DaysofPal- A Palestinian trade union has accused Israeli authorities of torturing detained Palestinian workers following the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. Testimonies gathered by the Arab Workers Union claim that numerous laborers suffered abuse, with some disappearing or dying in detention.
Wehbe Badarneh, the union’s legal advisor, stated that 46 Palestinian workers from Gaza went missing on October 8, 2023. The Israel Prison Service later confirmed the deaths of 34 under “mysterious circumstances or from heart attacks.”
Before October 7, around 18,000 Palestinians from Gaza had work permits in Israel. After the attack, Israel revoked these permits, and many Gaza workers found themselves stranded, detained, or abused at military checkpoints.
Reports indicate that hundreds of detained workers were taken to Israeli prisons, including Sde Teiman and Ofer, where they faced harsh mistreatment. Testimonies from workers who escaped to the West Bank described beatings, forced stripping, and other forms of torture. Video evidence also surfaced supporting these claims.
The Arab Workers Union sought information from Israeli authorities but was largely ignored. However, a report by Haaretz revealed that some of the workers’ bodies had been transferred to Gaza for burial via the Erez checkpoint.
Subsequently, it submitted a report to trade unions in Europe, where members suggested joining complaints filed against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
“Workers from Gaza were also summoned to Geneva to testify before the International Labour Organization, despite all the difficulties and restrictions,” Badarneh added, about the obstacles to free movement imposed by Israel.
Multiple investigations, including testimonies collected by Middle East Eye (MEE), support Badarneh’s claims of abuse. One worker described being stripped, tortured, and left without food for three days. In November 2023, Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor reported that thousands of Gaza laborers endured “horrific forms of torture” during their four-week captivity by Israeli forces.
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