An Israeli NGO on Tuesday filed a motion with The Hague seeking an International Criminal Court investigation against Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his prime minister, Mohammad Shtayyeh, for "extensive and systematic use of torture."
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Earlier this week, the United Nations Committee against Torture held its first-ever session on the Palestinian Authority's actions.
Members of the Geneva-based body, a unit of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, met on Monday and Tuesday to determine whether the PA is in compliance with the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and to investigate instances of forced disappearances, violent interrogations, and the holding of the remains of Israeli soldiers, and other issues.
The PA rep says they are committed to "stamping out torture when ever it occurs."
But that's flat out lie! Palestinian Auth cont. to carry out systematic, rampant & wide-spread torture against both Palestinian nationals in WB, as well as the 4 Israelis held captive in Gaza. https://t.co/IZ2DUMXOwL
— Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) July 19, 2022
The review also addressed actions by Hamas, the terrorist group that rules the Gaza Strip and is routinely accused of torture by international watchdogs.
Palestinian Interior Ziad Hab al-Reeh filed Ramallah's 65-page response to the allegations, also detailed in a report by UN Watch. The Palestinian Authority sent a delegation of 17 officials to appear before the committee.
"We have just filed a submission to the ICC to investigate the Palestinian Authority, including President Abbas, over allegations of systematic torture by the PA against Palestinians in the West Bank and legal responsibility over ongoing captivity of 4 Israelis in Gaza," The International Legal Forum, announced Tuesday.
BREAKING: We have just filed a submission to the ICC to investigate the Palestinian Auth, incl. President Abbas, over allegations of systematic torture by the PA against Palestinians in the West Bank and legal responsibility over ongoing captivity of 4 Israelis in Gaza! pic.twitter.com/fiQnYZz1DO
— The International Legal Forum - ILF (@The_ILF) July 19, 2022
The ILF is a global network of lawyers standing up for Israel and fighting terrorism, antisemitism, and the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement in the international legal arena.
The petition stated that the torture methods employed by the PA include beatings, arbitrary detentions, isolation, inhumane imprisonment conditions, harassment, forced confessions, and executions without trial.
"Torture is a crime against humanity under international law and the Convention against Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and the Palestinian Authority employs both of these practices," the ILF said.
"Various security services operating under the auspices of the PA, headed by Abu Mazen [Abbas] and Shtayyeh, routinely and systematically deal with large-scale torture against Palestinians in Judea and Samaria, including human rights activists, journalists, political opponents, women, minorities, members of the LGBT community, social media activists and suspected collaborators with Israel."
International Legal Forum Chairman Arsen Ostrovsky told Israel Hayom that it was "high time that the Palestinian Authority be held accountable for its systematic use of torture against the Palestinian people, and it must also be held accountable for torturing four Israeli civilians currently held in Gaza.
"These are outrageous international law violations that cannot be refuted. The International Criminal Court must investigate these allegations and press charges accordingly," he said.
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