The Palestinian Prisoner Society
Palestinian Prisoners in Israeli Jails

8000 Palestinians aré withheld currently in Israelí prisons and detention centers. Massive campaigns were carried out against Palestinian civilians between 2002 and 2003 in which around 7000 Palestinians were arrested. These prisoners are kept in detentíon camps, sorne of which were established for this purpose while others existed  before and were re-opened to accornmodate the large number of prisoners. Examples of , such detention camps are "Ansar 3" in the Negev Desert and l'Ufar" in Ramallah. Arrests that are colIecrive in nature included ciVuians belonging to various social classes and age categories. These campaigns have been the widest and most collective among Palestinians since 1967. Women. mínors, ill and injured were the victims of these arrests 300 injured and ill persons were arrested; sorne of whom were kidnapped from ambulances and froro Palestinían hospitals and clinics. Nowadays there are 750 injured and ill Palestinians in Israeli jails. 73 PalestiIÚan women are imprisoned; some ofwho are minors. In total, there are 350 rninors withheld by the Israeli authorities. 
It is worth mentioning that 95% of the imprisoned are civilians. In some cases, complete families were arrested and put in jail. 12 prisons and detention centers serve to accornmodate these prisoners. 
Sínce Israel holds some people and does not alIow any access to them neither does it inform the Intemational Committee of the Red Cross of their detention, human rights organizations, in some cases, find it difficult to determine where prisoners are held. Thus, some families have some of its members missing since they were not arrested from their homes. Because such arrests are not reponed, it makes it extremely difficult to determine the correct numbers of prisoners and the places of their detention. 
Adding to its long líst of human rights violations and war crimes and since the launch of the current Intifada, Israel has murdered around 80 persons after they were arrested. 
During the siege and curfews that are imposed on Palestinian towns and refugee camps Israel enters the ho1.ises, searches them and arrests civilians. In some cases, Israel also uses its patrols of Special Forces to carry out the arresto These forces disguise and enter the Palestinían areas and capture civíJians. MeanwhiJe, Israelí checkpoints that are spread all around the Palestinian towns and villages contribute a great deal to the process of detaining Palestinians. 
After being detained, prisoners are subjected to aggressive practices that include beating and humiliation. Prisoners usuaJIy are handcuffed after being arrested and their eyes are covered and in some cases prisoners are forced to take off their clothes and are left naked in the open for long hours. Some prisoners were questioned by Israeli interrogators and were subjected to torture in the arrest theater. 
Israel re-activated the use of the intemarionalJy banned rule of administrative detention. Around 1000 rulings of administrative detention against Palestinians were made between February 27th and May 25th. Victims of such ruling are arbítrarily put in prisons without being charged or tried. 
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About 85% of Palestinian prisoners were subjected to forms of torture that are prohibited by IntemationaI law and international conventions against torture and humiliating individuals. For example, some prisoners were deprived from sleep; others were prevented from using bathrooms. Other prisoners were exposed to severe shaking. Some prisoners were left L, cold or hot enviromnents. Prisoners were also threatened, verbally abused and humiliated. Some prisoners. were tied and seated in painful positions and were detained in seclusion from other prisoners. Such diversity of torture styles exists for Israeli interrogators to pick and choose ftom in dealing with Palestinian pnsoners. 

Since 1967, 180 Palestinian prisoners have died in Israeli jails and detention centers as a result of torture, medical negligence and psychological pressure. 

Israel is the onIy state in the world that legalized fue use oí torture thus providing legal cover íor the practices oí its interrogators. 

Detention centers lack the minimum of humane living conditions. Prisoners suffer from medical negligence, lack of sufficient of food and being detained in unhygienic environment. Meanwhile, as a result of obstacles imposed by Israel, lawyers have djfficult times reaching prisoners and visiting them. 

For the past two years, Palestinians families have been prevented from visiting their sons and daughters in Israelí jails, and alI fue efforts by the Intemational Comrnittee of the Red Cross f'ailed in arranging visitation schedules for 1he prisoners, 

The Israeli legal authorities take part in the process of persecuting prisoners through seIS of high sentences and rulings that are imposed on Palestinians. These rulings lack legal criteria and are based on orders of the Israeli intelligence agencies. Israeli courts have prosecuted minors and gave thern high imprisonment sentences. 

June ltfh, 2003 
The Palestinian Prisoner Society 

Main Office 
Bethlehem - down from Bab Zqaq 
opposite to SIRA School. P.O.Box: 240 	

	Tel.:972-2-2777151
 Fax: 972.2-2750960 
E-mail: info@ppsmo,org 
url: www.ppsmo.org