B’Tselem Documents “Harrowing” Abuse of Palestinians by Israeli Soldiers in Hebron

Hebron (Quds News Network)- Israeli human rights group B’Tselem has published a new report on the “harrowing” physical and psychological abuse of Palestinians by Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank City of Hebron.

The report – based on testimonies from 25 Palestinians between May and August of this year – describes acts of violence, humiliation and abuse directed by soldiers at men, women, teenagers and children, all of whom had been selected arbitrarily as they went about their daily lives.

Field researchers had spoken to other Palestinians who endured similar violence, however many declined to give their testimony out of fear that they might face repercussions from Israeli soldiers or occupation authorities.

B’Tselem said none of the 25 people had been suspected of any offence or prosecuted and were released immediately after being assaulted.

“Victims gave harrowing accounts of physical and psychological abuse, including beatings, whipping, having cigarettes put out on their bodies, blows to their genitals, injection of an unidentified substance, prolonged binding and blindfolding, threats, insults and more,” the report said.

The scale of the violence “reflects a particularly brutal manifestation of a systematic, long-standing policy of oppression, expulsion and dispossession that lies at the root of the Israeli apartheid regime,” it added.

A testimony from 14-year-old Muhammad ‘Abd al-Hafiz Rajabi, who was attacked alongside his family in their home, detailed his brutal beating.

“After several minutes of severe beating and cursing, the soldier hit me hard in the testicles with the barrel of his gun,” said Rajabi. “I passed out and don’t know what happened next. I woke up at Mohammad Ali Al Mohtaseb Hospital with doctors giving me first aid. I had bruises all over my body and swelling in my head.”

According to the report, many victims were forcibly taken to military areas, including military posts, facilities or watchtowers, and beaten by one or more soldiers, while others endured abuse inside checkpoints, military vehicles and inspection rooms.

In the testimony of Muhammad ‘Aref Jaber, 21, he recounted how soldiers took him and his friend to a military observation point, while holding them at gunpoint.

They searched both of us and then tied my hands with zip ties, put a garbage bag over my eyes and led me to a military jeep,” he said, after which they took him to an observation tower.

“The soldiers put garbage bags over our heads and ordered us to curse our mothers and families. I think they were filming it.”

The abuse, some victims’ testimonies recounted, was justified under any pretext deemed suspicious by the soldiers, such as making posts or following updates on Gaza.

They were subsequently transferred to military facilities or posts, where they were subjected to physical and mental torture while handcuffed, blindfolded and held at gunpoint.

In one case, 18-year-old Mahmoud ‘Alaa Ghanem was ordered to unlock his phone. The soldiers then attacked him inside a jeep after seeing an Instagram post of a fake picture showing an Israeli soldier with three hands saving babies on 7 October.

“One of the soldiers grabbed me by the hair and slammed my face into the back door, three times in a row. I felt that my mouth and nose were bleeding,” he was quoted as saying.

“One of them hit me hard in the testicles. I screamed in pain, and then he hit me harder in the same place. I begged him in the name of God to stop hitting me.”

In the report, sexual violence and humiliation, such as being forced to undress, beatings to their genitals and threats of rape, were also recounted by several victims.

In one case, 20-year-old Mahmoud Jaber was forced to undress, with the soldier scanning his body with a metal detector. “When he got to the right knee, the device beeped because of the platinum (metal implant), and he used it to hit me on the knee.”

“Then they told me to get dressed. I got dressed, and one of the soldiers took 50 shekels I had in my pocket and forced me to undress again and do 150 push-ups. I told him I couldn’t, and then the soldiers beat and cursed me. I was completely naked. It was a very humiliating experience.”

According to B’Tselem’s report, documenting the violence, abuse and humiliation was “part of the attack itself”. Soldiers filmed some of the incidents or were showcasing them on video calls while mocking the victims.

Qutaybah Abu Ramileh, 25, told the rights group that he and his brother endured physical and verbal abuse from the soldiers, and were subjected to severe beatings with rifles and belts. “The beating with the belt lasted about three minutes, and then the soldiers brought a bucket and put it on my head. Later, I understood they put a bucket on Yazan’s head, too,” he said.

“Then the soldiers brought ice and put it down my underwear. Yazan told me afterwards they did the same to him.

“They also poured an alcoholic beverage into our clothes. I heard a soldier talking to a girl on the phone. I think it was a video call. They were laughing and making fun of us.”

B’Tselem documented lasting psychological impact on the victims following these attacks.

“All were left keenly aware that although that particular incident may be over, they and their families are living in a constant threat to their lives, bodily integrity and wellbeing,” the report said.

According to the report, the violence perpetrated on Palestinians in central Hebron “cannot be explained only as a personal vendetta by soldiers or a flaw in the system”.

“This reality leaves Palestinians with two options: uproot themselves from their homes, land and communities, or live in constant fear of violence.”