Adams extends condolences on death of Palestinian hunger striker

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD has expressed his “profound sadness at the death of Palestinian hunger striker Mazan al-Magrebi”.

The Sinn Féin leader has extended his “condolences to his family and friends, the Palestinian people and to the Palestinian Authority”.

Gerry Adams said:

“I want to express my profound sadness at the death of Palestinian hunger striker Mazan al-Magrebi and to extend my condolences to his family and friends, the Palestinian people and to the Palestinian Authority.

“On Friday we remember the death on hunger strike of Bobby Sands; the first of ten republican prisoners to die. Irish people are very mindful of the experience of hunger strike in our own history and on their behalf I want to extend my solidarity to the 1600 Palestinian prisoners who are on hunger strike.

“The mistreatment of prisoners by the Israeli government must be condemned. The brazen violations of the human rights of Palestinian prisoners is a breach of international law.

“The Irish government has a responsibility to challenge the Israeli government on its penal policy, as well as the wider denial of rights to the Palestinian people.

“I would urge the Israeli government to abandon its apartheid policies and enter into a meaningful process of peace talks. It urgently needs to defuse the prison crisis by releasing all of those held under internment orders and implement a prison regime that respects the rights of prisoners.