By Edward Makuzva
The Embassy of the State of Palestine forcefully denounces the systematic torture and killing of 58 Palestinian detainees in Israeli custody.
The horrifying reality is that this number may be just the tip of the iceberg—hundreds more remain unaccounted for, victims of enforced disappearances, with Israeli authorities refusing to disclose their whereabouts or condition.
Autopsies conducted on the bodies of deceased detainees reveal a horrifying pattern: the overwhelming majority died as a direct result of torture, deliberate medical neglect, or a combination of both. These findings underscore the brutality and inhumanity of Israel’s treatment of Palestinian prisoners.
Ambassador Tamer Almassri describes the current conditions of Palestinian prisoners as the worst in history, with dozens being killed behind bars, often under obscure circumstances involving severe torture and abuse. Detainees are subjected to systematic manipulation, rape, beatings, forced nudity, video recordings, and humiliation.
Almassri further condemned Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for defending these atrocities despite the emergence of video evidence exposing the brutal treatment of prisoners.
Furthermore, the majority of prisoners released under the current ceasefire deal suffer from health problems, including chronic diseases, as a direct result of Israeli crimes of torture, medical negligence, and systematic starvation. Many of them have been forced to undergo hospitalization after being exposed to these inhumane conditions.
“The Israeli authorities are also perpetrating organized terrorism against the families of Palestinian detainees. These families face constant threats of arrest, killing, house raids, vandalism, and destruction of property. The occupation forces even attempt to manipulate the emotions of some families, adding another layer of cruelty to their actions.”
Furthermore, “The current number of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails exceeds 10,400. This includes 87 female prisoners, at least 320 children, and 3,376 administrative detainees (95 children and 22 women) held without trial or charge. Crucially, this data is incomplete, as Israeli authorities refuse to provide information on all detainees from Gaza”, Ambassador Almassri explained.
Meanwhile, the State of Palestine urges the international community to take immediate action to end the torture and mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners, hold Israel accountable for its violations of international humanitarian law, and launch an independent, transparent investigation into the deaths of detainees and widespread reports of torture.
Palestine makes a bold call that the world must act now to stop these grave human rights abuses and ensure justice for Palestinian prisoners.