Palestinians released after being detained by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip told AFP they were tortured while detained, a claim the army rejected.
The men were among hundreds of Palestinians detained by the Israeli army during a ground operation in the Gaza Strip since October 27 and questioned for alleged links to Hamas, which rules the territory.
About twenty of them were admitted on Sunday to Najar Hospital in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, after being released.
“Their bodies have bruises and marks from blows,” hospital director Marwan al-Khams told AFP.
One of the released detainees, Nayef Ali, 22, had immobilization marks on his wrists and cuts on his body, according to AFP images.
He explained that the young man was detained in the Zeitoun area, east of Gaza City.
“They separated the men from the women and kept them in a house that they (Israeli soldiers) captured,” he said.
“We were kept in handcuffs with our hands behind our backs for two days. We were not given anything to eat or drink, we were not even allowed to go to the toilet, we were only beaten and beaten,” he added.
He also said that the detainees were then taken to an area on the border with Israel, where it was “bitterly cold.” “They doused us with cold water and then took us to prison, where we were again tortured and beaten.”
Another released detainee, 55-year-old Khamis al-Bardini, also said he was mistreated by Israeli soldiers.
“They poured cold water on our heads all night and beat us during the day. Then they took us to a prison, the name and location of which we don’t know,” he said.
When asked about these charges, Israeli army officials said that “the detainees are being treated in accordance with international law.”
“During detention, suspects are provided with sufficient food and drink and are treated in accordance with established protocol,” the army added.
The Israeli army has come under fire in recent weeks after publishing photographs of dozens of Palestinians detained in the Gaza Strip, shown in their underwear, blindfolded and with their hands tied while guarded by Israeli soldiers.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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