Vigil in London for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel

In response to the demand for the release of Palestinian prisoners imprisoned in Israeli jails, a swarm of protesters gathered in central London on Saturday to demand that those detained for indefinitely renewable periods of time without being charged or having committed an offence.

In an effort to bring attention to the plight of Palestinian prisoners, activists wore red ribbons, which they claimed represented danger and urgency.

The vigil’s organizers stated that they wanted the gathering to launch a global campaign.

The Israeli army expended Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, the former director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza, from that hospital in December 2024, with particular attention. His lawyer and his family claim that Israeli custody, including prolonged periods of solitary confinement, has subjected him to abuse, torture, and unfair treatment.

According to Adnan Hmidan, chair of the Palestinian Forum in the UK and event organizer, “we are clear about this vocabulary because they are hostages, not like any prisoners,” and that Dr. Hussam Abu Safia is our current symbol.

According to Hmidan, “They collected him from the hospital while he was wearing his white coat, and in front of everyone in that hospital,” adding that some Palestinian detainees have no court dates and are unable to see their attorneys.

There are 9,300 Palestinian political prisoners and detainees in Israeli prisons, according to Addameer, a Palestinian human rights organization tracking political prisoners. The majority of them are detained without trial or charge.

Detainees held in Israeli military camps are not included in the figure, according to the group. According to Addameer, there are at least 3,350 Palestinians being detained from the occupied West Bank and held as “administrative detainees.”

About 10, 900 Palestinians were being detained in Israeli prisons or detention facilities on “security” grounds as of late 2025, according to official figures from the Israeli Prison Service, according to B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights organization. According to the same source, this number includes 2, 931 residents of Gaza.

At the London vigil, activists and advocates for human rights expressed hope that their campaign would eventually have a noticeable impact.

Eva Nazem told Al Jazeera, “It’s also a reminder that we haven’t forgotten what’s happening, and that people in Gaza and Palestine are appreciative of us doing everything we can.”

The government, Nazem said, “people who could do something are keeping quiet, not doing enough, and we just need to keep putting pressure on.”

“We have two things going for us here. The ceasefire is only in name, to remind people that it is still ongoing. It is ineffective. It’s unacceptable for people like Dr. Safia, who have been exemplary heroes, to be imprisoned and tortured, she said.

Hmidan, the director of the Palestinian Forum, wanted the crowds to stand in silence and hold placards, rather than refer to the protest in London as a “silent, peaceful act of solidarity.”

“Lower-side campaigns and lobbying are a number of options. We respect various forms of protest, he said, but this one concerns humanitarian issues.

Source: Aljazeera