RAFIF ESLEEM

Gaza- The Palestinian women held in Israeli prisons have faced many rights violations. They are deprived of their most fundamental rights; they are subjected to prolonged interrogation and the most disgusting forms of violence. Director of the Commission for Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs in the Gaza Strip, Aisha al-Kurd is one of the Palestinian women, who were freed after being held in Israeli prisons. She told NuJINHA what the Palestinian women are subjected to in the prisons.

Prisoners are on hunger strike

Reporting that Palestinian women prisoners have been on strike to demand better conditions in Israeli prisons, Aisha al-Kurd stated that only painkillers are given to women when they get sick and they are not taken to the hospital. Adding that the prison officials prevent the entry of food to the prisons and force women to buy very expensive food from the “canteen” of prisons, Aisha al-Kurd said that the families of women from the Gaza Strip have not been allowed to visit women prisoners. “For decades, we have gotten information about women prisoners only through the Red Cross and human rights organizations.”

“There are deprived of their rights”

“During the lunch time, the prisoners are prevented from seeing the sun shine. The ceiling of the prison is completely closed with iron fences. Mostly, they are deprived of using their time in the prison yard to prevent women from communication. The Mabar Hasharon prison, where female prisoners are held during the interrogation period, is full of dirt and insects, and lacks the most basic elements of hygiene. There are cameras everywhere, including in the bathrooms. Women held in this prison are deprived of their right to privacy,” Aisha al-Kurd told us while talking about rights violations in Israeli prisons.

Transfer from one prison to another one

Underlining that women prisoners are also deprived of their right to education, Aisha al-Kurd explained another reason why women prisoners are on the hunger strike. “Another reason is that during their transfer from one prison to another, they are forced to stay in the Busta, a special vehicle for transportation, perhaps for 15 hours or more. They are held in the vehicle for hours, they are not given food or allowed to go to the bathroom. For instance, during the transfer of Israa from one prison to another, one of the soldiers threw a match and set the vehicle on fire and left her burning inside without helping her to get out. She survived but the Israeli authorities refused to perform operations on her or provide her the necessary treatment.”

Cells like graves

Pointing out that the number of Palestinian women held in Israeli prisons has reached 32, Aisha al-Kurd said that women remain in prison for more than a year without being brought before the court. Several months ago, Marah Bakir and Mona Qaadan and other prisoners were transferred to separate cells like graves. There is no information about them; we do not know if they are alive or not.”