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Hamas hails Arab League decision on prisoners

GAZA, May 7 (KUNA) -- The dismissed Hamas government in Gaza praised on Monday the decision taken by the Arab League to task the Arab group at the United Nations in Geneva to include cause of the Palestinian prisoners in agenda of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Dr. Atallah Abul-Sabah, the minister of prisoners' affairs, hailed in a statement to KUNA the league decision to include this question into the agenda of the council at its upcoming session in June, but he expressed hope that such a decision would ultimately lead to action to push for an end to this plight.
Dr. Abul-Sabah called for greater efforts to rally support of politicians, human rights activists and academic figures for this cause. "Israel will remain above the law, in this respect, unless there is Arab solidarity and interaction with the cause of the prisoners," the Hamas official said.
He called on Arab states that have Israeli diplomatic representation to expel the Israeli ambassadors, saying such action "is the least that should be done" against the Tel Aviv ill-treatment of the Palestinians held in its prisons.
The Arab League Council of Permanent Delegates, at a session on Sunday, also called for Arab efforts to nudge the international council compel Israel implement the Fourth Geneva Convention and sign the relevant additional protocols that stipulate allowing international agencies visit the inmates in prison.
Up to 300 Palestinian prisoners have been on hunger strike since 21 days ago, protesting ill-treatment behind bars. (end) mzt.rk KUNA 071044 May 12NNNN