Affidavits released by Palestinian minors in Israeli jails provided shocking facts and proofs of harsh psycho-physical torture both during and prior to the detention phase.
17-year-old Mohamed Tahsseen Al-Dayem held in Israeli lock-ups since August 15 2016 said he was kidnapped by the Israeli occupation forces from his own family home at around 3 a.m.
“We bolted out of our beds as soon as the occupation army smashed the entrance gate of our family home and forced me out of my room after they handcuffed me with iron chains and blindfolded my eyes with a black ribbon” said Mohamed.
“I was made to walk for dozens of meters barefoot to an army jeep where an officer aggressively hit me on the back with his boots and forced me into the jeep” the minor stated.
Mohamed added that he had been subjected to a strip-search in the Hawara camp before he was sent to custody.
“The occupation soldiers forced us to bow and bend our heads downwards while our hands were tied behind our backs for over 10 hours” he noted.
Mohamed also said the soldiers refused the detainees’ appeals to allow them to go to the bathroom and to provide them with food and water.
“If one dares move an inch he would be immediately beaten by an officer” asserted Mohamed.
Another shocking testimony was provided by 15-year-old Omar Ahmad Abdat locked up in Israeli jails since July 27 2016.
“I had my heart in my throat when the occupation soldiers broke into my room and browbeat me” said Omar. “They forced me out of the home blindfolded and handcuffed. They even prevented me from putting on warm clothes before they made me walk on an arid road where thorns and rocks were as countless as the stars in the sky.”
When Omar pleaded for water in the Hawara camp an Israeli soldier brought a bottle and poured water on the minor’s body while he “burst into hysteric laughter.”
“I was later transferred to the Petah Tikva detention center where I had been locked up for 11 days in an isolated cell. I had also endured exhaustive interrogations on a daily basis while both my hands and foot were tied to an iron chair.
17-year-old Rami Maher Samar held in jail since September 16 2016 said he was kidnapped near the Salem military camp at around 4 p.m.
“The Israeli soldiers brutally beat me up all over my body before they shackled my hands with plastic chains while I was lying on the ground” said Rami.
The Israeli soldiers beat him again with rifle butts on his head and face on claims that he was holding a knife.
Shortly after the Israeli soldiers dragged him to the ground by his leg while his body slammed into stones and thorns for dozens of meters until he reached the jeep.
Rami was later forced to bend downwards while soldiers spilled out cold water all over his body as they guffawed feverishly.
“Every time I attempt to take a nap I just get my back hit with the boots of an Israeli soldier” the testimony proceeded.
Human rights groups have often raised alarm bells over the harsh psycho-physical torture endured by Palestinian children in Israeli penal complexes.
Signs of trauma and psychosis are often the direct aftermaths of Israel’s tormenting policies against Palestinian minors.
