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Ref: 102/2004

Date: 04 July 2004

Time: 11:00 GMT

PCHR Is Concerned about the Lives of 7 Palestinian Detainees in Israeli custody

PCHR remains extremely concerned about the lives of 7 Palestinians held under administrative detention, in an area isolated from other prisoners, in an Israeli criminal prison known as “Kfar Youna”.  These concerns have been further increased, as on Thursday, 1 July 2004, an Israeli criminal prisoner attacked 3 of these detainees with a chemical substance.  Two of these detainees sustained burns throughout the body. 

PCHR has employed a lawyer to visit the detainees to inquire about their conditions and to learn more about the incident. PCHR is currently examining the options for recourse available to the prisoners.  Following his visit to the detainees in the prison on Sunday, 4 July 2004, the lawyer stated that an Israeli criminal prisoner detained in cell number 2 attacked 3 Palestinians held under administrative detention in the adjacent cell number 3.  The three detainees were coming back to their cell under escort by jailers, following the rest-period known as Foura.  They were attacked at this point by the criminal prisoner.  Two of the detainees were injured: Isma’il ‘Omar Shakshak and ‘Ali Farraj Abu Juraida, both from Rafah.  They were taken to the clinic of the prison where they received first aid.  The third detainee, Jamal Zeinou, from Gaza City, was not hurt. 

“Kfar Youna” prison is designed for dangerous Israeli criminal prisoners, especially those who frequently attempt to escape from jails or those who have problems with other prisoners.  The crew responsible for managing the prison is trained to treat the prisoners, who are known as “prisoners of the lower class”, cruelly and inhumanely.  The isolation area is of composed of a total of 17 cells, each is designed to absorb 2, 4, 6 or 8 persons.  In addition to the aforementioned detainees, 4 other Palestinian detainees are held in this area: Hassan ‘Abdul Raziq and Mazen Abu Zour, from Tulkarm; ‘Omar Mar’ei, from Qalqilya; and Waked Abu Samhadana, from Rafah. 

These seven Palestinian administrative detainees suffer from harsh living conditions and malnutrition.  The “Foura” is limited for one hour in the morning and another hour in the evening for each cell.  The seven detainees have also been deprived of family visits for several months, in violation of international law and the Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners.  They have been detained without any charge.

Palestinian detainees held in this prison declared a hunger strike on February and April 2004 demanding: improvement of their living conditions; their transfer to another non-criminal prison (where administrative detainees are usually held); and for their right to family visitation. The prison administration prison rejected all of these demands.   

PCHR holds the administration of the prison responsible for any damage that may be inflicted to Palestinians who are unlawfully held in administrative detention, and calls upon the Israeli occupation authorities to immediately release them, or as a minimum condition, to transfer them to a military detention facility until their release to ensure that they are not attacked by Israeli criminal prisoners.

Public Document

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For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 – 2825893

PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: [email protected], Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org