December 15, 2022
PCHR Calls Upon the Palestinian Authority to Stop Arrests on Political Grounds and Release all Detainees
PCHR Calls Upon the Palestinian Authority to Stop Arrests on Political Grounds and Release all Detainees

 

Ref: 157/2022

Date: 15 December 2022

Time: 09:00 GMT

During this week, the Palestinian security services conducted a summons and arrest campaign targeting dozens of those affiliated with Hamas in the West Bank, including university students and activists.  This campaign was accompanied by use of force during raids on detainees’ houses, intimidating their families, and assaulting some with batons and electric shocks.

PCHR calls on the Public Prosecution to open an investigation into these violations, and to bring those involved to justice. PCHR also urges the PA and the security services in Ramallah to stop arbitrary arrests, immediately release all the political detainees and permanently end the policy of political arrests.

These arrests coincide with the 35th Hamas Movement founding anniversary marking on Wednesday, 14 December 2022, and were carried out by a joint force of the General Intelligence, Military Intelligence and Preventive Security services.  They raided detainees’ houses and used violence during the arrests.

Detainees were beaten, including (H. A. H.) (41) and his son (A) (20) who were arrested at dawn on 12 December from their house in Surif village, west of Hebron, where the family confirmed that members of joint force raided the house without showing a warrant issued by the Prosecution, violently took the father, pulled his hair, and pulled him by force. When his daughter (R) (22) intervened trying to help him, one of the security officers shocked her with an electric shock baton, so she fell on the ground and fainted. As soon as the security car was leaving, it stepped on (R)’s foot while lying on the ground, causing her a foot laceration; as a result, she was taken to Al-Ahly Hospital in Hebron.

Later on, the security services released a number of detainees after being investigated, but they extended the detention of many others and referred some of them to the Public Prosecution.

PCHR reiterates its condemnation of political arrests and the accompanying degrading treatment and:

  1. Reminds of the ruling of the Palestinian Supreme Court of Justice on 20 February 1999, which considers political arrests illegal and that all executive authorities should respect the Court’s ruling and stop practicing the illegitimate political arrests.
  2. Emphasizes that arrests are regulated by the Palestinian Basic Law and lie only within the authority of law enforcement officers represented by the civil police who directly receives orders from the Attorney-General.