UNISON today called on controversial security firm G4S to cease commercial activity in Israel and Palestine territories, because it is in breach of the Geneva Convention.

General secretary Dave Prentis has written to the chief executive of G4S, Ashley Almanza, stating the union's concerns.

As the occupying power, and a signatory to the 4th Geneva Convention, Israel is under a number of legal obligations with regards to prisoners.

However G4S currently provides the following services:

• security for the Ketziot and Megiddo prisons in Israel, to which Palestinians are transferred in breach of the convention's stipulation not to detail prisoners outside an occupied territory;
• the central command room at Israel's Ofer prison in the illegally occupied West Bank; and
• security systems at Israel's Kishon and Jerusalem detention centres, where there is evidence that Palestinians are tortured.

"I understand that your activities in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories only account for approximately 1% of G4S profits," Mr Prentis says.

"However, I believe that the reputational risks that these activities pose for your company are far greater [than profit] and I would urge you withdraw now from doing business in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories."

UNISON working internationally