Hamas: Israel ‘desperate’ to get information on captured soldiers

Palestinian prisoners do not reject the principle of inspections but they refuse the invasion of their privacy and dignity which they will defend fiercely, the director of the Palestinian Prisoners Media Office.

Abdul Rahman Shadid stressed that the prison raid by “the terrorist Metzada Unit”, an Israeli Special Forces unit, where they stormed the Nafha prison during breakfast, forced the prisoners to fully undress and lead them outside of the section, is unacceptable.

Shadid said the prisoners had warned repeatedly of the practices of the Metzada Unit, adding that the tensions escalated leading to prisoner Khaled Al-Silawi to stab one the Israeli guards in response to the humiliating practices against Palestinian prisoners at the hands of the unit. The Israeli prison service has closed off both the Nafha and Negev prisons as well as the Hamas blocks in all prisons following the incident, according to Shadid.

Hamas Member of Parliament Mushir Al-Masri said that the Israeli occupation bears full responsibility for what happens inside the prisons and the consequences which may have serious implications, stressing that Palestinians stand united behind the cause of the prisoners.

Al-Masri stated that what the occupation is doing is a means of exerting pressure on Hamas and the Al-Qassam Brigades in a “desperate attempt” to obtain information about the missing Israeli soldiers in Gaza.

A number of events and sit-ins were organised by different Palestinian factions across the Gaza Strip, including a gathering in front of the Red Cross headquarters in Gaza City, to draw the world’s attention to the suffering of Palestinian prisoners and the abuse and humiliation they endure.

Palestinians in Gaza hold a conference in support of prisoners in the Nafha prison who have been subjected to raids and humiliation at the hands of Israeli forces [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

Palestinians in Gaza hold a conference in support of prisoners in the Nafha prison who have been subjected to raids and humiliation at the hands of Israeli forces [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

Palestinians in Gaza hold a conference in support of prisoners in the Nafha prison who have been subjected to raids and humiliation at the hands of Israeli forces [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

Palestinians in Gaza hold a conference in support of prisoners in the Nafha prison who have been subjected to raids and humiliation at the hands of Israeli forces [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

Palestinians in Gaza hold a conference in support of prisoners in the Nafha prison who have been subjected to raids and humiliation at the hands of Israeli forces [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

Palestinians in Gaza hold a conference in support of prisoners in the Nafha prison who have been subjected to raids and humiliation at the hands of Israeli forces [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

Palestinians in Gaza hold a conference in support of prisoners in the Nafha prison who have been subjected to raids and humiliation at the hands of Israeli forces [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

Palestinians in Gaza hold a conference in support of prisoners in the Nafha prison who have been subjected to raids and humiliation at the hands of Israeli forces [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

Palestinians in Gaza hold a conference in support of prisoners in the Nafha prison who have been subjected to raids and humiliation at the hands of Israeli forces [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]