Israeli rights groups report surge in rubber bullet shootings of inmates

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 10:02 · Archive

Israeli human rights groups say 22 inmates, mostly Palestinian, have been shot with rubber bullets by prison guards.

Two of Israel's leading human rights groups, Physicians for Human Rights Israel and the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, have documented 22 cases of inmates being shot with rubber bullets by guards at close range, with some suffering severe injuries. One inmate was Israeli; 21 were Palestinian. The groups say conditions in Israeli prisons have deteriorated dramatically since the war in Gaza began more than three years ago.

Nearly all the shootings occurred since last autumn, whereas only a handful of such incidents had been documented by these groups in the prior decade. In August, the groups sent a letter to the Israel Prison Service calling the behaviour 'widespread' and 'unlawful'. The prison service did not respond to requests for comment.

According to the rights groups, in many instances the shootings were neither proportionate nor being used as a last resort to stem violence or prevent escape. Under Israel's prison regulations, guards are only allowed to use weapons when facing imminent risk, according to Sari Bashi, executive director of the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel. The Associated Press reviewed files from the rights groups, including inmate statements and medical reports, and spoke with two former inmates who said they had been shot.

How it is being reported

• Israeli rights groups report a surge of Palestinian inmates being shot with rubber bulletsTwo of Israel’s leading human rights groups are sounding the alarm about a surge of mostly Palestinian inmates being shot by guards with rubber bullets at close range.News4Jax · 15 Oct, 09:24
• Israeli rights groups report a surge of Palestinian inmates being shot with rubber bulletsTwo of Israel’s leading human rights groups are sounding the alarm about a surge of mostly Palestinian inmates being shot by guards with rubber bullets at close range.Clickorlando · 15 Oct, 09:24

In this story: Physicians for Human Rights Israel · Public Committee Against Torture in Israel · Israel Prison Service · Sari Bashi · Israel · Gaza

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