‘95% of Palestinians in Israeli jails suffer torture’

RAMALLAH

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) said on Thursday that 95% of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons have suffered torture.

This came in a statement released by PPS ahead of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture to be marked on June 26.

"Israel adopts multiple methods to torture detainees physically and psychologically, through a system of comprehensive violence," it said.

"Detainees are subjected to sleep deprivation through continuous interrogation sessions for up to 20 hours […] preventing blood circulation from reaching their hands, covering their head with a dirty bag, as well as continuous, beating, slapping, kicking, verbal abuse and intentional humiliation," the statement added.

The Israeli authorities also threaten the detainees with arrest, sexual abuse and killing of their family members, and demolishing of their homes.

The number of Palestinians in Israeli prisons currently stands at around 5,000 detainees.

*Bassel Barakat contributed to this report from Ankara