Palestinian detainees liberated from Israeli penitentiaries assert that following the Hamas assaults on Israel on 7 October, custodians perpetrated mistreatment and engaged in collective retribution.
They have recounted instances of being struck with sticks, subjected to unleashed dogs, and having their clothing, food, and blankets confiscated.
A female detainee reported being subjected to rape threats and experiencing two instances of tear gas being deployed inside the cells by the guards.
The
interviewed a total of six individuals, all of whom claimed to have experienced physical assault prior to their release from prison.
According to the Palestinian Prisoners Society, certain guards are accused of urinating on prisoners who were restrained with handcuffs. Furthermore, it should be noted that a total of six detainees have tragically lost their lives while under Israeli captivity within the last seven weeks.
Israel asserts that all of its inmates are detained in accordance with legal protocols.
Israel released Mohammed Nazzal, an eighteen-year-old, this week as part of a prisoner exchange with Hamas in Gaza, where Israeli women and children were being held hostage.
Since August, he has been detained in Nafha Prison without any charges and claims to be unaware of the reasons behind his imprisonment.
Mohammed extended an invitation for me to visit his residence, located in a meandering narrow pathway within the settlement of Qabatiya, near Jenin, in the northern region of the occupied West Bank.
The uppermost chamber of the ancient residence was filled with a haze of smoke emanating from twelve lit cigarettes. A relative moved around the guests, offering them a thermos of coffee and a lofty stack of miniature paper cups.
Mohammed was seated between rows of male relatives, with both of his hands tightly wrapped in bandages. He held them up in front of him, resembling a boxer, with the tips of his thumbs slightly visible.
According to him, Israeli prison guards entered his cell ten days ago equipped with a microphone and speaker, and attempted to incite the detainees by applauding and loudly calling out their names.
“Upon realizing our lack of response,” he states, “they commenced assaulting us.”
“They organized us in a manner where the older prisoners were positioned at the rear, while the younger ones were placed at the front.” I was apprehended and subjected to physical assault. I endeavored to safeguard my cranium, while they endeavored to inflict harm upon my lower extremities and upper limbs.
The family presented us with medical records and X-rays obtained from Palestinian medics in Ramallah who conducted an examination on Mohammed subsequent to his release on Monday.
We presented the X-ray images to two doctors in the United Kingdom, who verified the presence of fractures in both hands. Mohammed was unsurprised.
“Initially, I experienced significant discomfort,” he informs me. “Subsequently, upon realizing their malfunction, I discontinued their usage.” I exclusively utilized them just for the purpose of attending to my physiological needs in the lavatory.
According to him, his fellow inmates provided assistance with eating, drinking, and using the restroom. He refrained from seeking medical assistance from the guards due to apprehension of further physical abuse.
The Israel Prison Service has contradicted Mohammed's account, asserting that he underwent a medical examination prior to his release from prison, during which no medical condition was identified.
The prison service additionally published a video depicting the teenager's departure from prison and his subsequent boarding of a Red Cross bus prior to his release of evidence, asserting that this refutes his claims.
The video shows the teenager's hands without any bandages, dangling by his sides, even as he gets onboard the bus. However, his hands are not visible for most of the film.
Mohammed informed us that his initial medical intervention took place aboard the Red Cross mobile clinic.
Upon his return home, a medical assessment from a hospital in Ramallah suggested that if his fractures did not heal naturally, a plate might need to be surgically implanted.
We requested verification of Mohammed's account from the Red Cross. In their statement, they asserted that they engage in direct communication with the authorities responsible for detaining individuals in order to address any apprehensions over the prisoners' medical well-being. As a result of this conversation, we refrain from discussing specific cases in a public manner.
Mohammed observes that the conduct of the guards within Israeli prisons underwent a transformation subsequent to the Hamas assaults on October 7th.
According to his account, he alleges that the guards physically assaulted them by kicking and striking them with sticks. He further details an incident where one guard reportedly stepped on his face.
“They entered accompanied by their canines,” he elaborates. “They permitted the dogs to assault us and subsequently initiated physical violence against us.”
“They removed the mattresses, clothing, pillows, and scattered our food on the floor.” Individuals were filled with extreme fear.
He displays the scars on his back and shoulder, attributing them to the beatings he endured.
“The dog that assaulted me had a muzzle equipped with highly pointed edges - its muzzle and claws inflicted marks all over my body,” he informs me.
According to him, such beatings occurred on two occasions at Megiddo Prison, and happened numerous times at Nafha Prison.
Additional Palestinian detainees with whom we have spoken have noted a comparable transformation within Israeli penitentiaries subsequent to the Hamas assaults, perceiving it as a form of "retaliation" against Palestinian inmates for the activities perpetrated by Hamas.
According to Abdullah al-Zaghary, the leader of the Palestinian detainees Society, numerous inmates have reported observing their cellmates being subjected to severe physical beatings on their faces and bodies. Additionally, there have been reports of guards peeing on detainees who were restrained with handcuffs.
We requested a statement from the Israel Prison Service about these claims. It was said that all detainees were apprehended in accordance with the law and were granted all the fundamental rights mandated by the legal system.
The statement indicated that we had no knowledge of the claims you have described. “However, it is important to note that prisoners and detainees possess the entitlement to submit a complaint that will undergo a thorough examination by authorized entities.”
Lama Khater, who was just freed from prison, posted a video on social media claiming that an intelligence officer had directly and explicitly threatened her with sexual assault immediately after her detention in late October.
"I was restrained with handcuffs and had a blindfold covering my eyes," she disclosed during the interview captured on film. “I received threats of sexual assault...” The intention to intimidate me was evident.
Israel stated that these claims were put forth by her legal representative and were refuted by the prisoner directly. The jail service lodged a complaint alleging incitement.
However, Lama Khater communicated to us via telephone that female inmates, including herself, were certainly subjected to rape threats, and that tear gas was deployed against detainees in their dormitory at Damon Prison.
According to the Palestinian Prisoners Society, there has been a significant increase in the number of Palestinian fatalities while in detention after the 7 October attacks. Six individuals have died in jail since that specific date.
Israel evaded our query over this matter, nevertheless, they stated that four details have perished on separate occasions within the past few weeks. Furthermore, they claimed that the prison service lacks information regarding the causes of these deaths.
Mohammed Nazzal, residing in the village of Qabatiya, experiences persistent agony in his hands, particularly during nighttime.
Mutaz informed me that the adolescent he was acquainted with he previously had not been released from incarceration.
“This is an unfamiliar version of Mohammed,” he stated. “He displayed great bravery and courage.” Currently, his heart is shattered and overwhelmed with fear.
According to him, the Israeli army conducted a military operation in the city of Jenin, which is located 4km (2.5 miles) away. He expressed that the person in question showed visible signs of fear.