The UN Human Rights Office has condemned Israeli forces’ mass arrests, ill-treatment and “gratuitous humiliation of Palestinians” during raids in refugee camps and towns across the occupied West Bank.
Information it has gathered shows “a pattern of unnecessary, disproportionate and otherwise unlawful force used in Palestinian communities of Madama, Dura, and the Fawwar refugee camps, among others, over the past month, despite in many cases there being no apparent threat to public order or the security of the occupying forces”, it said.
The office referred to an incident on October 18-19 when Israeli forces raided at least 50 homes in the Fawwar refugee camp in the Hebron governorate and detained 30 Palestinians.
During the raids, people reported widespread abuse, property theft, and violence against householders and detainees.
“One of those detained reported to UN Human Rights Office that Israeli security forces hit him with a heavy object in the head and jaw, while he was handcuffed and blindfolded. Israeli media have reported one case of grave sexual violence against a detainee during this raid.” (Agencies)
