Torture in streets

In a press conference of March 24th 2007, the Palestinian
Minister of Information, Dr Mustafa Barghouthi, showed a
group of Journalists two video tabs of how Palestinian
civilians have been systematically tortured while crossing the
imposed check points, which mad Palestinians’ movement
very difficult to move to their villages, schools, universities and
to their work. (Reported by Al-Jazeera and Maan news,
March 24). In one incident, the video shows a woman from Al-
Ubaydiyya was bitten by an Israeli police dog during an arrest
raid near Bethlehem (the image was taken from Maan news);
the second film shows Israeli soldiers brutally beating a
Palestinian man from Huwwara, the man was on the
checkpoint.

   Such torturous methods that are systematically used by
Israeli solders against civilians are appealing for international
community and human right activists to clearly condemn these
scandalous violations against innocent civilians. These
disgraceful and organized torture procedures have an
overwhelming negative implication on the future reconciliation
and peace building between Israelis and Palestinians.

As reported by Maan News, there are 528 fixed checkpoints
and 455 temporary ones in the West bank. The disruptive
impact of all checkpoints was evident in every aspect of
Palestinians’ life, which influences the physical and mental
state of the Palestinian population. Sixty one (61) women
were forced to give birth at these check points because they
couldn’t reach the hospitals. Thirty six (36) out of the 61
babies who were born at these checkpoints died because of
lack of medical and health care facilities.

   It is shocking to see civilians being tortured on the streets in
such brutal way giving no attention to UN conventions against
torture. Such clear violations against civilians raise our
concerns about the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. As
reported by B’TSELEM, the Israeli Information Centre for
Human rights, more than 9,000 Palestinians are held in Israel
prisons.

   Rafah crossing point, which is the only available window of
opportunity for Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip is another
scandalous measures. It has been continuously interrupted
and closed for the last 9 months. Many hundreds of
Palestinian travels, students, families and referred patients
are trapped in Rafah crossing point for weeks without clear
and logical justifications for the closures.

   Jesoor organisation for trauma recovery urges international
community and human rights organizations, UN institutions
and European governments to pressure Israel as an
occupying state to stop its escalating aggression, torturing
and traumatizing Palestinian civilians and to re-open borders
allowing free movement of goods, medication and to give
Palestinian the chance to live in peace and dignity.

Jesoor Organisation
April 2007.