IOF detain over 100 Palestinians, humanitarian catastrophe ahead
3 Min Read
The Israeli Occupation Forces detained in the past 72 hours more than 100 Palestinians across the West Bank and Al-Quds; warnings of an upcoming humanitarian catastrophe in Israeli Occupation prisons.
-
Palestinian flag is pictured on the fence of Israel’s "Ofer" prison near the city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, on July 12, 2021 (AFP)
The Ministry of Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners warned of a humanitarian catastrophe that could occur in Israeli prisons, following a sharp increase in the number of Palestinian detainees given the detention campaigns the Israeli occupation has been conducting across the Palestinian governorates of the West Bank and Al-Quds.
Over the past three days, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) have arrested more than 100 Palestinians who, according to the Ministry, will inevitably be subjected to a variety of cruel and inhumane measures.
The ministry went on to say that the practices in question ranged from the imprisonment of Palestinians in the investigation and detention centers, where there was significant overcrowding of detainees, particularly in the "Etzion" and Huwara centers, to field investigation and the shackling of hands and legs, for long hours. The prisoners were also tortured physically and psychologically in an assortment of methods.
The Ministry added that the overcrowding in prisons was brought about by Itmar Ben-Gvir, the occupation's police minister, who decided to outlaw early release, halt the Prison Department's recent mass transfers, close some prison sections, and halt the transfer of prisoners to other prisons.
Read more: Israeli authorities succumb to demands of Palestinian detainees
The Ministry argued that this overcrowding of detainees directly impacts the quality of prison life and adds additional strain on long-time prisoners to accommodate the demands of incoming detainees. In the statement, it was further emphasized that in many instances, the prison administration was failing to fulfill its obligations to give inmates a "decent life".
The Ministry also declared that "in the face of these dangerous facts, everyone is required to exercise his role, assume his responsibilities towards the fascist extremist Government's policies and endeavor to curb this ongoing aggression against our people, in particular the issue of prisoners and detainees, and ensure that prisoners receive their full rights, as stipulated in international conventions and treaties."
Al-Akhras' life in danger, no information since detainment: Exclusive
An Israeli occupation force stormed the house of Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Maher Al-Akhras at dawn Wednesday before arresting him, his wife Taghreed Al-Akhras confirmed to Al Mayadeen, adding that she feared for his life due to him suffering a number of health issues.
In the early hours of Wednesday, IOF forces detained a number of leaders from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and Hamas Resistance groups in a number of raids targeting the occupied West Bank.
"قوة إسرائيلية اقتحمت المنزل فجراً واعتقلت الشيخ #ماهر_الأخرس وهو مريض ونتخوف على صحته"
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) August 23, 2023
زوجة الأسير ماهر الأخرس لـ #الميادين #فلسطين pic.twitter.com/tH6hXCN4A2
Al-Akhras, who is a former prisoner, declared immediately after his arrest that he was going on an open hunger strike.
"We fear for [his] life, but his will is stronger, and he provides us [with] patience, and God willing, he will emerge victorious," she added.
The prisoner's wife further expressed her concern that the family has not yet received any information about his condition since his detainment.
Read more: 1,000 Palestinian prisoners go on hunger strike in IOF prisons
