Troops humiliate Palestinians in attack on West Bank by referring to them only by their numbers instead of their names
They were impaled, handcuffed, insulted and kept in inhumane conditions. More unusual was that each man had a number written on his forehead.
The Israeli army launched a massive arrest campaign in Dura, south of Hebron, on Thursday morning, targeting more than 20 former prisoners.
Among them were several prominent Hamas activists who were previously detained by Israel after the start of the war in Gaza and released from prison a few months ago.
Osama Shaheen, who was released in August after 10 months of administrative detention, told Middle East Eye that soldiers had brutally raided his home, breaking his furniture.
They took him to a military vehicle, cuffed and handcuffed him, and placed him with other detainees in the home of Nayef Rjoub, a former member of the Palestinian Authority parliament, the Palestinian Legislative Council.
READ: Palestinian rights groups report harsh conditions for Gaza detainees in Israel’s Tender Prison
“The soldiers turned us from names to numbers, and each detainer had a number that they used to insult him during his arrest and called him by his number instead of his name. To them, we are just numbers.”
Ayed Dudin, a paramedic who was released from an Israeli prison in July, said soldiers also broke into his home, causing damage. However, Dudin was away providing medical support to people injured in the attack, so the Israelis captured his son Mohammed.
‘The soldiers turned us from names to numbers’
– Osama Shaheen, resident of Dura
“I received a call from an Israeli army officer and he asked me to surrender so that my son could be released. Although I went to do so, they did not release Mohammad and kept him in detention with me,” Dudin told MEE.
Dudin said he was also subjected to beatings and abuse while being held in Rjoub’s house, on which soldiers provocatively raised an Israeli flag.
In the nearby village of Tabaqa, the Israelis turned another Palestinian house into a detention and interrogation center, where residents suffered similar treatment.
During the attack, which lasted 11 hours, soldiers also distributed leaflets and posters with warnings threatening not to attack the army or Israeli settlers.
New methods of intimidation
There are almost daily arrest campaigns in the West Bank.
READ: In solitary confinement, Israeli soldiers ‘brutally attack’ popular Palestinian leader
As Israeli troops pursue specific targets, they often abduct former prisoners at the same time, which Palestinians say is a way to intimidate them and pressure their communities.
When troops invade the cities and towns of the West Bank, life comes to a complete end. Snipers are located in buildings and the streets are flooded with soldiers and military vehicles that impede the movement of local residents.
In Dura, all schools were suspended on Thursday due to the attack.
Imad Abu Hawash, an activist with the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), told MEE that these attacks are getting longer, sometimes lasting and terrorizing Palestinians in their homes, which are often looted.
According to the PCHR, most detainees are beaten during these campaigns, and the Israeli army wants new measures to intimidate them.
“Normally, a Palestinian is arrested and transferred to a known interrogation center, where he is interrogated. But the Israeli soldiers put these shameful measures in place, and they say they have the right to detain anyone for six hours without reporting them as being detained by the Israeli army,” said Abu Hawash.
Content originally published in English on Eye of the Middle Easton October 10, 2024
Interview between Time.news Editor and Middle East Conflict Expert
Time.news Editor: Thank you for joining us today. We recently published an article highlighting the disturbing treatment of Palestinians during a recent Israeli military operation in Dura, South of Hebron. The report revealed that detainees were referred to only by numbers instead of their names. Can you share your thoughts on what this dehumanization signifies within the broader context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
Expert: Thank you for having me. The practice of dehumanizing individuals by substituting their names with numbers is a deeply troubling tactic. It strips detainees of their identity and humanity, reducing them to mere statistics in an ongoing conflict. This method is reminiscent of practices seen historically in various oppressive regimes, where the person is reduced to an abstract figure. In the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it reflects a systematic approach to control and intimidate the Palestinian population, often leading to a cycle of resistance and violence.
Time.news Editor: Osama Shaheen, one of the detainees interviewed, described how soldiers physically and verbally assaulted them. This was not an isolated incident, as we see similar reports emerging from various parts of the West Bank. What implications do these actions have for both the local population and for the Israeli military’s image internationally?
Expert: The implications are profound. For the local population, such actions foster an atmosphere of fear and trauma. When families witness military raids that lead to assaults on their loved ones, it undermines any remaining trust in security forces and escalates tensions. Internationally, these behaviors attract condemnation and scrutiny. They can damage the Israeli military’s reputation, leading to increased calls for accountability and a reconsideration of military tactics. The optics of human rights abuses can fuel protests and influence public opinion, potentially pressuring governments and organizations to take a firmer stance regarding Israel’s policies and actions.
Time.news Editor: The article mentions that the military action was part of a targeted arrest campaign but included the apprehension of former prisoners as a means of intimidation. How does this strategy affect community dynamics within the West Bank?
Expert: It creates a climate of insecurity and fear within the community. By specifically targeting former prisoners—often considered influencers or leaders in their communities—Israeli forces instigate a sense of vulnerability among the populace. This tactic can lead to collective punishment, where entire communities live under the shadow of potential raids. It often causes a chilling effect, discouraging communal solidarity and resistance, as residents become wary of the consequences of any form of dissent. The effects can be far-reaching, leading to increased mistrust among residents and between communities and their leadership.
Time.news Editor: We have also observed that during these raids, the military uses various forms of intimidation, such as distributing warnings against attacking the army or Israeli settlers. How effective do you find these methods in achieving their intended goals?
Expert: Intimidation tactics can be effective in the short term, as they instill fear within the community. However, the long-term repercussions are often counterproductive. Such actions can galvanize resistance and increase solidarity among Palestinians. History has shown us that repression often breeds resilience. When the Israeli military uses overt intimidation, it can inadvertently strengthen the resolve of those resistant to occupation, leading to more organized and unified efforts against it.
Time.news Editor: what should be the global community’s response to these violations reported in Dura and similar incidents across the West Bank?
Expert: The global community must approach these incidents with a commitment to human rights and international law. This means not only calling for an investigation into reported abuses but also holding those accountable who commit such acts. Diplomatic engagement with both sides should be aimed at fostering dialogue and understanding rather than exacerbating tensions. Furthermore, supporting grassroots organizations in Palestine working for peace and justice is critical, as is ensuring that aid is conditioned on respect for human rights. Ultimately, it is crucial to address the root issues of the conflict to pave the way for lasting peace.
Time.news Editor: Thank you for your insightful analysis. The treatment of detainees and the tactics used during military operations are significant issues that will continue to affect the fabric of Palestinian society and the broader quest for peace in the region.
