Testimony by a detainee held at Megiddo prison in difficult conditions 

 

 February 12, 2024 

 The lawyer of the commission recited the testimony of a detainee imprisoned at Megiddo prison, which reflects the complicated situation imposed on detainees. Detainee ( S. S), arrested since 28/9/2023 said: “the Israeli army invaded my house at 3:00 am, where I woke up to find myself surrounded by Israeli forces who beat me and attacked me and my siblings in front of the family” 

 

 “There were a lot of soldiers beating and cursing me, they handcuffed me and threw me on the ground and then destroyed the house. I was taken to Huwara interrogation center and beaten all over the way, where they untied the plastic cuffs and put the iron ones tightly on my hand. They deformed tge features of my face and the bruises remained 37 days. They deceived me on the 6th day of interrogation and told me that the interrogation has ended and that I will be transferred to a central prison and meet my brother, but they transferred me to the spies section at Megiddo prison”. 

 

 “Interrogation rounds were variable, and sometimes it is held at night, as they prevent me from sleeping, which caused fatigue and hight pressure. During interrogation, they kept shouting and cursing me and threatened to put me in solitary confinement for 120 days and use electroshock to torture me, in addition to, they threatened to arrest my mother, sister and brothers. 11 officers interrogated me, and i saw terrible scenes for detainees who have been tortured “. 

“The general conditions are very difficult, as the cell is very narrow and has no windows, the walls are very rough that one can’t lean against, we only have one thin dirty mattress and thin cover with no pillows. We are provided by poor quality and quantity of food, and they didn’t gave us toothbrush, nail clipper or razor. They allowed us to take bath once a week, and forced me to sign a paper of being provided by all essentials, but all the written notes are false.” 

He added: “I got handcuffed and blindfolded every time I go to the interrogation room. I was transferred to the reception of new detainees at Megiddo prison, where 135 detainees are held in the same section. We are prevented from the canteen and deprived of family visits and lawyers visits. There is a shortage in clothes and covers, as I am wearing the same trouser and blouse since 4 months, and I borrow a trouser and a blouse in the morning from another detainee when I want to wash my clothes, and return them in the evening “.