Israeli soldiers attack Palestinian prisoners in Ofer prison with dogs and tear gas, Minister Barghouthi reveals

May 11, 2007

Palestinian boy re-enacts imprisonment during a protest (MaanImages)

Ramallah - Ma'an - Palestinian information minister and official spokesman for the Palestinian government, Dr. Mustafa Al-Barghouthi, has condemned what he described as "torture" at the hands of the Israeli forces, against the Palestinian prisoners held in 'Ofer prison, on Friday morning.

Barghouthi said that the Israeli soldiers had attacked the Palestinian prisoners in 'Ofer jail on Friday morning with dogs and tear gas. The detained minors were terrified, Barghouthi said. He added that the prisoners were forced to stand outside in the rain and many of the prisoners had their personal belongings destroyed by the soldiers.

The minister demanded that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other international institutions send an investigation committee immediately to 'Ofer prison in order to disclose the Israeli occupation's practices.

He added that this torture of prisoners is still ongoing.

The organisation "Asrana" ('Our Prisoners') in Jerusalem also condemned the attack on the 'Ofer prisoners.

The director of Asrana's media office, Munqeth Abu Rumi, appealed to the ICRC, human rights institutions and members of the Arab church to intervene immediately to protect the prisoners in 'Ofer prison.