Rights group: Palestinian Authority escalates arrests in West Bank

The Palestinian Authority has escalated “campaigns of arbitrary arrests and torture” of Palestinians, “in parallel with similar campaigns by Israeli occupation forces,” the Arab Organisation for Human Rights in the UK (AOHR) reported in a press release.

The organisation added that the arrests take place at night and that the practices which take place at the same time as the arrests are similar to Israeli practices. They include house searches, the intimidation of residents and the destruction of the content of homes which have been searched.

“Since the beginning of the year, PA security forces have continued their own campaign of arrests in the city, targeting activists and journalists in particular,” it said.

The rights group emphasised that many detainees were subjected to severe torture and “degrading treatment,” especially those who were transferred to the notorious prison in Jericho called the “Slaughterhouse”, where the most heinous means of torture are used.

The statement added that since the beginning of the year the city of Jenin and the refugee camp linked to it have been targeted by the Israeli forces, with 30 Palestinians – including children -being killed, and a number of homes demolished. This, AOHR said. was “all with the acceptance of PA forces stationed there.”

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