British activists censure G4S role in torture of Palestinians

British activists have staged a protest outside the London headquarters of security company G4S over its complicity in the illegal detention and torture of Palestinian children in the Israeli regime’s prisons.

Pro-Palestine activists took park in the demonstration on Friday, which was organized by the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) and Inminds, to condemn the private company’s provision of expertise and security systems to Israeli jails.

A big placard written “Free All Palestinian Political Prisoners” was hanging from the wall outside the G4S office in London and some protesters were hanging posters on their neck reading “G4S Complicit Israeli Torture of Palestinian children”.

Shireen Issawi, a former prisoner, whose brother Samer has rejected food for more than six months, said, “Deliver the voice of the oppressed prisoners and hold this company G4S accountable for its responsibility towards these prisoners and its partnership to the occupation in its inhumane practices.”

The protest was also in solidarity with Palestinians on hunger strike. Ayman Sharawna and Samer Issawi have both been without food for over six months whilst Yousef Yassin, Jafar Azzidine and Tarek Qa’adan have each been without food and liquid nutrients for more than two months.

G4S has been heavily criticized for its cooperation with the Israeli regime, including providing equipment and services to Israeli checkpoints, illegal settlements, the apartheid wall and jails where Palestinian political prisoners, including children, are held in violation of international law and subjected to mistreatment and torture.