UN REF: A/HRC/55/NGO/291

Date: 19 March 2024 

Title: Israeli Authorities’ Intention to Expel Palestinian Political Prisoners

Written statement submitted by The Palestinian Return Centre, a non-governmental organization in special consultative status. Human Rights Council Fifty-fifth session 26 February–5 April 2024 Agenda item 9: Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance: follow-up to and implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action

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Press statement:

PRC Submits Report about Israeli Plan to Expel Palestinian Political Prisoners

The Palestinian Return Centre Ltd (PRC) in London submitted a written statement to the United Nations Human Rights Council entitled “Israeli Authorities’ Intention to Expel Palestinian Political Prisoners” and which is circulated in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31.

The report warned against an Israeli plan to expel approximately 450 Palestinian prisoners from East Jerusalem and Israel to Palestinian Authority areas, citing alleged ‘ties to terrorism’.

“There is a coordinated effort by Israeli authorities including Knesset members to expel Palestinians from their homes, to displace them from their homes, on political grounds, which is a flagrant violation of international law”, said the report.

“The unproven allegations of ‘ties to terrorism’ that the 450 Palestinian political prisoners have been accused of, are not only unproven but such allegations are weaponised against them because they are of Palestinian origin”, said PRC. “Jewish-Israeli prisoners of the Israeli state, accused of terrorism, are not recipients of the same punishment. Both citizens of the same state, accused of the same crime, yet recipients of different punishments based on their ethnic background, is a crime of apartheid.”

PRC pointed out that this intent by Israeli Authorities to expel 450 Palestinians from their homes in Jerusalem flagrantly violates Article II, b), c) & d)2 of the United Nations International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid.

“It is not only the intent of Israeli authorities to displace released Palestinian political prisoners that should be addressed, but also the inhumane and barbaric treatment these prisoners experienced at the hands of Israeli Authorities”, it added.

Reputable human rights organisations around the world have long drawn criticism of Israeli authorities' inhumane treatment of Palestinian political prisoners; However since October 7th, prisoners' conditions have only deteriorated.

PRC called upon the UN Human Rights Council members to both condemn the further forced displacement of Palestinians by Israeli authorities and to lend their diplomatic resources to ensure this forced displacement of 450 Palestinian political prisoners does not take place.

PRC further urged all members of the Council to condemn Israel’s intent to flout international law and to commit flagrant war crimes and crimes against humanity by ensuing further forced expulsion of Palestinians from their land.