22 testimonies of shooting at detainees in Israeli prisons have been documented

A joint report on the subject was prepared by the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI) and Physicians for Human Rights (PHR).

The report stated that at least 22 statements were collected from prisoners, most of whom were Palestinians, about guards opening fire on them.

In the statements, most of which were taken within the last year, it was stated that the guards used ammunition described as rubber, plastic or sponge bullets. It was reported that 21 of the testimonies belonged to a Palestinian prisoner and 1 belonged to a Jewish prisoner.

In the statement, it was emphasized that the shooting actions were carried out at close range and inside the cells where the detainees had no opportunity to escape or be protected. It was noted that the cases were documented in Ofer, Ganot, Ketsiot, Gilboa, Megiddo, Nitzan and Eshel prisons.

The report included the situation of a 45-year-old Palestinian prisoner who was taken to Soroka Hospital after being shot with a rubber bullet in June last year. According to medical documents, it was stated that the prisoner, who was injured in various parts of his body and testicles, had his right testicle surgically removed due to severe tissue damage in his right testicle.

In another case, it was reported that another prisoner suffered a fracture in his left leg as a result of close-range fire. Medical records confirmed that the prisoner was transferred to Soroka Hospital and surgically fitted with a platinum implant in his leg.

The report also stated that there were cases of injuries to the legs, abdomen, pelvis and hands.

Prisoners stated that guards opened fire during ward raids or in cells, and that they were not subjected to medical examination or were deprived of necessary treatment after being injured.

Among the statements was the information that a prisoner in Ofer Prison refused to return to his cell, protesting the lack of scabies treatment for months, and that the guards then opened fire on him and used an electroshock device on his head.

It was recorded that another prisoner in Nitzan Prison was hit by many rubber bullets in his lower body while having a panic attack.

After documenting the events, the two organizations appealed to the Legal Advisor of the Israeli Government and senior officials from the Prison Administration and demanded that the "practice of uncontrolled shooting" against prisoners be stopped immediately.

The organizations also requested clarification of the types of weapons and ammunition used and the instructions regulating their use.

It was emphasized that the documented cases also contradict the Prison Administration's own internal instructions regarding proportionality and the use of force as a last resort.

In its response, the Israeli Prison Administration acknowledged that "less lethal means" were used against detainees. The administration claimed that these vehicles were used "calculated" and "proportionately" in line with "operational needs", but refused to disclose the type, qualities and rules of use of the ammunition used, citing security reasons.

The request to completely stop the practice was also not accepted.

Muhanned Abu Guş, Director of the Prisoners and Prisoners Department of the Doctors for Human Rights Organization, said that opening fire on prisoners is not a new situation, but it has witnessed an "unprecedented escalation" recently.

Abu Gush stated that documented testimonies show that shooting has gradually become a routine tool of violence in prisons, and that injuries include severe bleeding, fractures and internal organ damage and are life-threatening.

Lawyer Merav Ben-Zeev, Director of the Legal Department of the Public Committee Against Torture, criticized the Prison Administration's response and noted that this attitude reflects an irresponsibility towards the physical and mental integrity of detainees and reinforces the blackout in prisons.

Ben-Zeev stated that defining the ammunition used as "less lethal" raises questions and stated that the Committee is considering taking additional steps against these practices.

There are approximately 9,350 Palestinians in Israeli prisons, including 350 children and 90 women. Palestinian and Israeli human rights organizations emphasize that detainees are subjected to torture, starvation and medical neglect, and that this situation has led to the death of dozens of detainees.