RAMALLAH, (PIC)
Criticism of the PA security forces in the West Bank has intensified following accusations that they continue to pursue a policy of political arrests and the targeting of resistance members and activists, alongside ongoing security coordination with Israel. The criticism comes after new abuses were reported against detainees held in Junaid Prison in Nablus.
The Committee of Families of Political Detainees said Thursday that it is “deeply concerned” over what political prisoners inside Junaid Prison are being subjected to, describing it as “serious violations and brutal escalation.” The committee accused PA security forces of carrying out torture and abuse against detainees as part of a systematic policy targeting opponents and resistance figures.
In a statement, the committee said torture practices had reached “shocking levels,” pointing to revelations from the family of political detainee Suleiman al-Shami, who they said was subjected to severe torture that resulted in burns to his feet in prison.
The committee described the incident as “a fully fledged crime,” reflecting “moral and national deterioration” within the security apparatus, stressing that the abuses are no longer “individual violations” but rather “a systematic policy of repression targeting free voices and people of opinion.”
These developments come amid growing debate within Palestinian society over the role of PA security forces in pursuing resistance fighters and political activists, especially as arrest and summons campaigns continue across West Bank cities. Palestinian factions and groups have linked these actions to ongoing “security coordination” with Israel.
The committee accused the PA of holding more than 70 political detainees, despite court orders ordering the release of some of them, arguing that ignoring judicial decisions reveals “a policy based on repression and silencing dissent.”
It added that the continuation of political arrests and prison abuses represents “a national and moral disgrace” and reflects “a dangerous level of security overreach” against Palestinians rather than protecting their rights.
The committee called for the immediate release of all political detainees, an end to political arrests and security summonses, and for human rights organizations and media outlets to be allowed access to prisons to inspect detainees’ conditions.
It also urged national factions, rights organizations, and public figures to take urgent action to stop these crimes and violations and to defend the dignity and rights of detainees, warning of the impact these policies could have on Palestinian national unity.
Over recent months, accusations against PA security forces for pursuing resistance fighters have escalated, particularly in Jenin, Nablus, and Tulkarem, alongside continued Israeli raids, assassinations, and arrests in the West Bank. This has sparked widespread anger and criticism from Palestinian factions, which said that security coordination has effectively become cover for targeting the resistance.
