Since 7 October 2023, the Israeli occupation authorities have escalated their violations against Palestinian prisoners, most notably medical negligence, sexual abuse, mistreatment, beatings, and solitary confinement.
The Israeli jail guards abuse the detainees by randomly beating them with batons, hurling sexual insults at them, making them urinate on another prisoner, punching and slapping them when they are being moved between different dormitories, making them kiss the Israeli flag, and beating those who refuse.
Since 7 October, there have been nine Palestinian detainees who have died in Israeli prisons after being subjected to different violations, including severe violence, medical negligence. The last of them was the detainee Khaled Al-Shawish, who passed away on Wednesday. Al-Shawish, who was born in the Al-Far’a camp north of Tubas, has been imprisoned since May 28, 2007, and he has received eleven life sentences.
Palestinian prisoners face various human rights violations, such as prolonged detention in solitary confinement cells, extreme overcrowding in collective cells with 2.5 square meters of space per prisoner, complete blackouts of water and electricity for up to 23 hours per day, cancellation of the ability to purchase food from the canteen, and confiscation of all personal belongings, including electrical appliances, winter clothing, and personal items. Additionally, prisoners are prevented from sleeping by having super bright flashlights in their cells for 24 hours a day, playing the Israeli occupation’s national anthem “Hatikva” nonstop, and lack of bed mattresses.
Even though it is proven that they did not take part in the fighting, hundreds of Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip have been subjected to enforced disappearances over the past four months. Many of them were detained in the 1948 occupied territories or the West Bank despite having residency permits prior to October 7. A number of them were taken into custody during the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, and the occupying forces keep silent regarding their whereabouts or their detention conditions.
Moreover; the Palestinian prisoners are deliberately subjected to medical negligence and deprivation of medical treatment.
Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli occupation forces arrested 27 Palestinians during a massive raid and search campaign across the West Bank, raising the number of Palestinian detainees behind Israeli bars since 7 October 2023, to 7,147.
These arbitrary arrests represent a flagrant violation of fundamental human rights, including the right to freedom, personal security, and the right not to be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, and the right to a fair trial.
These Israeli violations require the international community and human rights organisations to put pressure on the Israeli occupation authorities; ensure respect for human rights, and put an end to these oppressive practices.
