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Arab league Chief Voices Concern over Palestinian Prisoners amid Coronavirus

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit attends the Rome Mediterranean summit MED 2018 in Rome, Italy November 22, 2018. (Reuters)
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit attends the Rome Mediterranean summit MED 2018 in Rome, Italy November 22, 2018. (Reuters)
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Arab league Chief Voices Concern over Palestinian Prisoners amid Coronavirus

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit attends the Rome Mediterranean summit MED 2018 in Rome, Italy November 22, 2018. (Reuters)
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit attends the Rome Mediterranean summit MED 2018 in Rome, Italy November 22, 2018. (Reuters)

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit sent a letter to Director-General of the International Committee of the Red Cross Robert Mardini about the danger facing Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails because of the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Aboul Gheit said Monday that the conditions of nearly 5,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons are "serious". A large number of prisoners, including elderly, sick and those with low immunity, are the most vulnerable to the COVID-19, he underlined.

He also highlighted the lack of specialized doctors and necessary medical equipment to aid patients, in addition to the shortage of ventilators and disinfectants.

Abul Gheit expressed regret that Israel had taken a decision to release some Israeli criminal prisoners, while excluding Palestinians. This violates humanitarian and international law stipulated in the Fourth Geneva Convention.

He appealed to the ICRC chief to do "all in his capacity" to pressure the Israeli government to review its policies towards the prisoners and to take an immediate decision to release those who are most at risk of infection to avoid an "impending humanitarian catastrophe."

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UNIFIL Urges Timely Israeli Pullout from South Lebanon under Month-Old Truce Deal

Armored vehicles of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol in the town of Khiam in southern Lebanon on December 23, 2024, under a delicate ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah. (AFP)
Armored vehicles of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol in the town of Khiam in southern Lebanon on December 23, 2024, under a delicate ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah. (AFP)
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UNIFIL Urges Timely Israeli Pullout from South Lebanon under Month-Old Truce Deal

Armored vehicles of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol in the town of Khiam in southern Lebanon on December 23, 2024, under a delicate ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah. (AFP)
Armored vehicles of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol in the town of Khiam in southern Lebanon on December 23, 2024, under a delicate ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah. (AFP)

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) called on Thursday for a timely Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon, citing what it called Israeli violations of a Nov. 27 ceasefire agreement with Iran-backed Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a US-brokered 60-day ceasefire that calls for a phased Israeli military pullout after more than a year of war, in keeping with a 2006 UN Security Council resolution that ended their last major conflict.

Under the agreement, Hezbollah fighters must leave positions in south Lebanon and move north of the Litani River, which runs about 20 miles (30 km) north of the border with Israel, along with a full Israeli withdrawal from the south.

In a statement, UNIFIL voiced concern over what it said was continued destruction by Israeli forces of residential areas, farmland and infrastructure in south Lebanon, deeming this a violation of UN Resolution 1701.

"UNIFIL continues to urge the timely withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces and the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces (in place of Hezbollah) in southern Lebanon, alongside the full implementation of Resolution 1701 as a comprehensive path toward peace," the statement said.

The Israeli military said it was looking into UNIFIL's criticism and declined further comment for the time being.

Under the terms of its truce with Hezbollah, Israeli forces can take up to 60 days to withdraw from south Lebanon but neither side can launch offensive operations.

Lebanon's army said it was following up with UNIFIL and the committee supervising the agreement regarding what it said was a deepened incursion of Israeli forces into some areas of southern Lebanese areas.

UNIFIL reiterated readiness to monitor the area south of the Litani River to ensure it remains free of armed personnel and weapons, except those of Lebanon's government and UNIFIL.

The ceasefire marked the end of the deadliest confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah since their six-week war in 2006. However, Israel has continued military operations against Palestinian fighters in Gaza.