Undercover units of the Israeli army broke, on Friday at night, into Section 11 of the Eshil Israeli Prison in Be’er as-Sabe’ (Bir Shiva), assaulted Palestinian detainees after forcing them out of their beds, and violently searched their rooms.The Palestine Detainees Studies Center issued a press release stating the soldiers of the “Metzada” units, operating in Israeli prisons, and another support unit, invaded Section 11 and cuffed the detainees after attacking them, and moved them out of their rooms for several hours.
Head of the Center, Osama Shahin, said the soldiers searched and ransacked the rooms, the prison canteen and the laundry room for several hours.
The detainees were allowed back into their rooms, later on, to find out that the army had confiscated some of their belongings.
Shahin said the Metzada is known for its brutality and excessive use of force against the detainees, adding that the detainees consider this attack another direct violation, and a serious escalation.
“The Metzada has a dark history, known for excessive use of force and brutality causing the death of injury of dozens of detainees,” Shahin said.
He also said that 63 detainees, who were released under the Shalit Prisoner Swap Agreement, and were illegally rearrested by Israel, are now held in Eshil, adding that the army is deliberately escalating its violations against them, and the rest of the detainees.
On Saturday evening, soldiers kidnapped Mustafa al-Hajj, from Salfit, who previously spent 24 consecutive years in Israeli prisons while serving a life-term.
Al-Hajj was released as part of a deal to ensure the resumption of direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority; he is one of many veteran released detainees who have been illegally kidnapped and imprisoned again by Israel.
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