The Head of the Commission of Detainees' Affairs, Qadri Abu Baker, called on the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres‏, to increase pressure on the occupation authorities to release the Palestinian detainees, to avoid a possible tragedy in prisons in light of the spread of the Corona pandemic. Abu baker stated in a declaration issued today that many countries around the world which are at risk of Coronavirus intended to release a large number of its prisoners to avoid the spread of Coronavirus in prisons. He added "the Israeli government announced its intention to release more than 500 Israeli criminal prisoners to decrease the crowd in prisons, in an attempt to avoid the spread of Coronavirus, while it ignored the Palestinian detainees imprisoned in crowded prisons, including 700 sick detainees, 200 minors and many women and elderly. However, the international community and its organizations are silent in terms of the suffering of the Palestinian detainees after the spread of coronavirus cases in Israel including soldiers and detectives. Abu Baker clarified that the United Nations know very well that the Israeli prisons where Palestinian detainees are held are the most crowded prisons in the world, and lack the minimum requirements of health and safety. He also stated "we call on the organizations that describe themselves of being protective of human rights, especially the United Nations, to release the Palestinian detainees imprisoned in Israeli jails, especially sick detainees and elderly who spent more than ten years in prison, to avoid a real humanitarian tragedy against them.

The 18^th of March comes every year loaded of pain and suffering for Palestinian women. While women all over the world celebrate this day, the occupation authorities continue targeting the Palestinian women and arresting tens of them in bad conditions, violating the simplest human rights.

The Commission of Detainees' Affairs stated, in a report issued on the occasion of the International Women's Day that the Israeli forces intended to arrest Palestinian women since 1948, where 16.000 women have been arrested.

The Commission also stated that 27 of the total women Detainees are serving different sentences, where 12 of them are currently held without a sentence and 4 under the administrative detention.

The detainee Amal Taqatqa from Bait Fajjar/ Bethlehem is detained since 1/12/2014 and sentenced to 7 years of imprisonment.

The Head of the Commission of Detainees' Affairs, Qadri Abu Baker, stated that the occupation authorities practice the cruelest methods of torture and medical negligence against women detainees. They are subjected to brutal attacks, physical torture, continues threatening, deprivation of family visits, high fines and deprivation of education.

He also stated that institutions of women's rights are not doing their job effectively in terms of protecting Palestinian women detainees, in the light of the Israeli stubbornness and breaching all international rules which guarantee women detainees' rights.

Abu Baker confirmed that the world celebrates women on the 8^th of March every year, in appreciation of them and honoring them on their roles in different aspects of life, but ignores the Palestinian women and their suffering, especially female detainees whose rights are violated and subjected to repression and abuse.

The Commission of Detainees' Affairs, in cooperation with the Defense for Children International Movement, the YMCA and Wadi Hilweh Information Center/ Silwan, arranged a workshop at its headquarter in Ramallah on house arrest against children from Jerusalem: the occupation's policy of converting family into jailors. Participants presented papers that explain in details the issue of house arrest and its social and psychological impacts on children, in addition to live testimonies for many children who were subjected to this type of detention.

The Head of the Commission of Detainees' Affairs, Qadri Abu Baker, talked about difficult conditions and the fierce attack imposed on the Captive Movement, especially against children who have been transferred to Damoun prison, and the tragic situation they live in without their representatives of adult detainees.

Abu Baker discussed the issue of children detention in general, and talked in particular about the children from Jerusalem who are suffering from house arrest. He pointed out that there are 25 children under house arrest in Jerusalem. He added, in case the families of those children break the rules of house arrest, the Israeli courts would impose high fines against them.

Abu Baker called on the necessity of exposing the Israeli practices against detainees, especially children, sick and women detainees. He also called on increasing the efforts on the international level to protect our people.

His Excellency Abdulqader Al-Khatib, Deputy-Head of the Commission, welcomed the guests and appreciated the efforts of the participating institutions in this workshop. He stressed on the seriousness and the importance of the issue of minor detainees, and the gravity of house arrest due to its social and psychological impacts on children, his family and society.

The general director of the International Relations Unit, Raed Abu-Hommus, stressed on the importance of warning the parents of the seriousness of house arrest, and determining the legal and psychological methods to help and save them.

The released detainee Durgham A'raj talked shared his experience for more than two years in prison, as a representative on minor detainees from Jerusalem. He stated that minors from Jerusalem are isolated from other sections, and force them to accept the orders of house arrest by the Israeli Ministry of Justice, Intelligence, and the Ministry of Internal Security.  He said that the option of resorting to house arrest as a substitute for actual imprisonment destroys the child’s future and is reflected on his psychological condition and family situation. Thus, it is important to warn the parents of the seriousness of this procedure which cause depression to children.

The lawyer of the commission Hiba Masalha discussed the issue of house arrest in the Israeli law, and explained that the period of house arrest is not included in the real sentence against the child, and it may be extended many times. In some cases, child got imprisoned after ending the house arrest. She also stated that the Israeli courts resort to apply other alternatives against those minors, such as holding them at Ovic prison, a prison for criminals, or holding them in housing centers. However, Israeli courts usually resort to house arrest in order to preserve themselves in front of the international community, and to destroy the child morally, psychologically and socially.

The head of the Defense for Children International Movement, Khalid Quzmar, stated that arresting children according to the International Law should be on legal basis and for the shortest period possible, but the Israeli military courts target Palestinian children by arresting and humiliating them. They seek to destroy Palestinian children by applying alternatives of actual imprisonment, such as holding them under house arrest to end their childhood.

The representative of Wadi Hilweh Information Center, Fida' Rwaidy, provided statistical and documental information on the issue of house arrest, and revealed the number of house arrest cases by a filmed report.

Moreover, the representative of YMCA, Candy Jarayseh, stressed on the importance of holding rehabilitation sessions for the minor detainee and his family.

At the end of the workshop,the minor detainee Haitham Khwais from Jerusalem shared his experience and talked about house arrest and its tragic effects.

The Commission of Detainees' Affairs stated that the
administration of prisons must hold full responsibility on
detainees' lives and health conditions in case Coronavirus
spreads in prisons, God forbid.
The head of the Commission of Detainees' Affairs, Qadri Abu
Baker, declared in a statement issued by the Commission that
the Israeli authorities are currently holding thousands of
Palestinian detainees, distributed to 25 prisons and investigation
centers. He added that the majority of prisons' sections lack the
minimum of human needs, where most of the prisons have high
moisture, not ventilated well and full of insects and
cockroaches.
"Israeli prisons are overcrowded with a high number of
detainees, and the spaces dedicated for detention contradict all
international and humanitarian laws, which led to the spread of
skin and respiratory diseases such as flu and allergies, the head
of the Commission stated.
He also stated that in the light of the widespread epidemic
"Coronavirus" on a global level, we warn that it might reach
inside the Israeli prisons, which will result in disastrous
consequences and the administration of prisons should be
responsible for the lives of detainees.
He added "there are 700 sick detainees inside the Israeli prisons,
and tens of old detainees who have low immunity and suffer
from medical negligence. This means that the infection with
Coronavirus will kill detainees directly.

Abu Bakr called on the international organizations and the
International Committee of the Red Cross to compel the Israeli
authorities to provide all health and safety requirements for all
detainees, and sanitize all rooms and conduct medical
examinations on a regular basis.

The Commission of Detainees' Affairs stated that a crime is
being committed at the medical level against the detainee
Muwafaq Erouq, 77, who has cancer and going on a difficult
health condition after removing a large part of his stomach and
intestines.
The Commission also stated that the detainee is suffering from
severe pains and high temperature and that he lost weight and
could not eat or drink. He is being fed through a tube inserted in
his abdomen.
The Commission warned of the repeated transfer of the detainee
between Berzilai Hospital and Al-Ramlah clinic, which increase
his pain and worsen his health condition.
Doctors diagnosed him with cancer in the liver and stomach last
July, but the administration of prison procrastinated in his
chemotherapy which worsened his health condition.
It is worth mentioning that the detainee Muwafaq, from Yafa-
Nasrah, is imprisoned since 2003 and sentenced to 30 years of
imprisonment.

The Commission of Detainees' Affairs stated that the administration of prisons prevents the detainee Suhair Sulaimyeh from family visits since her detention in 30^th October 2019.

The Commission pointed out that Sulaimyeh is suffering from severe pains as a result of being shot during her arrest process by the Israeli occupation forces. A bullet is settled in her shoulder in addition to many fragments in the place of injury, which caused difficulty in moving her hand and severe pain in her stomach. She has been subjected to medical negligence, where she was transferred from hospital to the clinic of Al-Ramlah prison before getting well. Her health conditions deteriorated and she was only given painkillers.

The Commission stated that the Israeli occupation authorities prevents Sulaimyeh from contacting her husband and kids and all family members, and the contact is limited to lawyers visits only.

It is worthy to mention that the occupation army arrested Sulaimyeh from the spaces of Al-Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron/ south of the West Bank, and prevented the ambulance staff and the mosque guards from helping her before being transferred to Shaare Zedek Hospital.

Israeli occupation authorities arrested (471) Palestinians from the occupied territories in January, including (95) minors and (11) women. Detainees' institutions and human rights organizations (the Commission of Detainees and Ex-detainees' Affairs, the Palestinian Society Prisoner's Club, Al Dameer Association for Human Rights) pointed out that occupation authorities arrested (156) citizens from Jerusalem, (49) from Ramallah, (120) from Hebron, (37) from Jenin, (24) from Bethlehem, (16) from Nablus, (10) from Tulkarem, (25) from Qalqilia, (2) from Tubas, (2) from Salfit, (21) from Jericho and (9) from Gaza Strip. (5000) detainees are currently imprisoned in Israeli jails including (43) women, (180) minors and (430) administrative detainees, while (107) new administrative detention orders have been issued. Administrative detention The Israeli authorities continue to impose the administrative detention on (430) Palestinian detainees, based on military orders issued by the Israeli Intelligence, under the pretext of "confidential file". However, and according to the International Law, this detention affects human rights due to the absence of judicial procedures, and does not take into consideration the rules of International Law which set many restrictions on applying this kind of detention. Reports showed that the Israeli authorities issued (107) administrative detention orders in February 2020. The detainee Ahmad Zahran The Israeli authorities issued an order of renewing the administrative detention of the detainee Ahmad Zahran in March 2020. However, he was supposed to be free according to an agreement with the Israeli Intelligence. Zahran entered a hunger strike at the end of 2019, against his administrative detention and lasted for 113 days. He ended his strike in 14/1/2020, after reaching an agreement stating to reopen the interrogation after suspending his strike. After interrogating him at Al-Maskoubya detention center, the results showed nothing, but the Israeli authorities breached the agreement again and issued a new order of administrative detention against him. Zahran still suffers from bad health conditions due entering hunger strike twice at 2019. The first one lasted for 39 days and suspended after promising him to be freed, but the Israeli authorities renewed his detention for 4 months. The second strike was at the end of 2019 and lasted for 113 days, during which his health condition deteriorated, but the Israeli authorities breached the agreement again and renewed his administrative detention. It worths mentioning that Zahran spent a total of (15) years in prison, he is a father of 4 kids and he is arrested since March 2019. Minors at Damoun prison, continuous suffering The Israeli authorities continued practicing the arbitrary measures against detainees in general and minors in particular. The suffering of minor detainees who have been transferred from Ofer prison to Damoun prison is going on. Minors were subjected to a series of punishments and arbitrary measures since their transfer in January 2020, as they announced a hunger strike protesting against their transfer and holding them in a section that lacks the minimum elements of human life. The strike lasted for 5 days. In response of the strike, the administration of prison imposed many punitive measures against minor detainees, such as closing the section and preventing them from going out to the prison's yard, confiscating their belongings and depriving them of family visits. In addition, they were subjected to attacks and beating during the break in to their rooms, and they got tied to the beds. In a testimony of the adult detainee Mohammad Hamed, who was transferred to Damoun prison, he stated that he found all minor detainees tied with plastic ties. Another detainee testified that the conditions at Damoun prison are very bad, where the section of minors is under the ground and it is consisted of five rooms, three of which have no windows. There are no doors for the toilet, and there is no place for preying. The majority of minors have no covers or blankets, and the rooms are full of insects. Based on prolonged talks between detainees and the administration of prisons, it was agreed on February 2020 that the representatives of minor detainees to be transferred to Damoun prison to follow up the minor detainees. The Detainee Muwafaq Erouq encounters cancer and jailor The detainee Muwafaq Erouq, 77, who has cancer and going on a difficult health condition after removing a large part of his stomach and intestines. He is suffering from severe pains and high temperature and that he lost weight and could not eat or drink. He is being fed through a tube inserted in his abdomen. The repeated transfer of the detainee between Berzilai Hospital and Al-Ramlah clinic increased his pain and worsen his health condition. Institutions reviewed the suffering of the detainee Erouq since his detention in 2003. He was charge of transporting two young men who had committed martyrdom operation, and he was sentenced to 30 years of imprisonment. During his detention, he was transferred from Ishel prison to Hadareem prison and then to Jelboa prison where he spent 8 years and then to Ashkelon prison. Doctors diagnosed him with cancer in the liver and stomach on July 2019, but the administration of prison procrastinated in his chemotherapy which worsened his health condition. He is married and a father of 6 sons and daughters (Maher, Muna, Nuha, Waseem, Manar and Murad, and he has 21 grandsons. His family could not visit him since the beginning of 2020.

Israeli occupation authorities arrested (496) Palestinians from the occupied territories in January, including (67) minors and (16) women.

Detainees' institutions and human rights organizations (the Commission of Detainees and Ex-detainees' Affairs, the Palestinian Society Prisoner's Club, Al Dameer Association for Human Rights) pointed out that occupation authorities arrested (245) citizens from Jerusalem, (30) from Ramallah, (70) from Hebron, (43) from Jenin, (32) from Bethlehem, (14) from Nablus, (10) from Tulkarem, (21) from Qalqilia, (10) from Tubas, (1) from Salfit, (11) from Jericho and (9) from Gaza Strip.

5000 detainees are currently imprisoned in Israeli jails including (42) women, (200) minors and (450) administrative detainees, while (96) new administrative detention orders have been issued.

Torture at Al-Maskoubya interrogation center

 Detainees who have been recently moved to Al-Maskoubya interrogation center were subjected to physical and psychological torture such as: solitary confinement, long hours of interrogation, intensive beating, deprivation of sleep and sexual harassment, in addition to threatening them by detaining their relatives as a means of pressure against the detainee. They were threatened of being raped, tortured and ending their stay in Jerusalem.

Torture against detainees led to many dangerous injuries such as: fractures, loss of consciousness, vomiting, bleeding in various parts of the body such as (nose, mouth, hands, legs, and genital area).

Case of the detainee Jamil Dar'awi

The detainee Jamil Dar'awi, 40, has been subjected to torture where the occupation forces attacked his wife and children, and he got interrogated in the field before moving him to Al-Maskoubya interrogation center. He remained 45 days at the interrogation center, where he has been subjected to physical torture.

He underwent a military interrogation for 8 days, and was beaten severely by 10 interrogators and had continuous punches on the face causing loss of feeling. While beating, interrogators poured cold water on his body and pressed tightly on his neck and shoulders. He also had a blow on the head which caused fainting and then he lost the ability to speak. He also said that interrogators have extinguished cigarettes on his hand.

Case of the detainee Qassam Barghouthi

 The detainee Qassam Barghouthi was arrested from his house in 26/8/2019, after breaking into his house by Special Forces. He was beaten and attacked by dogs. He got interrogated in his house before arresting him, and then he was transferred to Hadassah Hospital. Then, he was transferred to Al-Maskoubya interrogation center, where he was subjected to many kinds of physical and psychological torture for 80 days. Occupation forces arrested his mother and brother and summoned his father for interrogation. He got beaten all over his body, hanged for long hours and deprived of using the toilet.

Occupation's policy in targeting minors

In 13/1/2020, the administration of prisons transferred (34) minors from Ofer prison to Damoun prison, without being accompanied by their representatives of adult detainees. They were transferred to a section that is not suitable for human life, full of insects and mice and lacks covers and blankets.

The administration of Damoun prison resorted to abuse and attack minors since the first day of transfer. Detainees announced the protest against the difficult conditions of the prison, which forced the administration of the prison to summon Special Forces to isolate detainees, cut off the power and water and confiscate their clothes and stuff. In addition, they tend to break into minors' rooms every hour, beat and assault them and deprive them from taking a shower. (7) Detainees were transferred to solitary confinement, and after announcing the hunger strike the administration brought (3) detainees from Ofer prison and Mejiddo prison as representatives on the behalf of minors.

A committee is formed to take care of minor detainees, organize the requirements of their daily lives, direct their behavior, defend their rights before the occupation prisons administration and develop an educational program for all levels.

Detainees' institutions confirms that the occupation authorities continue to violate the rules of international law and Geneva Convention to fight the Palestinian society using systematic policies backed by the judiciary device.

Detainees' institutions call on the international, local and regional parties to take effective procedural steps to ensure the protection of the Palestinian presence, and the protection of humanity, especially in light of the escalating policy of systematic torture.

The Commission of Detainees' Affairs cited the testimony of two minors within (34) minors that have been transferred from Ofer prison to Damoun prison, in preparation for implementing the policy of secluding minor detainees from the administrative committees.

 The lawyer of the commission cited the testimony of the minors Ahmad Anati, 15 years old, from Fawwar Camp/Hebron, and Fadi Ashraf Kesbeh, 17 years old, from Qalandia camp/Jerusalem, during a visist to Damoun prison.

She stated that the administration of Ofer prison started to transfer (34) minors in January 13, 2020 and allowed them to take their clothes, covers and a pillow in addition to stuff from the cantina. They did not allow minors to take their necessary stuff from the cells such as electric supplies, preventing them from being accompanied by their representatives.

The two minors confirmed that they arrived at section (1) at Damoun prison, which is deserted many years ago, full of insects, inappropriate for living and there is neither sunshine nor ventilation.  It is consisted of five narrow cells, including three without windows and two with very small windows and low ceiling. The walls are moist and toilets are located outside the cells. Minor detainees are not allowed to go out to the prison's yard except in case of beating. Besides, the section has a stinky smell, with torn mattress and bad quantity and quality of food is served, which minors refuse to eat the most of the time.

 The two detainees pointed out that the minors began protesting by knocking on the doors and screaming, in protest against the prevention of the representatives from accompanying them.

The also stated that the administration of the prison summoned Special Forces to suppress minors since the first day of transfer. Forces tend to break into the cells, cut off the power and water and attack them.   Each time, they choose two or three detainees, take them out of the section and beat them severely. The most cruel break in was in the fourth day of transfer, where (4) special units broke into minors' section, attacked them, handcuffed them for four hours, prevented them from using the toilet and beat them if they moved.

They also stated that minors declared entering a hunger strike in the second day of transfer, but the Special Forces tend to break in the section every one hour, beat the detainees, drag them while being asleep, use tear gas and confiscate their clothes and mattresses. Minors were forced to sleep on thin mattresses provided by the administration of the prison, where four detainees have been moved to solitary confinement at Jalamah detention center; Khalil Jabareen, Mahmoud Ewais, Reyad Al-'emor and Yehya Sbeiah.

They also affirmed that the administration of the prison tried to negotiate each minor separately, to force them accept the existing conditions in exchange of providing facilities and privileges. However, they all refused and insisted on having their representatives of adult detainees.

Moreover, they pointed out that the administration of the prison allowed three adult detainees to enter minors' section on January 16, 2020, who asked the administration to untie the handcuffs and return the confiscated clothes and covers.

However, the administration of the prison made a promise to end the crisis and put actors on minor detainees, but it did not keep the promise and returned the adults to their prisons. It also announced the prevention of administrative committees to enter the minors' sections in all prisons, and tried to gather all minors in one prison.

The Commission of Detainees' Affairs pointed out that the administration of the prison has informed detainees of its decision to impose punishments against them such as depriving them of family visits and imposing fines.

The Commission of Detainees' Affairs called on the international organizations concerned with children's rights, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Amnesty International to intervene urgently to pursue the complaints of minors who live in bad conditions.