Background:

Since the beginning of its illegal occupation in 1967, Israel has detained over 1 million Palestinians. This policy of mass arbitrary arrest is one of the tools that aim at maintaining Israel's illegal occupation and apartheid regime. Every year, Israeli occupation forces detain thousands of Palestinians, including women and hundreds of children. As of today, there are 4,700 political prisoners in Israeli jails, including 640 administrative detainees, 32 women and 170 children.

Every year, June 26 marks the International Day in Support of the Victims of Torture. Despite the absolute prohibition of torture and ill-treatment under international law, Israeli occupation forces and prison authorities employ various torture and ill-treatment techniques against almost all Palestinian political prisoners and detainees, including women and children, leaving grave physical and psychological damage.

Israeli prison authorities, occupation forces and interrogators feel emboldened to commit such acts of torture with full impunity knowing that neither the complicit Israeli legal system nor the international community will hold them accountable.

Recommendations:

MIFTAH calls on the international community to:

• to meet its obligations under international law and universal jurisdiction to hold Israel accountable through effective measures for its persistent crimes and human rights violations

• support the investigation by the International Criminal Court into the Situation in Palestine, including the crime of torture

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