NETANYAHU ORDERS PRISON PREPARATIONS FOR ‘THOUSANDS’ OF NEW ARRESTS

Mon 11 March 2024:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered his defence, national security and finance ministers to open up space in Israeli prisons in preparation for the arrests of “thousands” more Palestinians this year.

The office of the prime minister said in a statement that the military and internal security agency Shin Bet have assessed that many more “terrorists” will be arrested in Gaza and Israel will run out of prison space if it doesn’t do something now.

Approximately 4,000 Palestinians have already been arrested since the October start of the war – mostly in Gaza – it said, prompting this “urgent” need for preparations.

Israel holds thousands of Palestinians in administrative detention without judicial due process, and the United Nations and others have documented numerous instances of torture in Israeli prisons.

Palestinian official slams Netanyahu’s plans to build more detention centres

Qaddoura Fares, head of the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, has condemned Netanyahu’s decision to provide more detention holding centres.

“Netanyahu’s mind is crowded with hateful, aggressive plans, and the decision he made to equip and prepare new detention places categorically confirms his decision to continue the war against the Palestinian people for as long as possible,” Fares said in a statement.

On Sunday, Netanyahu met several of his ministers, including far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and instructed them to carry out his decision.

“This means that the series of arrests will continue in an upward curve against our defenceless people,” Fares said.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

______________________________________________________________

FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:

WhatsApp CHANNEL
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAtNxX8fewmiFmN7N22