A United Nations human rights office said Friday it was “gravely concerned” by Israel’s dramatic increase in arrests of Palestinians and called for an investigation into allegations of torture in Israeli custody.
Israel has arrested more than 3,000 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since the war in Gaza began in early October, and a record number have been detained without charge or trial, a statement from the United Nations Office for human rights. in a statement the occupied Palestinian territories.
In a two-month period, six Palestinian men died in Israeli custody, the highest number of cases in such a short period in decades, he said.
Following Hamas’ October 7 attack and Israel’s subsequent bombing of Gaza, Palestinians held in Israeli prisons have reported worsening conditions, including overcrowding, limited access to food and water, and limited visits by family members or lawyers. Many said they were victims of beatings and abuse by guards, including threats of rape.
“The massive increase in the number of Palestinians arrested and detained, the number of reports of mistreatment and humiliation suffered by those in custody, and the alleged failure to respect basic due process raise serious questions about Israel’s respect for humanitarian law, of international law and international standards. human rights law,” the United Nations Human Rights Office said.
“All cases of deaths in custody and allegations of torture and other ill-treatment must be investigated and accountability ensured.”
The Israel Penitentiary Service said that all prisoners in its custody “are detained in accordance with the provisions of the law” and that the prisoners’ deaths are under investigation.
As part of a truce agreement with the Palestinian group Hamas, which controls Gaza, Israel has released 240 Palestinian women and teenagers from its prisons. According to Israeli records, more than half were detained without charge.
During the week-long lull in fighting, Israel arrested more than 260 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society said.
Source: Terra
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