West Bankupdated 55m ago3 min read
Israeli Forces Torture, Starve, and Harass More Than 90 Palestinian Women Detainees
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More than 90 Palestinian women detainees in Israeli prisons subjected to torture, starvation, medical denial. Palestinian groups report systematic violations and denial of essential medical care in prisons.
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Abuse claims in custody
Palestinian organizations said more than 90 Palestinian detainees are imprisoned in Israeli jails and face systematic violations, including physical and psychological torture, starvation, denial of medical care, naked searches, and harassment. The Prisoners Club, the NGO Ad-DamIR (The Ombudsman), and the Commission on Prisoners’ Affairs of the Palestinian Liberation Organization stated that "more than 90 Palestinian detainees are held in Israeli prisons and interrogation centers, among them 22 administrative detainees without trial or charges." The organizations said the violations against Palestinian women include "physical and psychological torture, starvation, deprivation of medical treatment, as well as sexual assaults, including naked searches and harassment" and described the abuses as documented in cases carried out by female guards.
The organizations added that psychological torture methods begin at the moment of arrest, within an integrated system of intimidation and removal of the sense of security, and they said arrest is used as a tool of collective punishment and pressure on families. Qatar news agency reported Ramallah on October 26, saying Palestinian organizations confirmed that Israeli occupation authorities detain more than 90 Palestinian women and deny necessary medical treatment and basic hygiene supplies.
Doctors and detention
Israeli forces released Palestinian doctor Mazen al-Rantisi, 71, from Ofer prison on Sunday after nearly four months in detention, and a photo circulated after his release showed visible signs of physical abuse. The report said al-Rantisi was detained in a pre-dawn raid on his home in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on 21 June, and prosecutors later indicted him for serving as chairman of the board of the Union of Health Work Committees. Dr Ahmed Muhanna, who was released in January after 665 days in detention, told Healthcare Workers Watch on Tuesday that "doctors have been singled out as targets for detention" and face particularly brutal treatment in custody.
Dr Rebecca Inglis of HWW said on Tuesday, "Israel’s continued detention of nearly one hundred healthcare workers is in clear contravention of International Humanitarian Law," and she said they were gravely concerned for their welfare. The report said HWW stated that 80 Palestinian healthcare workers from Gaza and 14 from the occupied West Bank remain in Israeli detention, and it said prominent doctors including Dr Hussam Abu Safiya are among those held without charge.
Calls for pressure
Dr. Ashraf Al-Ajarami, the former Minister of Palestinian Prisoners’ Affairs, said what Palestinians are facing in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip targets the Palestinian presence in all its dimensions and stressed intensifying regional and international diplomatic and political movements to hold Israel accountable.
Al-Ajarami said during a live phone contribution to Extra Live that violations in the West Bank include seizing homes and agricultural lands and livestock, restricting the movement of residents, and preventing them from working and implementing economic projects.
He argued that the need is to intensify political and diplomatic efforts at the regional and international levels to impose sanctions on Israel and hold it accountable for the violations committed against Palestinians.
Al-Ajarami said broadening the scope of sanctions and international isolation can constitute a leverage tool to change Israeli policies, and he urged continued international moves aimed at ending the occupation and protecting the rights of the Palestinian people.
Qatar news agency said the statement reiterated calls for the international human rights framework to implement concrete measures to enforce accountability, prosecute those responsible for war crimes and grave violations, and end systemic impunity.