Asylum seekers from Sudan allege abuse in Israeli detention
Two asylum seekers from Sudan have alleged that they were threatened, blindfolded and put in handcuffs during their two weeks in Israeli detention, the Middle East Monitor via Haaretz reported on April 15th.
The asylum seekers claimed authorities only permitted them to take a shower once during their detention and made them drink water from an unclean tap in a bathroom.
The Israeli military acknowledged holding the men but rejected claims of mistreatment, according to Haaretz. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated the men were “not cuffed or blindfolded” and received care aligned with global standards.
Reportedly, soldiers held guns at the asylum seekers, threw food on the floor and prevented them from accessing legal support. According to Haaretz, the men were leaving Darfur in Sudan, and authorities placed them in a military facility that mostly holds Palestinian security detainees.
The UAE now faces a trial at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its alleged involvement in Sudan’s genocide.
This news comes after a lethal border clash where Israeli forces killed three asylum seekers who were crossing the country’s eastern border. The one Ethiopian and two Eritrean victims were reportedly trying to join relatives already residing in Israel. According to Haaretz, this incident marks the first documented case of refugees killed while attempting to pass through Israel’s eastern frontier.
Middle East Eye reported on March 14th that Hamas urged global organizations to review a recent UN report’s conclusions. The study accused Israel of committing crimes of “sexual assault” and other “genocidal acts.”
A source said that Israeli captives are being detained in tunnels in Gaza, according to Middle East Eye on April 6th. Five former Palestinian detainees also affirmed previous claims that Israeli forces tortured prisoners, the BBC reported on April 7th. The released captives detailed various abuse, such as chemical burns and the use of electric shocks under detention.
Middle East Monitor via Haaretz, BBC, Middle East Eye
