The Palestinian Authority (PA) in the occupied West Bank continues to detain the relatives of wanted persons, in order to pressure them to surrender.
Detainees are routinely subject to torture, medical neglect, and other mistreatments.
PA security services in the city of Beitunia have arrested the father of the former political detainee Ahmed Hreish, and Ahmed’s brother, Muhammad, after raiding and searching the family home.
Ahmed was not at home at the time of the raid and remains free.
PA forces also arrested Mufeed Zalloum, Ahmed’s father-in-law.
Another Palestinian, Hajj Munther Raheeb, the owner of a carpentry shop, has also been arrested by PA forces. The PA has claimed that an explosion occurred in the shop, which led to Raheeb’s arrest.
However, the Committee of Families of Political Detainees in the West Bank has said that “PA agencies spread rumours and fabricate events to justify their campaign of arrests against prominent figures and activists in the West Bank.”
Raheeb was arrested 9 months ago and only released after several months of detention, which involved various forms of mistreatment.
European Union representatives recently criticised the PA security forces, who receive EU funds and training from various member states, for arresting dozens of political activists in the West Bank.
