On Thursday, the Palestinian Prisoners and Released Persons Affairs Authority called on international institutions and human rights organizations to intervene immediately and urgently to halt the repeated brutal and criminal assaults endured by Palestinians in detention centers during their arrest, detention, and transportation, as well as the abuse inflicted upon them by the occupying forces.
In a statement, the authority indicated that the occupying forces excel in employing all forms of direct attacks against citizens, whether through physical beatings or by utilizing batons, rifle butts, tear gas, sound bombs, live ammunition, and rubber bullets. This occurs not only during their initial detention but also continues during the investigation stages.
In this context, the authority relayed, based on the visit of its attorney Heba Masalha to Damoun Prison, the testimonies of two detained youths who were subjected to the harshest forms of torture and abuse. The first, Ayham Ashaer (17 years old) from the town of Al-Tur in Jerusalem, was arrested from his home around 5 a.m. after police and intelligence personnel raided his house, conducted a search, and then took him to the Moscovia Interrogation Center. During the interrogation, his hands were tied behind his back, his face was against the wall, he was slapped multiple times, kicked in the legs, and occasionally beaten by members of the occupying army. After the interrogation, he was transferred to court and his detention was extended. He was then moved to the Moscovia prison cells, where he remained for 45 days before being transferred to the Ashbal section of Damoun Prison.
Regarding the case of Mohammad Ghaith (15 years old), the authority explained that he was arrested from his home around 4 a.m. by several police officers. During his arrest, his hands were tied behind his back. Upon arrival at the Moscovia prison, he was taken into a room without cameras, where four individuals attacked and assaulted him, threatening to electrocute him if he did not confess to the charges against him. They continued beating him until he was transferred to the interrogation room around 8 a.m. He was questioned until late at night, and during the interrogation hours, he was taken to a side room where he was beaten. He remained in this state in the Moscovia prison for 47 days before being transferred to the Ashbal section of Damoun Prison.
