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Video shows prison guards attacking Palestinian prisoners

Israeli NGO Hamoked: "HaMoked will continue to demand the prosecution of all the jailers involved in this grave incident."

Jerusalem24 – Mohammad Hamayel – In March 2019, a group of Israeli Prison guards stormed assaulted dozens of Palestinian prisoners in Section 3 of the Negev Prison. They beat and assaulted them while they were shackled and lying on the ground. The prisoners were prevented from moving or speaking, and they remained in this position for many hours. After the incident, 15 prisoners were transferred to the hospital, two of them were in critical condition. Some of the injuries documented, included broken jaws and ribs and tooth loss.

In the evening of the same day, a Palestinian prisoner in the same prison stabbed and wounded a jailer, after which the section was stormed and all the prisoners inside it were abused.

The incident was revealed through the documentation of the prison’s security cameras, as part of it was submitted as part of an appeal filed by “HaMoked,” against the decision to close the complaints files submitted nearly two years ago on behalf of 13 prisoners who were assaulted in the aforementioned incident. The video shows horrific scenes that are difficult to watch: prisoners are shown handcuffed, dragged and piled on the ground, and then repeatedly beaten by the warders.

Lawyer, Nadia Daqqa, who represents the victims on behalf of the Hamoked Foundation – Center for the Defense of the Individual, said: “The harsh scenes presented in the video are clear and leave no room for doubt. The investigation authorities evaded responsibility despite documenting the incident with security cameras, a testimony to the neglect of the Investigation unit. To interrogate the jailers, and with negligence that amounts to complicity by the investigation bodies in general,” Daqqa continued, saying, “The ease with which the investigation files were locked up following the attacks in the Negev prison is testimony to the fact that the assault on Palestinian prisoners is a systematic matter and therefore this It explains the prevalence and recurrence of such events. She added that “the disclosure of the scenes took place thanks to the prisoners’ insistence to file complaints and to continue to follow up to the appeal stage. Documenting and revealing these policies is one of the most important reasons for filing complaints about the Israeli authorities’ aggression, in addition to the issue of holding the guilty accountable, and creating deterrence. HaMoked will continue to demand the prosecution of all the jailers involved in this grave incident.”

Mohammad Hamayel

Ramallah based journalist, Mohammad graduated from Al-Quds University with a B.A. in Media and Television. He has covered the 2015 Jerusalem Intifada as well as the Great March of Return for international media outlets. currently an editor/presenter at Jerusalem24. A UN alumni and a follower of global events and politics, especially American affairs.

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