PA continues arresting, torturing Palestinians in West Bank

Palestinian Authority (PA) continues arresting and torturing Palestinians for their political affiliation, targeting members of Hamas, news reports and Hamas officials have said.

The group said more than 100 Palestinians are being held in detention centres run by the PA, with some arrested when the PA security services stormed their homes at night.

Hamas, along with several rights groups said that the detainees are subject to severe torture in violation of international and local laws.

Lawyer for Addameer, Prisoner Support, and Human Rights Association, Mohannad Karaja said that he attended the hearing of his clients Qutaiba Azem and Muntaser Al-Shinnar in Nablus. He reported that Azem said he was beaten harshly during the investigation.

“Prisoner Muntaser Al-Shinnar could not stand up during the hearing due to the swelling in his legs as a result of the severe torture,” the lawyer said.

READ: Israeli police attack Palestinian prisoners in violent crackdown

Al-Shinnar told his lawyer that the PA investigators tied his hands behind him and left him hanging from them until he vomited blood. Karaja and other lawyers confirmed this to Arabi21, stating that they saw the remains of blood on his clothes.

Head of the Consortium of Independent Palestinians Khalil Assaf said: “Political detention carried out by the PA security services is not related to the claims of preserving security.”

Lives of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails – Cartoon [Alarabya]