RAMALLAH, (Palestine Foundation Information Center) The Palestinian Detainees and Ex-detainees Affairs Commission has reported a sharp increase in torture and reprisals against detainees at Gilboa prison.
In a statement on Friday, the commission said the prison administration has recently intensified the use of painful electric shocks during raids on prisoners’ sections and cells.
Following a recent visit to the prison, the commission’s lawyer detailed the brutal methods employed by special suppression units. Under the pretext of conducting searches, these units storm prisoner sections, restrain detainees by their hands and feet, and force them into the courtyard. There, prisoners are beaten, humiliated, and electrocuted.
Guards also drag detainees over shower heads, soaking them with water before delivering additional electric shocks to maximize their pain and suffering, often causing prisoners to collapse.
The lawyer explained that electric shocks are administered using special stun guns, which are also used to strike prisoners on the head. These iron devices cause severe injuries and bleeding. Many detainees lose consciousness due to the intensity of the torture, while guards mock and laugh at their suffering.
The commission also highlighted dire living conditions inside Gilboa prison. Food is scarce and insufficient, leading to severe weight loss among prisoners. Cleaning supplies and disinfectants are in short supply, creating unsanitary conditions that foster disease. Prisoners are forced to use plastic plates and spoons for an entire month, increasing the risk of infection from viruses and germs, further endangering their health and lives.
