The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on the Biden administration to condemn growing reports of the systematic torture of Palestinian detainees by Israeli forces.
That call comes after a Palestinian journalist from Gaza described the torture, abuse and rape that he and other detainees were subjected to at an Israeli detention camp.
[NOTE: The journalist’s report of torture is one of many detailed by those released from Israeli custody. CNN recently reported on the torture and abuse at one Israeli detention center. Israeli doctors are reportedly complicit in the torture of detainees. Also, according to CNN: “Dr. Adnan Al-Bursh, head of orthopedics at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, was declared dead by Israeli prison authorities at Ofer prison.” Yesterday, UN Commissioner Chris Sidoti said: “The only conclusion you can draw is that Israeli army is one of the most criminal armies in the world.”]
Mohammed Saber Arab, who worked as a correspondent for Al Araby TV, was detained from Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza in March. Arab said that detainees are blindfolded and handcuffed 24 hours a day and subjected to continuous torture, physical and sexual abuse and humiliation. He said conversations between detainees are prohibited and they are forced to pray silently because they are deprived of the ability to perform religious practices. Arab said some detainees had limbs amputated and bullets removed without anesthesia.
Earlier this week, CAIR called on the Biden administration to demand that Israel’s far-right government explain why Dr. Iyad Rantisi died under interrogation a week after he was detained by Israeli intelligence services.
In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“Because the Biden administration is complicit in the far-right Israeli government’s genocide, forced starvation and ethnic cleansing, it is also complicit in the torture of Palestinian detainees. President Biden must make a clear statement that a nation that receives billions of American taxpayer dollars cannot engage in torture or any other of the war crimes Israeli forces commit on a daily basis.”
Yesterday, CAIR said the Biden administration must take “concrete action” following the release of a new United Nations report showing that Israel repeatedly violated the laws of war in its genocidal campaign targeting the Palestinian people and a statement by a UN official that Israeli war crimes amounted to an “extermination” campaign.
CAIR said that an Associated Press (AP) investigation showing that the far-right Israeli government’s attacks on Gaza have wiped out “entire Palestinian families” once again proves Israel’s genocidal intent. More than 37,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been slaughtered by Israel.
Over the weekend, CAIR condemned what it called the latest “Israeli war crimes of the day” after a UNICEF official said he witnessed the execution of two Palestinian fishermen by Israeli forces.
CAIR also condemned the apparent systematic destruction of housing, health facilities and water wells in Gaza by Israeli forces. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees says less than on-third of health facilities are operational. The Palestine Red Crescent Society says 498 medical personnel have been killed by Israel. Video shows Israeli bulldozers demolishing homes west of Rafah that were already partially damaged by Israeli attacks.
Last week, CAIR condemned the malicious destruction by an Israeli soldier of a Gaza home shown in a video posted online.
CAIR also condemned the starvation death of Mustafa Hijazi, who reportedly died today as a result of the US-backed Israeli campaign of forced starvation, ethnic cleansing and genocide in Gaza. He was one of thousands of Gaza children starving because of the US-back Israeli genocide in Gaza. Israel has slaughtered more than 37,000 Gazans, mostly women and children.
Also last week, CAIR welcomed US sanctions on an Israeli extremist group that blocked humanitarian aid from being sent to Gaza and urged the Biden administration to go further and sanction the Israeli government for its forced starvation of Palestinians in Gaza and its campaign of genocide.
SEE: Palestinian children battle a deadly foe in Gaza — starvation – NBC
CAIR also called on the Biden administration to stop enabling and backing the starvation of children in Gaza by the far-right Israeli government.
SEE: CAIR Calls on Biden Admin to End Support for Starvation of Children in Gaza
END
CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com