Israel steps up actions against Palestinian prisoners

The Israeli Prison Service (IPS) stepped up punitive measures against Palestinian prisoners in the Ketziot detention centre today, after a Palestinian prisoner attacked an Israeli warden with a razor blade the night before, the head of the Palestinian Committee of Prisoners’ Affairs said.

Issa Qaraqe told Ma’an that IPS forces raided Sections 13, 14, 15 and 16 of Ketziot looking for the perpetrator.

He added that IPS imposed collective punishment measures on the Palestinian prisoners, cutting off electricity and using pepper spray against the prisoners in all the raided sections.

The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS) reported today that IPS was planning to conduct new raids in Section 2 and 3 of Ketziot.

An IPS spokesperson confirmed to Ma’an that an attack had taken place against a warden in Ketziot, but could not immediately provide further details.

Meanwhile, Hebrew-language news sites reported that IPS had transferred 40 Palestinian prisoners from Ketziot and Nafha to other prisons today, adding that prisoners had attempted to prevent the transfer process.

Qaraqe said that IPS had escalated tensions in Ketziot after reports emerged yesterday that a Palestinian prisoner had allegedly stabbed and lightly injured an IPS officer in Nafha prison.

Qaraqe said at the time that IPS conducted “humiliating” punitive procedures against Palestinian prisoners in Nafha, forcing them to fully undress and stand outside of their prison naked as the wardens searched through their belongings and cut off the electricity.

The Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements warned against an escalation of Israeli procedures against Palestinian prisoners today.