Detainees' Institutions: occupation authorities arrested 496 Palestinians in January 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.