Israeli forces abusing, torturing Palestinian prisoners, PPC reports
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The Palestinian Prisoners Club reports on the harsh circumstances Palestinians from Gaza imprisoned by the Israeli occupation are being exposed to.
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An Israeli army tank moves near the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024 (AP)
The Palestinian Prisoners Club (PPC) reviewed the latest intel and developments regarding the issue of Palestinians arrested from the Gaza Strip by the Israeli occupation forces in the wake of their ground invasion, highlighting the harsh detention conditions they are subjected to.
In its update on the situation of Palestinian prisoners, the PPC affirmed that the testimonies of Gazan detainees, including women and children, "reflect a high level of brutality, including torture, abuse, harsh, and humiliating detention conditions."
The organization emphasized that these harsh conditions lead to physical injuries among the detainees, in addition to the psychological effects resulting from torture and humiliation practiced by the occupation.
The PPC also revealed that two out of the seven detainees that were killed since October 7 in Israeli prisons were detained from Gaza; one detainee was identified while the other's identity is still not being revealed by the Israeli occupation forces.
The Israeli occupation has admitted to executing one detainee and disclosed the martyrdom of a group of detainees in the "Sde Teman" detention camp in the occupied city of Beer al-Sabe.
"The Israeli occupation still refuses to disclose any clear information about the detainees from Gaza in its prisons and camps; [it is] committing the crime of forced disappearance against them," the PPC said.
"The data made available to [human rights] organizations is limited and obtained through released detainees, as institutions are facing significant challenges in following up on and covering this issue," it added.
The Palestinian Prisoners Club continued by stating that the available data includes some names of camps and prisons where detainees taken from Gaza are held, such as the "Sde Teman" camp in Beer al-Sabe', "Anatot" camp, "Ofer" prison, "Damon" prison, and other camps affiliated with the Israeli occupation forces.
In later December, numerous Palestinians released from detention recounted their experiences while in captivity, and they testified that the detainees were being tortured at the hands of the IOF.
Two released detainees and a medic testified that the Israeli occupation was torturing detainees.
Marwan al-Hams, hospital director in the southern city of Rafah, told AFP that about 20 men released from Israeli custody "have bruises and marks of blows on their bodies."
He added that the freed Palestinians were admitted to Al-Najjar Hospital upon their release.
"While detained, the suspects are given sufficient food and water and treated according to protocol," the IOF told AFP in a statement.
Ayef Ali, aged 22, reported being apprehended in the eastern Zaitun suburb of Gaza City, and then subsequently transferred to an Israeli detention facility. He displayed cuts on his wrists and other parts of his body as evidence of his mistreatment.
"They (Israeli troops) tied our hands behind our backs for two days," he said.
"We were not allowed to eat or drink, neither were we allowed to use the toilet," he added. "There were only beatings and beatings."
Ali mentioned that the detainees were placed in an area along the border with the occupied territories where the conditions were described as "freezing cold."
"They threw cold water on us before transferring us to a prison, where it was again torture and beatings."
Khamis al-Bardini, aged 55, additionally claimed to have experienced torture at the hands of Israeli soldiers, asserting that they subjected detainees to "cold water poured on our heads through the night" coupled with "beatings during the day."
