Written question asked by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 9 May 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 14 May 2012. It was answered by Alistair Burt (Conservative) on Wednesday, 16 May 2012 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Israel

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of whether the conditions experienced by Israeli-held prisoners are in accord with (a) Articles 76 and 32 and (b) other provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention concerning the protection of civilians in times of war; and if he will make a statement.

[106830]

Answer

We continue to have concerns about the situation of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention. These concerns include, but are not limited to: allegations of mistreatment during arrest and in Israeli prisons, widespread use of administrative detention by the Israeli authorities, frequent restrictions on family visits and on

access to lawyers and the use of secret evidence before the military courts and routine detention of Palestinians from the West Bank in prison inside Israel, in contravention of the Geneva Convention.

We raise these concerns regularly with the Israeli authorities. UK officials attend military court hearings as part of an EU team monitoring cases of Palestinians identified as human rights defenders. The UK Government has previously provided practical assistance such as helping ensure that detainees were represented by Palestinian lawyers trained in Israeli military law.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 106830; 545 cc199-200W
Session: 2012-13
Subjects: Prisoners Israel
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk

Israel

Secondary information

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