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Number of Palestinians held in solitary confinement doubles in Israel

March 22, 2016 at 3:21 pm

The number of Palestinian prisoners held in solitary confinement in Israeli jails has sharply increased over the last two years, from 390 in 2012 to 755 in 2014; Arab48.com yesterday reported a report saying.

Physicians for Human Rights said in its report, issued on Sunday, that 117 Palestinian prisoners were held in solitary confinement last July, data from the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) showed, including five who had not had human contact for five years.

Isolated in prison

390Palestinians were held in solitary confinement in 2012

755Were secluded in 2014 while in Israeli prisons

According to the rights group, the state comptroller and public prosecutor criticised the policy, but authorities did not end its use.

The report noted that the IPS needs court approval in order to keep a prisoner in solitary confinement for a period longer than six months, but half of the prisoners in solitary confinement have never been monitored by the court.

IPS only disclosed data about Palestinian prisoners who were put in solitary confinement as a measure to keep them away from others, not those who were isolated as a punishment.

There, that the number of the prisoners in solitary confinement is likely to be greater than the number disclosed, Physicians for Human Rights explained.

In July, the NGO said, there were seven Palestinian minors in solitary confinement althrough this measure is unacceptable by most of the world’s countries.