Ref: 126/2007

Date: 24 September  2007

Time: 11:00 GMT

PCHR Calls for Investigating Torture Crimes by the Executive Force

PCHR has received additional testimonies over the past few days about civilians subjected to beating and torture by the Executive Force in Gaza City and El-Bureij refugee camp. PCHR condemns these illegal actions and calls for ceasing them and prosecuting their perpetrators, as well as ensuring that legal guidelines pertaining to torture are respected.

The Center’s preliminary investigation indicates that in the morning of Wednesday, 19 September 2007, the Executive Force launched a widespread arrests campaign in Beach Camp in Gaza City. Approximately 50 people were detained after 2 members of the Force were shot and injured by unknown gunmen earlier on the same day.[1] One of the injured Force members, Ali Sa’id Matar (18), died of his wounds on Sunday, 23 September. Force members raided several houses and searched them.

One of the detainees stated: “At about 9:00 on Wednesday, 19 September 2007, a large number of Executive Force members raided my house near the Military Clinic in Beach Camp. They bound me and took me to the camp’s police station. As soon as I was inside, they placed a sack over my head. I was subjected to continuous beating all over the body for about an hour. After that, they took me and other detainees to the Gaza City Headquarters (Jawazat). Several Force groups were waiting for us. As soon as we were off the bus, they beat us with sticks and their feet. Then they forced us to stand face to the wall on one leg with hands raised. And they beat us. Then they started questioning me; and they accused me of the shooting and planting explosive devices near Force compounds. Whenever I denied the allegations they beat me. Different groups rotated on me. At about 23:30 on Friday, 21 September 2007, they forced me to sign a white peace of paper and released me.”

Another detainee stated: “At about 8:00 on Wednesday, a large number of Force members came to my house and took me to the Beach Camp Police Station. At the station, they beat me with sticks and kicked me with their feet. Then they covered my head and ordered me to get into a bus with other detainees. I was beaten till I entered the bus. As soon as I got off the bus, a group that was waiting for us started beating us. They made us stand face to the wall on one leg with our arms raised. Then they started to beat us. They put me in a jail; and four gunmen wearing black clothes came to me. The made me lie on my back on the floor. One of them sat on my chest. They raised my legs and beat my legs with sticks for half an hour. Then they beat me all over my body. They took me to an interrogator who accused me of firing at the Executive Force. Two civilian-clothed persons beat me whenever I denied the allegations. After the interrogation, they put me in a room alone. A new group came in the room and started to beat me and curse me. Then they left me in the room for a full day. At about 23:00 on Friday, I signed a commitment not to disturb public order and to respect the law under penalty of a 2,000 Shekel fine. Then they released me.”

In El-Bureij refugee camp in the center of the Gaza Strip, the Executive Force detained 4 young men at about 1:00 on Friday, 21 September 2007. The men were arrested for participating in a Fatah demonstration the previous day. During the operation, Mohammad Yusef El-Mabhouh (30) was injured by a bullet in the lower back when the Force fired at him as he fled. El-Mabhouh informed PCHR’s fieldworker that the Force fired at him as he fled from them; and that he was hit in the back but managed to hide in a nearby house. After an hour, he was taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. He added that he requested a transfer to Al-Quds Hospital fearing detention by the Force members guarding the hospital.

One of the detainees, Mohammad Abu Abda, stated: “At about 1:00 after midnight on Friday, about 20 members of the Executive Force raided the place where I was sitting with Mohammad El-Mabhouh, Basil Abu Abda, and Hassan Hussein. They ordered us to come with them. As soon as we got out in the street, they started to beat us with sticks to force us into their cars. El-Mabhouh ran away. However, two members of the Force fired at him. He was hit; but he continued and fled. On the way, they detained another young man, Rami Mesleh. The took us to the National Security Force compound at the entrance of El-Maghazi refugee camp. As soon as we got out of the cars, about 40 of them attacked us and beat us with sticks for about an hour. They put me in a room till about 5:00; then they released us. I went to Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza City for treatment.”

In light of these developments, PCHR:

–            Strongly condemns the use of torture, and calls for immediately investigating these incidents, prosecuting the perpetrators, and taking effective steps to prevent their recurrence.

–            Reminds that torture is outlawed by Palestinian Law, and does not fall by seniority; and that torture is a serious violation of human rights and international human rights standards, including the UN Convention against Torture.

–            Affirms that arrests are regulated by Palestinian Law and are the authority of law-enforcement parties, represented by the civilian police under orders and supervision of the Attorney-General.