According to information obtained by Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, Israeli forces arrested hundreds of Palestinians during its military invasions into the eastern areasofRafah, Khan Younis and Beit Lahiya.
Most of the detaineeswere released shortly after being interrogated.
In their interviews, they reported severe abuse and ill-treatment that amounts to torture.
Al Mezan lawyers visited and interviewed 26 of the released detainees and recorded testimonies on the conditions of their arrest and interrogation by Israeli authorities.
According to the reports, Israeli security personnel mistreated and abused the detainees during the time of their detention.
The reports detail systematic torture and ill-treatment during interrogation whereby detainees were blindfolded andforced to sit in stress positions, i.
e.
on small chairs with their hands cuffed behind their backs and legs shackled.
The testimonies describe the use of sleep deprivation as a form of coercion; frequent and severe beating, including blows to the face and genitalia, sometimes with rifle butts; and verbal abuse.
The interrogations included threats of home demolition.
Al Mezan’s investigation shows that Israeli authorities indicted seven of the detainees for offenses while another seventeen cases are under review.
Al Mezan’s Legal Aid Unit continue to follow up with the detainees and communicate with their families.
Of several people who were proclaimed missing during Israel’s full-scale military operation, Al Mezan located the individuals within the Israeli prison system and alerted the families.
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights asserts that torture is an unjustifiable crime.
Torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment are prohibited under international law.
This is also the case during times of armed conflicts.
Nevertheless, Israeli forces continue to use these practices on Palestinian detainees.
Various forms of ill–treatment are also reported including prolonged solitary confinement, medical negligence and the banning of family visits.
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights strongly condemns Israel’s continued systematic and grave violations ofinternational law vis-à-vis Palestinian detainees.
Al Mezan remains vigilant in promoting the respect of Palestinian detainee rights and will continue to expose Israeli violations within the context of Israel’s arrest and detention policies.
Al Mezan calls on the international community to promptly intervene and halt the violations, critically the use of torture, against Palestinian detainees, and to oblige Israel to address the administrative detention policy and unlawful practices and policies that are in violation of international human rights standards.
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