not have been fully implemented. However, no coherent picture has yet emerged as whether this is the case, although our Embassy has discussed the matter with the Israeli authorities, with EU colleagues, and with NGOs dealing with the prisoners. Prisoners had been on hunger strike for a number of different reasons, and separate agreements were made with separate groups of prisoners on the issues of concern to them. The terms of those agreements, including commitments made by both the Israeli side and the prisoners, have not been fully disclosed publicly, while the basis for reports that they are not being implemented in all cases remains unclear. It may be that some changes are taking time to enact.
I am encouraged by the fact that both the Israeli authorities and the prisoners clearly recognised the danger of the hunger strikes spiralling out of control and found agreement last month to avoid this. I very much encourage them to follow through in that spirit and ensure these agreements are implemented. I am also very concerned about two prisoners who did not end their hunger strikes, and are now believed to be in a critical condition. I strongly urge both sides to seek to resolve the issues involved in these cases with all possible urgency.
