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Last update - 20:11 28/01/2009
Rights groups: IDF subjected Gaza detainees to deplorable conditions
By Tomer Zarchin, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Israel news, IDF, Gaza, Hamas

Seven human rights organizations approached Israel Defense Forces Military Advocate General Avihai Mandelblit and Attorney General Menachem Mazuz on Wednesday seeking an investigation into the IDF's treatment of Palestinians detained during Israel's Gaza offensive.

The human rights groups argued that the detainees were treated in a deplorable manner and were subjected to humiliating conditions from the moment they were seized and up until being transferred to the custody of the Israel Prisons Service.

In a letter, composed by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, B'Tselem and the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel among others, it was argued that the detainees had testified to the difficult conditions they faced during the first days of their imprisonment. According to the testimonies, minors and adults were held in ditches dug in dirt for hours, sometimes days, exposing the detainees to the elements while handcuffed and blindfolded. The testimonies also suggested that food and shelter were not always made available to the detainees.
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Even after the detainees were taken out of the ditches, the letter argued, the detainees were held inside a truck for an entire night, handcuffed, with one blanket for every two people. They suffered violence and humiliation at the hand of IDF soldiers and investigators, the letter went on to suggest.

The rights groups went on to argue that after the detainees were transferred to a military detention facility, they were denied showers and bathroom facilities.

In light of the testimonies given by the Palestinian detainees, the rights groups are seeking an independent investigation into the complaints. They maintain that the testimonies signify only a small fraction of the information beginning to emerge regarding the treatment of Gaza detainees ? including conditions and interrogation methods ? during the fighting in the region.

"The testimonies leave no room for doubt regarding the explicit violations of basic the obligation to ensure that a man, any man, will be held under suitable detention conditions while upholding his dignity and his physical wellbeing and maintaining external supervision over his treatment. This to ensure that he is not subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment," the groups wrote.

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      1.   deleted by moderator 20:51  |  not necessary 28/01/09
      2.   Deplorable conditions?? 21:04  |  alcycle@hotmail.com 28/01/09
      3.   If these rights groups want to be legit then look at Hamas first 21:15  |  Livin In Rishon 28/01/09
      4.   Detainees conditions 21:34  |  Roberto 28/01/09
      5.   to the Seven human rights organizations 21:53  |  vik 28/01/09
      6.   Deplorable? 22:09  |  Angel 28/01/09
      7.   Hypocritic Rights Groups 22:15  |  Shoshana 28/01/09
      8.   Detainees 23:12  |  Maerton 28/01/09
      9.   Rights Groups 23:15  |  ernie 28/01/09
      10.   Facts for Shoshana 23:33  |  Sean 28/01/09
      11.   Tough in a War Zone 23:37  |  Dave Duncan 28/01/09
      12.   How many... 01:47  |  Yossi 29/01/09
      13.   Semantics: Detainees & POWs 03:47  |  Mickle 29/01/09
      14.   One Way ticket to Guatanamo Bay 05:08  |  Joseph.E 29/01/09
      15.   bla bla bla bla 08:31  |  mau mau 29/01/09
      16.   One word for the magnificent 7 08:31  |  Ari ben Yisrael 29/01/09
      17.   SEMANTICS 09:24  |  nina 29/01/09
      18.   Why am i surprised 12:05  |  Alam 29/01/09
      19.   Standards for `Human Rights` groups... 14:20  |  UlfT 29/01/09
      20.   some of these posts are astonishing 16:57  |  bashar 29/01/09
      21.   #14, Joseph E, haven`t you heard? 20:28  |  Silvienne 29/01/09
      22.   Fact for Sean 20:42  |  Brett 29/01/09
      23.   First twenty two posts 00:21  |  Colin Wright 30/01/09
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