Videos showing naked Palestinian prisoners sitting in rows on the streets of Gaza have gone viral on social media. While the Israeli army is accused of mistreating its prisoners, it mentions a security procedure.
Naked prisoners in their underwear sit in a row on the street, surrounded by Israeli soldiers. These images of Palestinian prisoners in Gaza, published on December 7, went viral on social networks.
Children, UN staff and a journalist are believed to be seen in a video showing dozens of Palestinians being stripped and held by Israeli forces in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/MECCmCgnMI
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) December 8, 2023
The Israeli army explains itself
The Israeli military says this is a security procedure. “It is often necessary for terrorist suspects to take off their clothing so that they can be searched and to ensure that they are not hiding an explosive belt or other weapons,” explains Daniel Hagari, spokesman for the Israeli army, during a press conference this Sunday, December 10 , report our colleagues from Le Parisien.
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Those arrested are believed to be Hamas militants and are expected to be subjected to interrogation. The movement denounces “lies”.
Random arrests?
Many internet users are angry about the Israeli army's treatment of these prisoners. Some recognize friends and people there who are not members of Hamas. A journalist and UN officers were also visible in the recordings.
The Euro-Mediterranean Observatory for Human Rights said it had “received reports that Israeli forces had carried out a campaign of indiscriminate arrests against displaced people, including doctors, academics, journalists and elderly men.”