§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold discussions with representatives of the International Red Cross about the treatment of Palestinian prisoners of war in South Lebanon, and those moved to Israel, and the extent to which the Geneva convention is being observed.
§ Mr. HurdWe have already acted in support of the International Committee of the Red Cross in urging the Israeli Government to apply the principles of the relevant Geneva conventions to Israeli-held prisoners.
The Israeli Government have said in reply that captured Palestinian prisoners are being treated as civilain detainees under the fourth Geneva convention and not as prisoners of war under the third Geneva convention. According to the Israeli Government, this is because the Palestinians have been engaged in terrorist activities and are not themselves a party to the Geneva conventions. The Israeli Government assure us that Palestinian prisoners are being treated properly and humanely by the Israeli armed forces.