Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Chief Editor
Published on 2024-03-09 04:02:31
The internal report described in the content is from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa), the main UN agency supporting Palestinians. It details the widespread abuse of Palestinians captured and interrogated at makeshift Israeli detention centers during the ongoing war in Gaza. The draft document includes testimonies from detainees who have experienced various forms of ill-treatment, such as being stripped, beaten, forced into cages, attacked by dogs, subjected to stress positions for extended periods, and suffering blunt force trauma resulting in injuries like broken ribs and separated shoulders.
Both men and women reported incidents of sexual violence and harassment, including inappropriate touching of women and beatings to men’s genitals. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) condemned the mistreatment of detainees and stated that such behavior violates IDF values. They denied specific allegations of denying access to water, medical care, and bedding, as well as claims of sexual abuse, calling them a cynical attempt to create false equivalency with the actions of Hamas.
Unrwa’s report is based on interviews with over 100 detainees, part of a group of about 1,000 detainees documented since December. This information was gathered as the agency coordinated humanitarian aid at the Kerem Shalom crossing point between Gaza and Israel where the IDF released detainees. The report describes the detainees’ experiences, including being apprehended in hospitals, schools, or as they attempted to flee south for shelter.
The report also highlights the response from the Israeli military, which acknowledged deaths in detention, attributing them to pre-existing illnesses or wounds. Unrwa’s findings align with other reports of abuse in Israeli detention centers, as well as separate UN investigations and reports from human rights groups.
Throughout the ongoing war, more than 4,000 Palestinians have been rounded up in Gaza, with a significant number of casualties on both sides. Unrwa, which has been accused of supporting Hamas, has faced scrutiny and funding cuts during the conflict. Despite these challenges, the agency has continued to provide humanitarian support in Gaza.
The allegations of mistreatment and abuse in Israeli detention centers raise concerns about human rights violations and the treatment of detainees during conflicts. The international community must address these issues and ensure accountability for those responsible for such actions. The report serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding human rights and ensuring the protection of all individuals, regardless of their circumstances during times of conflict.
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