10 February 1997

Today, LAW - The Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment submitted a petition to the Israeli High Court demanding that the 600 Palestinian administrative detainees and prisoners held in tents in Megiddo prison be provided with heat. The petition demanded that the prison provide the detainees and prisoners immediately with gas or kerosene heaters and that they be transferred to permanent structures that afford protection against the harsh weather. The petition was submitted in the name of Abed Al-Rahman Al-Ahmar, an administrative detainee for 15 months and a representative of the detainees.

Megiddo prison is located on a hill in northern Israel where temperatures often reach below freezing. This, coupled with strong winds and rain, creates an inhumane and unbearable situation. The 600 Palestinian detainees and prisoners in Megiddo prison housed in the army tents are totally exposed to the rigors of the cold winter and rains. Under international humanitarian and Israeli law, the Israeli government is obligated to intern all prisoners from the Occupied Palestinian Territories under humane conditions, including heat against the winter cold.

Megiddo prison holds an approximate total of 800 Palestinian prisoners and detainees who were transferred there after the Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank towns, a transfer which is in violation of international law.

Last week, LAW’s attorney appealed to the commander of the prison to provide heat for the detainees and prisoners. In his response, the commander stated that because the rains leak into the tents, proper heating cannot be installed since with electric heaters the detainees risk electrocution. He added that extra blankets had been distributed to the detainees. One of the detainees informed LAW’s attorney that to keep warm, the detainees roll down the walls of the tent, huddle together and smoke cigarettes.

No hearing date has been set for the petition.

LAW - The Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment is a non-governmental organization, dedicated to preserving human rights through legal advocacy. LAW is also an affiliate member of the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights.