Palestinian Detainee Killed and over 250 Injured in Ketziot; Israel Cancels Lawyers and Family Visits to the Detention Centers

Israel has arrested about 650,000 Palestinians since 1967. Of those some 11,000 are still in 28 prisons and detention centers; the majority of which are inside Israel. Prisoners suffer from degrading treatment, lack proper health services and medicines, malnutrition and torture.
Al Mezan, 23.10.07. IOF attacked hundreds of protesting Palestinian prisoners in Ketziot Detention Center in the Negev desert, killing one detainee and injuring over 250 others on Monday 22 October 2007. About 2,300 Palestinians are detained in this detention Center. They were protesting against their detention under inhuman conditions.According to the initial information available to Al Mezan, at approximately 1am on 22 October 2007, the Ketziot security personnel attacked G1 and G2 sections in the detention center. They used tear gas and live bullets heavily. The attack resulted in killing Muhammed Al Ashqar and injuring over 250 others. It was also reported that soldiers torched tents where detainees are kept.
Al Askaqer died at Soroka Hospital in Bier Shiva at approximately 11pm from a live bullet to his head. He had been sentenced to two years in prison and was due to be released in 45 days. The victim is married and has a child.
Following the protest, the Israeli Prison Authority announced emergency in all the prisons and detention centers, imposed more restrictive measures on prisoners, and prohibited lawyers' meetings with prisoners. Today, 23 October 2007, Israel cancelled scheduled family visits.

In solidarity with the Kitziot detainees, Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israeli prisons started a hunger strike. Prisoners' sources said the strike was also intended to protest suppression and frequent use of violence against them by prisons' administrations.

Israel has arrested about 650,000 Palestinians since 1967. Of those some 11,000 are still in 28 prisons and detention centers; the majority of which are inside Israel. Prisoners suffer from degrading treatment, lack proper health services and medicines, malnutrition and torture.

Al Mezan Center for Human Rights expresses solidarity with the Palestinian and Arab prisoners and detainees in Israel and condemns the IOF attacks against them. The employment of this scale of violence poses serious threat to their life and wellbeing. Al Mezan asserts that Israel, represented by the Israeli Prison Authority in this case, must be held accountable for the protection of the prisoners and detainees under its custody according to the rules of the international law.

Al Mezan calls the international community to intervene and exert pressure on Israel to provide protection for Palestinian prisoners and the guarantee that they are treated in accord with the minimum requirement of international humanitarian law and the human rights standards. Israel must stop the employing violent and humiliating measures against Palestinians prisoners.