Tunis — Caretaker President Moncef Marzouki, Saturday, called on powerful countries to mobilise for the Palestinian cause.

"It is time now for powerful countries to mobilise for the Palestinian cause because if it will last long, it could be the cause of endless wars," he warned.

Speaking Saturday in Tunis at the opening of the international conference in support to Palestinian prisoners, President Marzouki stressed that "States having an influence on Israel should compel it to open prisons where heroes, including women and children, are incarcerated in inhumane prisons and in contradiction with the Article banning torture in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."

"All countries must assume their responsibility to end the suffering of prisoners," he argued, urging the International Community to work to alleviate the sufferings of Gaza and all occupied territories.

He added: "For Israel, peace means surrender." However, he stressed, "the Arab world would never accept dictated instructions, as long as it lasts, to free all the Palestinian territories."

Initiated by civil society organisations in Tunisia and Europe, the meeting aims to raise the awareness of public opinion and Western media about the need to support the cause of Palestinian prisoners.

The aim, according to organisers, is to exert pressure on Israel to release thousands of Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli jails.

Several freed prisoners and sons of prisoners incarcerated in Israeli jails as well as experts in international law took part in this meeting.

Palestinian Minister in charge of the Issue of Prisoners Issa Karaka had announced Friday that he would not participate in this meeting "since no formal invitation had been sent to the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO).