18 sept 2018
The Israeli administration of Gilboa prison fined a Palestinian prisoner after an light bulb accidentally fell down and injured him.
According to the Palestinian Prisoner Society (PPS), prisoner Mahmoud Harzallah suffered an injury in his right hand after a light bulb fell on him in the cell.
Harzallah told a lawyer from the PPS that he was transferred to Afula hospital for medical assistance and then taken back to the prison, where he was accused of being responsible for the fall of the bulb and ordered to pay a penalty of 200 shekels.
In a separate incident, the Israeli prison service has been depriving prisoner Wisam Khashan of receiving visits since he and two fellow detainees were assaulted by Nahshon forces inside the military court of Salem on the first of June 2018.
Khashan added that he was transferred from Megiddo jail to Gilboa prison after his jailers learned of his intention to file a complaint against the Nahshon forces.
According to the Palestinian Prisoner Society (PPS), prisoner Mahmoud Harzallah suffered an injury in his right hand after a light bulb fell on him in the cell.
Harzallah told a lawyer from the PPS that he was transferred to Afula hospital for medical assistance and then taken back to the prison, where he was accused of being responsible for the fall of the bulb and ordered to pay a penalty of 200 shekels.
In a separate incident, the Israeli prison service has been depriving prisoner Wisam Khashan of receiving visits since he and two fellow detainees were assaulted by Nahshon forces inside the military court of Salem on the first of June 2018.
Khashan added that he was transferred from Megiddo jail to Gilboa prison after his jailers learned of his intention to file a complaint against the Nahshon forces.
The Israeli army abducted, Tuesday, five Palestinians and injured four others, after dozens of soldiers and officers accompanied nearly 300 colonialist settlers in provocative tours into the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in occupied Jerusalem.
Firas al-Dibis, the media coordinator of the Waqf and Islamic Endowment Department in occupied Jerusalem, said the soldiers, including undercover officers, assaulted many Palestinians, wounding four employees of the Waqf department.
He added that the wounded persons received the needed treatment, before they were moved to the al-Makassed hospital, in Jerusalem. video
Al-Dibis also stated that the soldiers abducted five Palestinians, including Waqf Employees, identified as Haitham Halawani, Raed Zghayyar, Salman Abu Sbeih, Gheith Nasser Gheith and Mahmoud Mo’nes. video video
The attacks took place following a series of provocative tours by soldiers and colonialist settlers into the holy site through the al-Magharba Gate.
In related news, the soldiers abducted two young men, identified as Hamza Zghayyar and Rami Fakhouri, from the Old City.
Firas al-Dibis, the media coordinator of the Waqf and Islamic Endowment Department in occupied Jerusalem, said the soldiers, including undercover officers, assaulted many Palestinians, wounding four employees of the Waqf department.
He added that the wounded persons received the needed treatment, before they were moved to the al-Makassed hospital, in Jerusalem. video
Al-Dibis also stated that the soldiers abducted five Palestinians, including Waqf Employees, identified as Haitham Halawani, Raed Zghayyar, Salman Abu Sbeih, Gheith Nasser Gheith and Mahmoud Mo’nes. video video
The attacks took place following a series of provocative tours by soldiers and colonialist settlers into the holy site through the al-Magharba Gate.
In related news, the soldiers abducted two young men, identified as Hamza Zghayyar and Rami Fakhouri, from the Old City.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) has reported that Israeli soldiers abducted, on Tuesday at dawn, eleven Palestinians, in several parts of the occupied West Bank.
The PPS stated that the soldiers abducted Rania Wajeeh Dweik, after stopping her at the Container roadblock, northeast of Bethlehem.
It added that the soldiers invaded and ransacked many homes in Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank, and abducted Ahmad Mahmoud al-Qadi, Fadi Yousef Ghneimat and Bassam Mohammad Ismael.
Furthermore, the soldiers abducted Karim Abu Latifa and Shadi Ya’coub, from their homes in Qalandia refugee camp, north of occupied East Jerusalem.
The PPS also said that the soldiers abducted Samer Hamdi from his home in Nablus, in the northern part of the West Bank.
In Qalqilia, in northern West Bank, the soldiers abducted Ameed Zamari, Wahbi al-Khouli and Ayyoub Farouq Abu Haniyya.
In addition, the soldiers abducted a former political prisoner, identified as Mohammad Abdul-Latif Sheebani, from his home in Jenin, in northern West Bank.
The PPS stated that the soldiers abducted Rania Wajeeh Dweik, after stopping her at the Container roadblock, northeast of Bethlehem.
It added that the soldiers invaded and ransacked many homes in Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank, and abducted Ahmad Mahmoud al-Qadi, Fadi Yousef Ghneimat and Bassam Mohammad Ismael.
Furthermore, the soldiers abducted Karim Abu Latifa and Shadi Ya’coub, from their homes in Qalandia refugee camp, north of occupied East Jerusalem.
The PPS also said that the soldiers abducted Samer Hamdi from his home in Nablus, in the northern part of the West Bank.
In Qalqilia, in northern West Bank, the soldiers abducted Ameed Zamari, Wahbi al-Khouli and Ayyoub Farouq Abu Haniyya.
In addition, the soldiers abducted a former political prisoner, identified as Mohammad Abdul-Latif Sheebani, from his home in Jenin, in northern West Bank.
Mohamed al-Rimawi 24
A Palestinian youth was pronounced dead on Tuesday morning, hours after he was brutally assaulted by Israeli forces when they arrested him from his home in the occupied West Bank.
Bashir al-Rimawi said his brother Mohamed was kidnapped by Israeli forces and violently beaten all the way through.
He added that his brother was transferred to Abu Kabir Forensic Center in territories occupied in 1948 for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
Mohamed, aged 24, was aggressively beaten by Israeli soldiers using riffle buts until he fell into a coma. He was dragged to an unknown location shortly afterwards.
Palestinian Beaten to Death by Israeli Soldiers
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) has reported that Israeli soldiers killed, on Tuesday at dawn, a young Palestinian man after abducting him from his home, and repeatedly assaulting him.
The PPS said undercover Israeli soldiers abducted Mohammad Zaghloul al-Khatib, 24, from his home in Beit Rima town, northwest of Ramallah, in central West Bank.
It quoted his brother stating that nearly 30 Israeli soldiers invaded the family home to abduct Mohammad, before continuously and repeatedly assaulting him in his home until he fell unconscious.
He added that the soldiers then took him brother to an unknown destination, and the family was later contacted by an Israeli intelligence officer, asking them whether Mohammad had any “preexisting conditions,” and they assured the officer that their son was completely healthy.
His mother said that the soldiers beat him on the head, then smashed his head several times against the wall until he fell down, unconscious. They handcuffed his prone body, then left the scene, leaving him unconscious and handcuffed with no medical attention.
On Tuesday morning, the Palestinian District Coordination Office was contacted by its Israeli counterpart, informing them that Mohammad was dead, without setting a date for transferring his corpse back to his family.
The family said the soldiers resorted to the excessive use of force against Mohammad, continuously beating him up while abducting him, and accused the military of executing their son.
They stated that the soldiers started beating Mohammad up immediately after breaking into his room, and continued to assault him until he lost consciousness before the soldiers carried him and left the building.
Addameer Prisoner Support organization said that Mohammad’s brother told them that a large group of undercover soldiers entered the home at 4 am and assaulted his mother, before regular army units invaded the house and forced the parents and three children into one corner of the house. They then took Mohammad to another room, where they punched, kicked and clubbed him, and beat him with rifle butts until he fell unconscious.
Mohammad was previously shot by the Israeli military two years ago, in the leg.
Addameer stated that, “Killing this young man, who posed no threat to the soldiers, violates international law”. The group added, “This lethal, excessive use of force is an extrajudicial assassination”. The group called on the United Nations to form a committee to investigate this and other crimes by the Israeli military.
The PPS held Israel fully responsible for killing Mohammad, and added that this crime is added “to a long lost of similar crimes and executions, carried out by the soldiers against Palestinian detainees.”
It added that the army has killed 217 Palestinian political prisoners, since Israel occupied the rest of Palestine in 1967.
The PPS stated that the silence of the international human rights organizations is granting Israel a green light to continue its crimes against the Palestinian people, especially since Israel continues to violate the basic rights of the Palestinians with impunity.
The PPS also said that approximately %95 of the Palestinians who are abducted and imprisoned by the Israeli army have been subjected to various forms of torture, during their arrest, and during interrogation.
Furthermore, the PPS stated that Mohammad is the third Palestinian detainee to be killed by the army this year, as the soldiers killed Yassin Saradeeh, 33, who was shot and beaten repeatedly while lying on the ground, on February 22nd, in addition to Aziz ‘Oweisat, 53, who died on May 20, at an Israeli hospital from serious complications after he was assaulted by several soldiers in the prison, when they claimed he attacked an officer with a sharp object.
A Palestinian youth was pronounced dead on Tuesday morning, hours after he was brutally assaulted by Israeli forces when they arrested him from his home in the occupied West Bank.
Bashir al-Rimawi said his brother Mohamed was kidnapped by Israeli forces and violently beaten all the way through.
He added that his brother was transferred to Abu Kabir Forensic Center in territories occupied in 1948 for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
Mohamed, aged 24, was aggressively beaten by Israeli soldiers using riffle buts until he fell into a coma. He was dragged to an unknown location shortly afterwards.
Palestinian Beaten to Death by Israeli Soldiers
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) has reported that Israeli soldiers killed, on Tuesday at dawn, a young Palestinian man after abducting him from his home, and repeatedly assaulting him.
The PPS said undercover Israeli soldiers abducted Mohammad Zaghloul al-Khatib, 24, from his home in Beit Rima town, northwest of Ramallah, in central West Bank.
It quoted his brother stating that nearly 30 Israeli soldiers invaded the family home to abduct Mohammad, before continuously and repeatedly assaulting him in his home until he fell unconscious.
He added that the soldiers then took him brother to an unknown destination, and the family was later contacted by an Israeli intelligence officer, asking them whether Mohammad had any “preexisting conditions,” and they assured the officer that their son was completely healthy.
His mother said that the soldiers beat him on the head, then smashed his head several times against the wall until he fell down, unconscious. They handcuffed his prone body, then left the scene, leaving him unconscious and handcuffed with no medical attention.
On Tuesday morning, the Palestinian District Coordination Office was contacted by its Israeli counterpart, informing them that Mohammad was dead, without setting a date for transferring his corpse back to his family.
The family said the soldiers resorted to the excessive use of force against Mohammad, continuously beating him up while abducting him, and accused the military of executing their son.
They stated that the soldiers started beating Mohammad up immediately after breaking into his room, and continued to assault him until he lost consciousness before the soldiers carried him and left the building.
Addameer Prisoner Support organization said that Mohammad’s brother told them that a large group of undercover soldiers entered the home at 4 am and assaulted his mother, before regular army units invaded the house and forced the parents and three children into one corner of the house. They then took Mohammad to another room, where they punched, kicked and clubbed him, and beat him with rifle butts until he fell unconscious.
Mohammad was previously shot by the Israeli military two years ago, in the leg.
Addameer stated that, “Killing this young man, who posed no threat to the soldiers, violates international law”. The group added, “This lethal, excessive use of force is an extrajudicial assassination”. The group called on the United Nations to form a committee to investigate this and other crimes by the Israeli military.
The PPS held Israel fully responsible for killing Mohammad, and added that this crime is added “to a long lost of similar crimes and executions, carried out by the soldiers against Palestinian detainees.”
It added that the army has killed 217 Palestinian political prisoners, since Israel occupied the rest of Palestine in 1967.
The PPS stated that the silence of the international human rights organizations is granting Israel a green light to continue its crimes against the Palestinian people, especially since Israel continues to violate the basic rights of the Palestinians with impunity.
The PPS also said that approximately %95 of the Palestinians who are abducted and imprisoned by the Israeli army have been subjected to various forms of torture, during their arrest, and during interrogation.
Furthermore, the PPS stated that Mohammad is the third Palestinian detainee to be killed by the army this year, as the soldiers killed Yassin Saradeeh, 33, who was shot and beaten repeatedly while lying on the ground, on February 22nd, in addition to Aziz ‘Oweisat, 53, who died on May 20, at an Israeli hospital from serious complications after he was assaulted by several soldiers in the prison, when they claimed he attacked an officer with a sharp object.
The Israeli occupation court in Jerusalem on Monday withdrew its decision to deport French activist Frank Romano for participation in the protest against the occupation in Khan Al-Ahmar Bedouin village, east of occupied Jerusalem.
Romano, a law professor at the French Sorbonne University, who holds both French and American citizenship, was arrested for “suspicion of obstructing the work of a policeman,” according to Israeli sources.
He was taken into custody on Friday, from Khan Al-Ahmar, as he was demanding the cancellation of the evacuation and demolition of the village of Khan Alahmar, home for 180 Palestinian Bedouins.
“They said I was organizing a riot and that I was violent– all lies. They tried to convince me that the Palestinians and the Bedouins had no right to fight Israeli policy in section C [of the West Bank], that this is Israel and Israel can do whatever they want,” Romano told press in Khan Al-Ahmar, after he returned.
“They [Israelis] started saying ‘Bedouins are just Nomads, they can go here, they don’t mind leaving,’ I said no, they are not nomads.. They go to 3 places every year to get away from the wind and winter. That’s not nomadism, they are people who settled here and want to have a normal life like anyone else.”
Romano said that, upon arrest, soldiers assaulted him and moved to another cell, where he held a hunger strike, in protest.
“I did the hunger strike because when you’re in jail you don’t have power.. The only power you have, to tell the world, is a hunger strike.. I did this for three days and I’m still doing this because I want the world to know that this is worth the sacrifice,” Romano said, according to the PNN.
After that, he was taken to immigration office and refused to sign a paper that would ban him from entering Palestine (and Israel). In the end, he was sent to court. Romano says he was released without any documents (passport) or money, as police told him he had to go back to the detention center and get it.
“If they send me back to France, I wouldn’t be able to come back for ten years,” Romano told journalists in Khan Al-Ahmar.
“We want the Bedouins and all Palestinians to be free from this terrible occupation.. We have to do what we can to stop these bulldozers.. I want to continue this struggle,” he concluded, as he continued to protest in the village alongside dozens of activists who are staying over at the village to prevent Israeli forces from demolishing it.
Romano, a law professor at the French Sorbonne University, who holds both French and American citizenship, was arrested for “suspicion of obstructing the work of a policeman,” according to Israeli sources.
He was taken into custody on Friday, from Khan Al-Ahmar, as he was demanding the cancellation of the evacuation and demolition of the village of Khan Alahmar, home for 180 Palestinian Bedouins.
“They said I was organizing a riot and that I was violent– all lies. They tried to convince me that the Palestinians and the Bedouins had no right to fight Israeli policy in section C [of the West Bank], that this is Israel and Israel can do whatever they want,” Romano told press in Khan Al-Ahmar, after he returned.
“They [Israelis] started saying ‘Bedouins are just Nomads, they can go here, they don’t mind leaving,’ I said no, they are not nomads.. They go to 3 places every year to get away from the wind and winter. That’s not nomadism, they are people who settled here and want to have a normal life like anyone else.”
Romano said that, upon arrest, soldiers assaulted him and moved to another cell, where he held a hunger strike, in protest.
“I did the hunger strike because when you’re in jail you don’t have power.. The only power you have, to tell the world, is a hunger strike.. I did this for three days and I’m still doing this because I want the world to know that this is worth the sacrifice,” Romano said, according to the PNN.
After that, he was taken to immigration office and refused to sign a paper that would ban him from entering Palestine (and Israel). In the end, he was sent to court. Romano says he was released without any documents (passport) or money, as police told him he had to go back to the detention center and get it.
“If they send me back to France, I wouldn’t be able to come back for ten years,” Romano told journalists in Khan Al-Ahmar.
“We want the Bedouins and all Palestinians to be free from this terrible occupation.. We have to do what we can to stop these bulldozers.. I want to continue this struggle,” he concluded, as he continued to protest in the village alongside dozens of activists who are staying over at the village to prevent Israeli forces from demolishing it.
POSTED BY: ADDAMEER: PRISONER SUPPORT AND HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION SEPTEMBER 17, 2018
Occupation forces arrested 3,533 Palestinians, including 651 children, 63 women, and four journalists during the first six months of 2018.
In the context of continued violations of international law, and the rights of the Palestinian people, Palestinian human rights organizations working on the issue of prisoners (The Palestinian Prisoners Club, Addameer, The Prisoners Commission and Al Mezan Center for Human Rights) recorded a total of 449 Palestinians detained by the occupation forces during the month of June 2018.
This included 117 arrested from Jerusalem; 55 arrested from the Ramallah district and al Bireh; 75 arrested from the Hebron district; 29 were arrested from the Jenin district; 51 were from Bethlehem; 49 were from Nablus; 30 from Tulkurm; 14 from Qalqiliya; 7 from Tubas; 6 from Salfeet; 4 from the Jericho district; and 12 from the Gaza Strip.
In regard to the policy of administrative detention, there were 83 orders issued this month by the occupation. Of the 83, 36 were new with the remainder being renewals.
In regard to the overall figures on prisoners, the number remained stable at around 6,000 prisoners. Of this figure, 61 are females with 6 girls under the age of 18. The number of child prisoners totaled around 350. In the context of administrative detention the occupation forces have issued 502 administrative detention order since the beginning of the year. 197 of them are new, bringing the number of administrative prisoners to 430.
Medical negligence
The Israeli Prison Service continues to deny the prisoners their right to adequate medical care. From the beginning of 2018, Palestinian human Rights organizations working on prisoners issues have documented several cases of medical negligence in Israeli prisons that eventually lead to severe complications.
One instance of such neglect is the case of Hassan Al-Tamimi. Al-Tamimi is an 18 year old ex-prisoner who was released at the end of May 2018. Due to acute medical neglect, Hassan lost his sight. This was a result of his being denied proper medication for his liver and kidney issues, and the jail not meeting his need for a strict diet. Without these, Hassan is at risk of death. In the same regards, and because of the same policy, 2018 has witnessed several cases of severe complications affecting individuals with cancer. These include the case of Yaser Rabia from Bethlehem and Rajai Abd-alQader from Deir Ammar.
Yaser Rabia, who is serving a life sentence, suffers from a tumor in his intestine and is still waiting for a surgery to remove it. In the case of Rajai Abd al-Qader, who is currently serving a 45 month sentence, the prison administration hasn’t provided him with anything but pain killers since he was diagnosed with cancer in both his lungs and liver.
The above-mentioned organizations reported that around 30 prisoners have been diagnosed with different stages of cancer. Those 30 prisoners are part of a larger prison population, who are suffering from the policy of medical neglect. Such neglect includes delaying treatment and check-ups, and providing prisoners with incorrect or insufficient medications.
It’s worth noting that 61 prisoners have died inside the prison cells due to the medical neglectance policy since 1967.
Executions and martyrs’ corpses
The organizations documented 4 prisoners’ deaths in the first half of 2018, making the total number of prisoners who died in israeli prisons 216 since 1967.
One of those cases was that of Yassine Omar al-Saradeeh, a 33 year old from Jericho. He died a few hours after his arrest on the dawn of Thursday, 2 February. A video of his arrest showed IOF soldiers brutally attacking Al-Saradeeh. The autopsy report later revealed that he was killed by a bullet, which lodged below his stomach and was shot from zero distance. The report also showed a broken pelvis as well as bumps and bruises all through his head, neck, chest, and shoulders area.
The report mentioned the case of Mohammad Abd Al-kareem Marshoud, a 30 year old from Balata refugee camp east of Nablus. Marshoud was shot by an Israeli settler on April 8 2018 near Maale Adumim illegal settlement east of Jerusalem. He was severely injured, then arrested and transferred to Hadassa Ein Karem hospital, where he lost his life on the evening of the following day.
Mohammad Subhi Asmar Anbar, a 44 year old detainee from Tulkarem refugee camp, was shot in front of Jbara military checkpoint near Tulkarem. He was then arrested and transferred to Meir hospital. Anbar eventually lost his life, after few days, on April 8 2018. Upon physical examination, the report shows the cause of death to be ruptures in his intestines and arteries as well as blood poisoning.
Another instance of death is the case of Aziz Awisat, a 53 year old from Jerusalem, who was brutally assaulted and attacked by his jailers at Eshel prison.
The assault resulted in a stroke at Ramleh prison clinic on May 9. He was transferred to Assaf Harofeh Medical center where he lost his life on May 19 2018.
After these 4 deaths, the report notes that the total number of prisoners deaths since 1967 have increased to 216. Of this figure, 73 died as a result of torture, 61 because of the policy of medical neglect, and 7 were killed as a result of direct shooting by the guards and/or jailers in prisons.
Detaining martyrs’ corpses
The occupation have continued with their systematic policy of holding dead bodies captive under several justifications.
Currently, they are holding a total of 253 corpses, including 24 new bodies since October 2015. Among the detained bodies are Aziz Awisat, Mohammad Anbar, Mohammad Marshoud, Misbah Abu Sbaih and many more.
On March 3 2018, the general authority in the Knesset ratified a draft for a law that was put forward by the Public Security Minister Gilad Erden. That law gives the occupation the right to hold Palestinian bodies, and to place strict conditions on funerals for martyrs. The conditions may include, but are not limited to, restricting the number of participants in the funeral, controlling who can attend and who can’t, controlling the route of the funeral, deciding when it’s going to be held, and deciding the material allowed to be used during funeral. In some cases, the law also grants the occupation police and authority the right to determine the place of burial as well as fining the people in charge of the funeral.
Omar Kiswani
Omar kiswani was arrested from the campus at Birzeit University on March 7 2018 at around 4 pm. During his arrest, Kiswani was assaulted by 5 special unit members. Additionally. he was tased, and kicked in the head, back, face.
Kiswani also reported to Addameer’s and the Palestinian Prisoners club lawyer who visited him in Ofer that he was brutally assaulted during transfer both physically and verbally. During his transfer he was handcuffed using plastic cuffs and blindfolded. He was left on the ground for 15 minutes before he was transferred to another military camp, the location of which he was unable to identify. In that military point, he was left outside in the cold.
As soon as Kiswani reached Al-Mascobiyeh interrogation center at 10 pm he was sent to interrogation. After the interrogation session he was moved to a small cell (2*2 meters) where he found a mattress on the floor, a blanket, and a hole to use as a toilet. The place had a bad smell and was freezing cold.
After a week following his arrest, the occupation forces brought Kiswani’s mother to Al-Mascobiyeh. When he knew she was present in an interrogation room, he ended up admitting to all the israeli claims and charges. A long series of interrogations followed, which included severe sleep deprivation. In response, Kiswani went on a hunger strike lasting for 13 days.
During all the interrogation sessions Kiswani’s hands were handcuffed to the back of the chair, with sessions lasting up to 20 hours straight. Kiswani was also denied his right to talk to see a lawyer up till March 26 2018. When interrogations concluded, he was sent to Ofer Prison near Ramallah.
It’s worth noting that the testimonies taken under these illegitimate circumstances are accepted in the occupation courts and are used against the detainee on the day of trial. These policies directly conflict with international law, including article 2 (1) from the UN Convention Against Torture, that was signed and ratified on October 3.1991. Even Though the right to be free from torture is an inalienable right, and does not include exceptions, the occupation keeps breaking international laws and treaties each and every day by using various dehumanizing methods of torture in plain sight without being held accountable.
Administrative detention
The occupation forces continues to widely use the policy of administrative detention. Since the start of this year (2018) up till the end of June, 502 administrative detention order were issued. The administrative detainees include two children, Hussam Khalifa from Al- Walajaa near Bethlehem and Laith Kherma from Kufur Ein near Ramallah.
The policy of administrative detention is also used against Palestinian parliament members. There are three currently being held under administrative detention: Mohammad Jamal Al-Natsheh, Hassan Yousef, and parliament member Khalida Jarrar. Moreover, this policy also targets Palestinian women. There are currently two female administrative detainees.s.
On February 2018, the administrative detainees announced that they will be boycotting all court proceeding regarding administrative detention. As of today, the boycott continues, with 430 having boycotted court proceedings for the whole period. In response, the guards, the courts, and the prosecutors are seeking to force individuals to attend and participate in the legal charade.
The continuous use of administrative detention like this by the occupation forces is considered a major violation to the 4th Geneva convention, specifically article 78 and 147. Administrative detention is also considered a war crime according to article 8 of the Rome Statute.
This article was originally published by Addameer: Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association. Source: AIC.
Occupation forces arrested 3,533 Palestinians, including 651 children, 63 women, and four journalists during the first six months of 2018.
In the context of continued violations of international law, and the rights of the Palestinian people, Palestinian human rights organizations working on the issue of prisoners (The Palestinian Prisoners Club, Addameer, The Prisoners Commission and Al Mezan Center for Human Rights) recorded a total of 449 Palestinians detained by the occupation forces during the month of June 2018.
This included 117 arrested from Jerusalem; 55 arrested from the Ramallah district and al Bireh; 75 arrested from the Hebron district; 29 were arrested from the Jenin district; 51 were from Bethlehem; 49 were from Nablus; 30 from Tulkurm; 14 from Qalqiliya; 7 from Tubas; 6 from Salfeet; 4 from the Jericho district; and 12 from the Gaza Strip.
In regard to the policy of administrative detention, there were 83 orders issued this month by the occupation. Of the 83, 36 were new with the remainder being renewals.
In regard to the overall figures on prisoners, the number remained stable at around 6,000 prisoners. Of this figure, 61 are females with 6 girls under the age of 18. The number of child prisoners totaled around 350. In the context of administrative detention the occupation forces have issued 502 administrative detention order since the beginning of the year. 197 of them are new, bringing the number of administrative prisoners to 430.
Medical negligence
The Israeli Prison Service continues to deny the prisoners their right to adequate medical care. From the beginning of 2018, Palestinian human Rights organizations working on prisoners issues have documented several cases of medical negligence in Israeli prisons that eventually lead to severe complications.
One instance of such neglect is the case of Hassan Al-Tamimi. Al-Tamimi is an 18 year old ex-prisoner who was released at the end of May 2018. Due to acute medical neglect, Hassan lost his sight. This was a result of his being denied proper medication for his liver and kidney issues, and the jail not meeting his need for a strict diet. Without these, Hassan is at risk of death. In the same regards, and because of the same policy, 2018 has witnessed several cases of severe complications affecting individuals with cancer. These include the case of Yaser Rabia from Bethlehem and Rajai Abd-alQader from Deir Ammar.
Yaser Rabia, who is serving a life sentence, suffers from a tumor in his intestine and is still waiting for a surgery to remove it. In the case of Rajai Abd al-Qader, who is currently serving a 45 month sentence, the prison administration hasn’t provided him with anything but pain killers since he was diagnosed with cancer in both his lungs and liver.
The above-mentioned organizations reported that around 30 prisoners have been diagnosed with different stages of cancer. Those 30 prisoners are part of a larger prison population, who are suffering from the policy of medical neglect. Such neglect includes delaying treatment and check-ups, and providing prisoners with incorrect or insufficient medications.
It’s worth noting that 61 prisoners have died inside the prison cells due to the medical neglectance policy since 1967.
Executions and martyrs’ corpses
The organizations documented 4 prisoners’ deaths in the first half of 2018, making the total number of prisoners who died in israeli prisons 216 since 1967.
One of those cases was that of Yassine Omar al-Saradeeh, a 33 year old from Jericho. He died a few hours after his arrest on the dawn of Thursday, 2 February. A video of his arrest showed IOF soldiers brutally attacking Al-Saradeeh. The autopsy report later revealed that he was killed by a bullet, which lodged below his stomach and was shot from zero distance. The report also showed a broken pelvis as well as bumps and bruises all through his head, neck, chest, and shoulders area.
The report mentioned the case of Mohammad Abd Al-kareem Marshoud, a 30 year old from Balata refugee camp east of Nablus. Marshoud was shot by an Israeli settler on April 8 2018 near Maale Adumim illegal settlement east of Jerusalem. He was severely injured, then arrested and transferred to Hadassa Ein Karem hospital, where he lost his life on the evening of the following day.
Mohammad Subhi Asmar Anbar, a 44 year old detainee from Tulkarem refugee camp, was shot in front of Jbara military checkpoint near Tulkarem. He was then arrested and transferred to Meir hospital. Anbar eventually lost his life, after few days, on April 8 2018. Upon physical examination, the report shows the cause of death to be ruptures in his intestines and arteries as well as blood poisoning.
Another instance of death is the case of Aziz Awisat, a 53 year old from Jerusalem, who was brutally assaulted and attacked by his jailers at Eshel prison.
The assault resulted in a stroke at Ramleh prison clinic on May 9. He was transferred to Assaf Harofeh Medical center where he lost his life on May 19 2018.
After these 4 deaths, the report notes that the total number of prisoners deaths since 1967 have increased to 216. Of this figure, 73 died as a result of torture, 61 because of the policy of medical neglect, and 7 were killed as a result of direct shooting by the guards and/or jailers in prisons.
Detaining martyrs’ corpses
The occupation have continued with their systematic policy of holding dead bodies captive under several justifications.
Currently, they are holding a total of 253 corpses, including 24 new bodies since October 2015. Among the detained bodies are Aziz Awisat, Mohammad Anbar, Mohammad Marshoud, Misbah Abu Sbaih and many more.
On March 3 2018, the general authority in the Knesset ratified a draft for a law that was put forward by the Public Security Minister Gilad Erden. That law gives the occupation the right to hold Palestinian bodies, and to place strict conditions on funerals for martyrs. The conditions may include, but are not limited to, restricting the number of participants in the funeral, controlling who can attend and who can’t, controlling the route of the funeral, deciding when it’s going to be held, and deciding the material allowed to be used during funeral. In some cases, the law also grants the occupation police and authority the right to determine the place of burial as well as fining the people in charge of the funeral.
Omar Kiswani
Omar kiswani was arrested from the campus at Birzeit University on March 7 2018 at around 4 pm. During his arrest, Kiswani was assaulted by 5 special unit members. Additionally. he was tased, and kicked in the head, back, face.
Kiswani also reported to Addameer’s and the Palestinian Prisoners club lawyer who visited him in Ofer that he was brutally assaulted during transfer both physically and verbally. During his transfer he was handcuffed using plastic cuffs and blindfolded. He was left on the ground for 15 minutes before he was transferred to another military camp, the location of which he was unable to identify. In that military point, he was left outside in the cold.
As soon as Kiswani reached Al-Mascobiyeh interrogation center at 10 pm he was sent to interrogation. After the interrogation session he was moved to a small cell (2*2 meters) where he found a mattress on the floor, a blanket, and a hole to use as a toilet. The place had a bad smell and was freezing cold.
After a week following his arrest, the occupation forces brought Kiswani’s mother to Al-Mascobiyeh. When he knew she was present in an interrogation room, he ended up admitting to all the israeli claims and charges. A long series of interrogations followed, which included severe sleep deprivation. In response, Kiswani went on a hunger strike lasting for 13 days.
During all the interrogation sessions Kiswani’s hands were handcuffed to the back of the chair, with sessions lasting up to 20 hours straight. Kiswani was also denied his right to talk to see a lawyer up till March 26 2018. When interrogations concluded, he was sent to Ofer Prison near Ramallah.
It’s worth noting that the testimonies taken under these illegitimate circumstances are accepted in the occupation courts and are used against the detainee on the day of trial. These policies directly conflict with international law, including article 2 (1) from the UN Convention Against Torture, that was signed and ratified on October 3.1991. Even Though the right to be free from torture is an inalienable right, and does not include exceptions, the occupation keeps breaking international laws and treaties each and every day by using various dehumanizing methods of torture in plain sight without being held accountable.
Administrative detention
The occupation forces continues to widely use the policy of administrative detention. Since the start of this year (2018) up till the end of June, 502 administrative detention order were issued. The administrative detainees include two children, Hussam Khalifa from Al- Walajaa near Bethlehem and Laith Kherma from Kufur Ein near Ramallah.
The policy of administrative detention is also used against Palestinian parliament members. There are three currently being held under administrative detention: Mohammad Jamal Al-Natsheh, Hassan Yousef, and parliament member Khalida Jarrar. Moreover, this policy also targets Palestinian women. There are currently two female administrative detainees.s.
On February 2018, the administrative detainees announced that they will be boycotting all court proceeding regarding administrative detention. As of today, the boycott continues, with 430 having boycotted court proceedings for the whole period. In response, the guards, the courts, and the prosecutors are seeking to force individuals to attend and participate in the legal charade.
The continuous use of administrative detention like this by the occupation forces is considered a major violation to the 4th Geneva convention, specifically article 78 and 147. Administrative detention is also considered a war crime according to article 8 of the Rome Statute.
This article was originally published by Addameer: Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association. Source: AIC.
17 sept 2018
French academic Franc Romino resumed a vigil he had maintained in Khan al-Ahmar village, threatened with demolition, after he was released from Israeli custody on Sunday.
Upon his release, Romino joined a sit-in tent set up in Khan al-Ahmar to protest an Israeli decision to demolish the village and forcibly deport its residents.
Romano started his hunger strike on Friday, after he was arrested by Israeli police in Khan al-Ahmar village, east of occupied Jerusalem, on allegations of obstructing police work in Khan al-Ahmar, where he was showing solidarity with the Palestinian locals.
Romano is a law professor at the University of Paris and author of "Love and Terror in the Middle East;" the professor is also a holder of American citizenship.
Romano has been supporting residents of Khan al-Ahmar for the past several days, since the beginning of an open sit-in at the village following the Israeli High Court's approval of demolition.
The Israeli court had rejected an appeal against the demolition of the village and ruled for its evacuation and demolition to take place within seven days.
Upon his release, Romino joined a sit-in tent set up in Khan al-Ahmar to protest an Israeli decision to demolish the village and forcibly deport its residents.
Romano started his hunger strike on Friday, after he was arrested by Israeli police in Khan al-Ahmar village, east of occupied Jerusalem, on allegations of obstructing police work in Khan al-Ahmar, where he was showing solidarity with the Palestinian locals.
Romano is a law professor at the University of Paris and author of "Love and Terror in the Middle East;" the professor is also a holder of American citizenship.
Romano has been supporting residents of Khan al-Ahmar for the past several days, since the beginning of an open sit-in at the village following the Israeli High Court's approval of demolition.
The Israeli court had rejected an appeal against the demolition of the village and ruled for its evacuation and demolition to take place within seven days.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) has reported that Israeli soldiers abducted, overnight until early morning hours, Monday, 19 Palestinians, including three siblings, from their homes in several parts of the occupied West Bank.
The PPS said the soldiers conducted extensive and violent searches of dozens of homes across the West Bank, interrogated many Palestinians, and abducted 19 Palestinians.
The abducted Palestinians have been identified as:
Israeli Soldiers Abduct Nine Palestinians In Jerusalem
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic) has reported that Israeli soldiers abducted, on Monday at dawn, nine Palestinian teenagers from their homes in the al-‘Isawiya town, in occupied East Jerusalem.
Silwanic stated that the soldiers broke into and violently searched many homes in the town, and interrogated scores of residents, before abducting nine teenage boys.
Silwan added that the soldiers were accompanied by several Israeli intelligence officers, who also stormed homes and buildings.
The abducted Palestinians have been identified as:
The PPS said the soldiers conducted extensive and violent searches of dozens of homes across the West Bank, interrogated many Palestinians, and abducted 19 Palestinians.
The abducted Palestinians have been identified as:
- Adam Fadi Mustafa, 18, al-‘Isawiya – Jerusalem.
- Mohammad Zakariya Oleyyan, 18, al-‘Isawiya – Jerusalem.
- Abdul-Qader Dari, 19, al-‘Isawiya – Jerusalem.
- Qussai Ahmad Dari, 17, al-‘Isawiya – Jerusalem.
- Wasim Eyad Dari, 16, al-‘Isawiya – Jerusalem.
- Qassem Monir Dirbas, 16, al-‘Isawiya – Jerusalem.
- Wadea’ Daoud ‘Oleyyan, 18, al-‘Isawiya – Jerusalem.
- Ahmad Abu Roumi, 18, al-‘Isawiya – Jerusalem.
- Mohammad Mousa Mustafa, 19, al-‘Isawiya – Jerusalem.
- Sadeq Abdul-Rauf Barghouthi, Ramallah.
- Khaled Antar, Ramallah.
- Ibrahim Mteir, Ramallah.
- Mahmoud Salah, Ramallah.
- Mahfouz Zohdi ‘Aassi, Ramallah.
- Mustafa Hisham Abdul-Aziz, Jenin.
- Majd Hisham Abdul-Aziz, Jenin.
- Baha’ Hisham Abdul-Aziz, Jenin.
- Fadi Jabri, Nablus.
- Maher Asaf, Bethlehem.
Israeli Soldiers Abduct Nine Palestinians In Jerusalem
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic) has reported that Israeli soldiers abducted, on Monday at dawn, nine Palestinian teenagers from their homes in the al-‘Isawiya town, in occupied East Jerusalem.
Silwanic stated that the soldiers broke into and violently searched many homes in the town, and interrogated scores of residents, before abducting nine teenage boys.
Silwan added that the soldiers were accompanied by several Israeli intelligence officers, who also stormed homes and buildings.
The abducted Palestinians have been identified as:
- Mohammad Zakariya Oleyyan, 18.
- Wadea’ Daoud ‘Oleyyan, 18.
- Qussai Ahmad Dari, 17.
- Waseem Eyad Dari, 16.
- Abdul-Qader Dar, 19.
- Qassem Monir Dirbas, 16.
- Adam Fadi Mustafa, 18.
- Ahmad Abu Roumi, 18.
- Mohammad Mousa Mustafa, 19.
