Human Rights Office: Palestinians returning to Gaza report abuse and humiliation

The office said, press releaseThe Palestinian returnees informed the office that, after crossing, they were taken by armed Palestinians, allegedly supported by the Israeli army, to an Israeli military checkpoint.

He added that identical accounts indicate that some of these armed Palestinians handcuffed returnees, blindfolded them, searched them, threatened and intimidated them, and stole their personal property and money.

According to the office, upon arrival at the Israeli checkpoint, returnees described a pattern of violence, humiliating interrogations, and invasive body searches that in some cases took place while their hands were handcuffed and their eyes were blindfolded. Returnees also reported that soldiers denied those in need medical care and prevented them from accessing latrines, leading to cases of severe humiliation that included forcing some of them to urinate in public.

The office indicated that a number of returnees stated that they were asked if they would accept money in exchange for returning to Egypt with their families and never returning to Gaza, and others said that they were offered money to work as informants for the Israeli army.

A pattern that raises serious concerns

The Human Rights Office said that together, these accounts indicate a pattern of behavior that violates the right of Palestinians to personal security and dignity, and their right to be protected from torture, ill-treatment and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

He added that the reported pattern towards returnees raises serious concerns about coercive practices that discourage Palestinians from exercising their right to return to the areas they were forced to leave, thus contributing to promoting ethnic cleansing in Gaza.

The director of the office, Ajith Songhai, said that it is the responsibility of the international community to ensure that all actions related to Gaza comply with international law and fully respect the human rights of Palestinians, adding that: “After two years of devastation, their ability to return to their families and what remains of their homes in safety and dignity is minimal.”.