Palestinian detainees in Israel are launching an initiative to press for prisoner of war status, the Palestinian Authority prisoners minister said Thursday.

Palestinians in Israel's Eshel jail have developed a national legal and political program to push their cause internationally, Issa Qaraqe said in a statement.

The initiative aims to secure treatment in line with the Geneva Conventions, rather than Israel's military orders which govern Palestinians under occupation, the minister added.

Qaraqe called for the plan to be presented at the UN Human Rights Council meeting in September, and next UN General Assembly meeting.

There are 4,423 Palestinian prisoners currently being held in 20 Israeli detention centers, according to a report released by the Palestinian Prisoners Society last week.