Amnesty International has called for an immediate inquiry into what it describes as Israel’s “enforced disappearance” of Palestinian detainees from Gaza. This call comes in the wake of reports of deaths occurring in military detention centers.
Hundreds of Palestinians are currently held in these centers in southern Israel, having been arrested during military operations across the Gaza Strip since the outbreak of hostilities with Hamas militants on October 7.
Heba Morayef, Amnesty’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, emphasized the need for the Israeli military to promptly disclose the fate and whereabouts of all individuals detained since October 7.
Morayef also stressed the importance of specifying the grounds for arrest and providing information to the families of those in custody, especially considering the telecommunications blackouts affecting Gaza.
Amnesty International is demanding a thorough investigation into what it deems “inhumane treatment and enforced disappearance” of detainees from Gaza.
The Israeli army, in response, announced on Tuesday that it is investigating the deaths of detainees arrested in Gaza. However, no details were provided regarding the number of deaths or the circumstances surrounding them.
According to reports from Haaretz, several detainees have died at the Sde Teiman base near the city of Beersheba, where prisoners are allegedly subjected to prolonged periods of blindfolding and handcuffing, with continuous lighting at the facility throughout the night.
Concerns about the fate of detainees from Gaza intensified last week after Israeli television footage showed numerous stripped Palestinian men sitting on a Gaza street under military custody.
Some clips revealed soldiers in the background, suggesting that the footage was captured by military personnel.
Earlier this month, the Israeli army announced the arrest of over “500 terrorists” in Gaza.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas began after the latter carried out a deadly attack on southern Israel on October 7, resulting in approximately 1,140 casualties according to AFP estimates based on official Israeli figures.
The ongoing military campaign in Gaza by Israel has reportedly led to the deaths of at least 20,000 people, with a majority being children and women, according to the Hamas government.
