The Palestinian Ministry of Detainees reported that the Israeli army
has significantly increased its attacks in the occupied territories
since June 25, and abducted more than 1500 residents, including women
and children, in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, was abducted by resistance fighters on June 25 after the fighters attacked an Israeli military base near the Gaza borders; two soldiers and two fighters were killed in the attack.
Resistance factions who participated in the attack demanded Israel to release all women and child detainees in exchange for the soldier; Israel rejected the demands and carried its ongoing offensive, Summer Rains.
The ministry report revealed that since September 28, 2000, Israeli troops took more than 5000 children and 500 women prisoner. Thousands were detained on checkpoints, tortured and interrogated on these checkpoints, settlements and military camps.
60 Palestinians died in detention since September 28, they died of medical neglect, torture and in some cases they were killed by their interrogates, the ministry reported.
Total number of Palestinian who died in detention since Israel occupied the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem in 1967 arrived to 183.
The report also stated that Israel is placing the detainees under unbearable conditions and that the prisons and detention camps lack the basic requirements of decent human living condition and contradict with the International Law.
The detainees are not receiving the needed medical treatment and attention especially those who suffer from chronic diseases and cancer. Several detainees are paralyzed and handicapped and are facing very harsh living conditions lacking the basic and essential tools they need on daily basis.
It is worth mentioning that since Israel carried its Summer Rains offensive, 300 Palestinians were killed, and thousands were injured, hundreds suffered permanent disabilities. Twenty Israeli soldiers were also killed in the ongoing offensive.
