Life in Israeli prisons is unbearable

Gaza The condition of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails is pathetic. There are some teenagers locked up behind bars and no one knows the reasons why they are in jails.

A Palestinian woman Wafa'a Bakri spoke to Gulf News about her suffering in an Israeli prison.

Gulf News: Could you describe the conditions of the detainees in Israeli prisons?

WAFA'A BAKRI: It's very bad. Female detainees are deprived of seeing their families. The prison cells are two floors beneath the ground which makes the atmosphere extremely humid. Also, during cold winter nights, there are not enough blankets to go around.

Prisoners are often denied medicine and treatment for their illnesses. My prison mate had demanded nine times for medical treatment with no avail. She is very sick.

How did you end up in prison?

The Israelis have not brought charges against me. At first they held me for 15 days and then turned me over to the administrative jail where I was questioned. They found nothing, but yet I spend the next four and a half months behind bars. I am politically active. Perhaps that was my crime.

Did you receive help from the Red Cross?

The Red Cross provides signficant assistance, although I believe it does not do all that it can sometimes.

For example, I asked them to help me when I was sick. I asked them to speak to the Israelis about my condition. I waited for 10 days before I got a reply. Often workers and lawyers come to the prisons, but rarely visit the cells. They are not allowed because Israel thinks its a violation of security. It helps these girls sometimes to know that someone is asking about them. To feel communication with the outside world. My two eldest children, who are in university, were not allowed to visit me, while my youngest two were allowed. My parents who live in Jordan were also barred from visiting me, as well as my husband who was previously detained by Israel.

Describe your most difficult experience during the length of your stay.

One girl that was there was barely 16 years old. I tried to comfort her, but she really needed the love of her mother. I don't understand why these little girls are here. I ask Mahmoud Abbas to negotiate the release of these little girls. A mother also had her 10-month-old son with her. He had fever and the Israelis refused to treat him. I still remember the sound of her desperate cries.

Israeli tactic to target mosques

Gaza: A total of 92 mosques were damaged by Israel, with 41 being completely destroyed, according to the Ministry of Endowments in Gaza.

Dr Talib Abu Shair who works with the Ministry told Gulf News that targeting Muslim places of worship is a tactic used by the Israelis on purpose.

"It is targeting the role of the mosques in shaping the identity and personality of people," he said.

Some mosques were even destoryed while worshippers were inside.

Israel claims that Hamas hid arms in the mosques.

"Where are the arms they claimed were hidden in the mosques," Abu Shair asked.

"They made the same ridiculous claims to justify the destruction of homes, schools, hospitals and government buildings," he added.

Dr Abu Shair called for an investigation into attacks on places of worship and for such attacks to be categorised as war crimes and those responsible to be prosecuted.