Israeli new prison weapons a dangerous crime against detainees: Hamas

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
Today 15:46

Hamas condemned "Israel's" use of new weapons in prisons, calling it a systematic escalation that endangers Palestinian detainees and violates international law.

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Israeli security personnel stand outside Ofer military prison near occupied al-Quds on Saturday, February 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has denounced "Israel’s" introduction of new weapons into its prisons, describing the step as a "systematic and dangerous escalation against our defenseless prisoners, who are subjected to the most horrific violations."

In a statement, Hamas said the decision reflects "a fascist, vindictive policy aimed at liquidating the heroic prisoners and inflicting maximum physical and psychological harm on them." The group warned that the deployment of "electric stun devices, rubber bullets, and turning prisoners into testing grounds" amounts to "a full-fledged crime," threatening the lives of detainees "through direct or slow killing" and constituting "a blatant violation of all international laws."

Hamas held "Israel" "fully responsible for the lives and safety of the prisoners," urging international human rights organizations to "take urgent action to hold the occupation accountable and put an end to its continuous crimes against detainees inside its prisons."

Prison atrocities

The condemnation comes amid mounting evidence of abuse inside Israeli detention facilities. The Sde Teiman military site, where Gaza detainees are held, has been at the center of global outrage, with eyewitnesses and former guards describing systematic torture, sexual assault, and deaths in custody. UN experts and European officials have demanded independent investigations, warning that detainees are being subjected to treatment reminiscent of Abu Ghraib.

Testimonies from recently released prisoners further detail severe beatings, forced nudity, deprivation of food and medical care, and humiliation. Rights groups also highlight "Israel’s" extensive use of administrative detention, under which thousands of Palestinians are held indefinitely without trial or charge. According to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS), since October 2023, Israeli forces have detained over 19,000 Palestinians in the West Bank and al-Quds alone, including 585 women and 1,550 children. These figures exclude thousands more from Gaza, many of whom remain forcibly disappeared.

The PPS confirmed that at least 77 Palestinians have died in custody since the war began, including 46 detainees from Gaza. Dozens more have died in prisons and military camps but remain unacknowledged, with occupation authorities refusing to disclose names or causes of death. The bodies of 74 detainees killed during the war are still withheld, part of a total of 85 prisoner remains "Israel" continues to hold.

Prison Crimes

The death in custody of prominent Gaza orthopedic surgeon Dr. Adnan al-Bursh after nearly four months of detention has further fueled outrage. UN officials described his killing as "horrifying," while Palestinian groups accused "Israel" of deliberate medical neglect and torture.

Against this backdrop, Hamas stressed that the introduction of new weaponry into prisons is part of a broader, deliberate campaign to break the spirit of Palestinian detainees. For Hamas, the escalation confirms that international silence emboldens "Israel" to intensify its crimes against prisoners.