GAZA, (PIC)
A large protest took place in Gaza on Tuesday outside the International Committee of the Red Cross, where families of Palestinian prisoners, former detainees, and advocacy groups voiced strong opposition to new Israeli legislation, particularly the proposed “prisoner execution law.”
Demonstrators raised photos of detainees and Palestinian flags, alongside banners condemning the law as unjust and dangerous, reflecting growing public anger over measures targeting prisoners.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem warned that the law poses a direct threat to the lives of detainees and constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian standards.
He accused Israel of already causing the deaths of prisoners over the years through torture and medical neglect, describing the legislation as a further escalation.
Qassem called for widespread public mobilization across Palestinian communities and international action outside embassies worldwide, urging the United Nations and human rights organizations to intervene and provide immediate protection for detainees.
He also called on the Red Cross to take concrete steps beyond statements.
Speakers at the rally described the law as an unprecedented escalation in punitive policies, stressing that it contradicts international law and places thousands of prisoners at risk.
Former prisoner Majdi Abed highlighted the suffering inside Israeli prisons and criticized what he described as international and regional silence.
Meanwhile, Najah Al Rifi, the wife of detainee Mahmoud Al Dahdouh, spoke of her fears following months of uncertainty over her husband’s fate, saying the law has deepened concerns for prisoners’ lives.
Participants pledged to continue protests and advocacy efforts until the law is overturned, emphasizing that the issue of prisoners remains central to Palestinian national consciousness.
