Inside Ofer's eerie alleys of torture, abuse, and 'fascism'
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Detainees describe the circumstances in the prison facilities as so appalling that they wish the ground would swallow them up rather than undergo the savage treatment.
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Palestinian detainees abducted and transported by Israeli occupation forces (AFP)
The Palestinian Commission for Detainees and Ex-Detainee Affairs has revealed troubling statements from Gaza captives detained in "Israel's" Ofer Prison. The reports, gathered from inmates Mohammed Jamous, 44, Fadi Ayad, 39, and Fadi Howaydi, 38, depict terrible assault and brutality from the onset of their captivity.
The Commission's lawyer visited them, and the inmates described the harsh conditions they endured, citing they experienced "real fascism".
"We were stripped of our clothes, beaten, tortured, and bound, with our eyes blindfolded," one of the detainees stated.
The detainees described the Israeli troops as "rabid beasts" who reveled in their misery, emphasizing their hunger, thirst, and the constant pain they were subjected to. They even expressed surprise at their ability to survive under such conditions.
They recalled how they were subjected to taunting, humiliation, and extreme torture. Their treatment was "so appalling" that they wished the ground would swallow them up instead of having to go through such inhumane treatment.
Shattered bones, open wounds, and brutal beatings are only some of the abuses they described, not to mention a whole other level of abuse in hospitals.
"Our minds cannot comprehend the extent of what is happening to us," said one of them.
The detainees also recounted being constantly confined in excruciating postures and subjected to attack dogs, poisonous gas, and pepper spray while in confinement. Many Gaza detainees lost consciousness numerous times as a result of the severe beating, with some dying under torture, including martyr Islam al-Sarsawi.
"Today, we are all sick," the captives reported. "Our bodies are exhausted, and we have become prey to illness and injury. No medical treatment or medication is provided. Despite these dire conditions, we cling to the hope of returning to our families alive."
9,930 detainees in Israeli occupation prisons
A joint statement by the Palestinian Prisoners Society and the Palestinian Commission for Detainees and Ex-Detainee Affairs announced that the total number of Palestinians detained by the occupation authorities in the occupied West Bank since October 7, 2023, has risen to approximately 9,930.
The increase came after Israeli occupation forces detained at least eight Palestinians from the West Bank in 24 hours in a detentions campaign that targeted the governorates of al-Khalil, Qalqilya, Tubas, and al-Quds in the occupied West Bank.
This figure includes those detained from their homes, at military checkpoints, those who were compelled to turn themselves in under pressure, and those who were held as hostages.
The data on detentions comprise those arrested from the West Bank, excluding Gaza, where the number of detainees is also estimated to be in the thousands.
The statement pointed out that the detentions are accompanied by widespread abuse, beatings, and threats against detainees and their families, in addition to sabotage and destruction of citizens’ homes.
Read more: Harrowing tales of torture inside 'Israel's' Sde Teiman prison: NYT
Two Palestinian detainees martyred under torture while in Israeli custody
Two days ago, the Palestinian Commission for Detainees and Ex-Detainee Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners Society reported the martyrdom of 2 Palestinian detainees, including the aforementioned Islam Al-Sarsawi, 42, from al-Shujaiya District in Gaza.
Al-Sarsawi was detained during a recent raid on the Al-Shifa Hospital and was reportedly tortured at the infamous Sde Teiman concentration camp.
The Commission also confirmed the martyrdom of Omar Abdel Aziz Jneid, 26, from Jabalia Gaza, who died on June 17 while in Israeli custody after being subjected to severe interrogation and torture.
His family had been unaware of his death since his arrest alongside his brother Yasser on December 24, 2023. The family’s attempts to obtain information from human rights organizations had been unsuccessful due to "Israel's" refusal to provide information.
'Israel' used waterboarding, unleased dogs on Gaza detainees: UN
The United Nations Human Rights Office concluded that Palestinians abducted from Gaza since October 7 have been tortured.
The UN report gathered testimony from men, women, and children who had been detained, who described being "held in cage-like facilities, stripped naked for prolonged periods, wearing only diapers."
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has lately said testimony received by his office suggested Israeli authorities have inflicted "appalling acts" on Palestinians, including "waterboarding and the release of dogs."
Many have been held without charge or access to a lawyer and in "deplorable conditions", the report added.
“The testimonies gathered by my office and other entities indicate a range of appalling acts, such as waterboarding and the release of dogs on detainees, amongst other acts, in flagrant violation of international human rights law and international humanitarian law,” Turk stressed.
The report indicated that "at least 53 Palestinian detainees" have died in Israeli detention facilities. The 23-page document also highlighted "allegations of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment," including sexual abuse of both women and men. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk expressed grave concern about the large number of individuals detained.
