Mass arrests in Jerusalem and northern Israel often followed by police beatings
"A culture of impunity around the Israeli police is resulting in police brutality, ill treatment, threats and beatings," according to a new report issued today by Amnesty International.
The report titled "Mass arrests and police brutality" is based on the findings of an Amnesty International delegation which visited Jerusalem and northern Israel from 21-29 October. In it, the human rights organization strongly criticises the procedures and treatment of those arrested over the past six weeks in Jerusalem and northern Israel.
"Palestinians, including children, were frequently arrested from their homes in the middle of the night in a highly intimidatory fashion," Amnesty International's researcher and member of the delegation, Joanna Oyediran said.
Iyad Qaymeri, aged 17, and three other Palestinians were among a group of young men and boys throwing stones in Shu'fat in East Jerusalem, when they were arrested at 9.30pm on 1 October 2000. He was reportedly set on by five soldiers who pushed him to the ground shouting insults, kicking and hitting him on his body and in his face. They were taken to what appeared to be a military camp where they were hooded and forced to lie on the ground for about two hours; from time to time someone would come and kick them or hit them. The four were then taken to the Moscobiyyeh detention centre in Jerusalem. The night before Iyad Qaymeri's release on 5 October, police officers allegedly entered the cell and randomly beat the 30 Palestinians under 18 held there, whilst yelling insults at them.
Yoav Bar, a computer programmer, described how immediately after his arrest during an initially peaceful protest in Haifa on 2 October he was dragged by the legs for more than 50 meters by two police officers with his back sliding along the street, while other police officers beat him with batons. He was beaten again in a police car. He told the police that he thought his hand was broken; the police refused to give him any medical treatment. Yoram Bar Chaim, who protested at the treatment of Yoav Bar, was also arrested and beaten. They were both released about midnight. Yoav Bar's left hand was broken in three places. Two of his ribs were broken, and two of his front teeth were broken. His back was also injured as a result of being dragged along the street.
Amnesty International's latest report strongly criticises the breaches in judicial procedures regarding the arrest and detention of children, especially as regards Palestinian children.
"As a matter of routine, children were not summoned to the police station but arrested, often during the night, in an intimidatory fashion. During their interrogation some children were reportedly subjected to psychological pressure by being shouted at, insulted or threatened during interrogation. In some cases children were reportedly beaten by the police," Amnesty International said.
In Kufar Kana, a Palestinian village in Galilee, Bakr Sa'id, aged 15, was arrested on 24 October by a group of armed police who surrounded his house around 2am. Four police, their machine guns ready, entered the house, frightening the children and taking away Bakr Sa'id. He was interrogated the same night with shouting and threats - which were also heard by another detainee in the same station; the detainee said that when he tried to speak later in court to Bakr Sa'id a police officer slapped the boy in the face. Bakr Sa'id was released on 3 November.
Amnesty International welcomed the Israeli Government's announcement yesterday that it would set up a full judicial commission of inquiry under the 1968 Commission of Inquiry Act to investigate clashes with the security forces in which Arab and Jewish Israeli citizens were killed and wounded.
"However, it is essential that its investigations should be thorough, effective and independent. It should investigate incidents of torture or ill-treatment by security forces and any report must be made fully public," Amnesty International said, "Those responsible must be brought to justice."
DAY 42: FOUR KILLED AND TENS WOUNDED BY ISRAELI TROOPS 10 NOVEMBER 2000
Today, Israeli forces continued their aggression against Palestinians in the 42nd day of clashes. Four people were killed, 2 in Gaza and 2 in Jenin. They are:
Jenin:
Osama Azouqa (15), killed by live ammunition to the head and
chest.
Eyad Fahmawi (25), hit by a dum dum bullet to the head
Gaza:
Mohammad Hamed (23) from Jabalya Refugee Camp, shot in the
Beit Hanoun
area by live ammunition to the head The other victim has not yet
been
identified. Doctors estimate that he was around 17 years old.
In addition, tens of Palestinians were injured by Israeli forces throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip:
Jenin
Hani Marzouq (25) was injured by live ammunition to the head.
Faraj Khamaiseh (25), from Alyamoun village, was injured by live
ammunition in both of his thighs. Sliman Abu Jumhour was shot in the
head with live ammunition. Mohammed Ragheb was shot by live ammunition
in his right thigh. Another five injured by rubber coated metal
bullets and about 100 people by tear gas.
Ramallah
Israeli occupation forces shelled buildings at the north entrance to
the city, near City Inn. Several buildings were hit, including a
building housing a local government ministry. Three missiles hit the
Islamic School for Children in al-Birreh. Fortunately, the children
do not attend school on Fridays.
Hebron
22 Palestinians were injured, 4 by live bullets, 1 was identified by
LAW: Ashraf abu Ayesh (14) was shot in the head with a live bullet. He
has been transferred to al Mekasset hospital in Jerusalem for
treatment. Two more Palestinians from Beni Naim village (near Hebron)
were injured by live ammunition.
Bethlehem
Mohammed Jumaa was shot in his leg by live ammunition.
Two others were wounded by rubber coated metal bullets during clashes
at Rachel’s Tomb.
Qalqilya
Rashid Awinet (22) was critically injured when he was hit in his
stomach, allegedly by a dum-dum bullet. He remains in critical
condition. His brother, Shakir (21), was hit by a rubber coated metal
bullet in the chest. Ibrahim Nasser (23) was shot by a live bullet to
his right thigh. Ghassan Dieb (20) was shot by a rubber coated metal
bullet in his hand. Abdel Rahman Nazzal (20) was shot by a rubber
coated metal bullet in his right leg. Taqi Abdel Salaam (19) was shot
by a rubber coated metal bullet over the eye.
Tulkarem
9 were injured by live bullets, 2 by plastic coated metal bullets, and
2 by rubber coated metal bullets. Mohammed Khalil (21), a medical
volunteer for the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, was shot by live a
bullet in his chest. Tareq Ziyyad al Taneh (15) was shot by a live
bullet in his left leg.
Gaza Strip
Rami Harabi was injured by live ammunition to his back during the same
conflict that killed the two in Beit Hanoun. He is in critical
condition. In Karni, 6 Palestinians were shot by live ammunition, 2
were critically wounded. North of Maghazi Camp there were three
Palestinians injured by live bullets. At Netzarim Junction 1
Palestinian was injured by live bullets and 2 were injured by rubber
coated metal bullets. 3 were injured by inhaling tear gas, 2 of them
were pregnant women who were transferred to hospital as a result of
their injuries. In Kahn Younis, near the Atofah checkpoint, 6 were
injured by live bullets.
Additional information has been reported about yesterday’s events: In Khan Younis, Israeli occupation forces fired Law missiles, hitting the Force 17 building as well as the house of Moustafa al-Aqad.
Israeli forces continued destroying agricultural land near Rafah in the Gaza Strip.
An additional wounded Palestinian was identified by LAW field researchers: Mahmoud al-Agha (20) from Khan Younis was shot with live ammunition to the stomach.
LAW demands that the international community ensure that the Government of Israel complies with the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention, aimed at safeguarding the rights of protected persons in situations of belligerent occupation.
LAW further demands the immediate implementation of all UN resolutions concerning the conflict, and for international protection for the Palestinian people in the West Bank including Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.