Israel’s mass detention of Palestinian men in Gaza has come under criticism, but the government has defended the action, stating that it is necessary to detain these individuals to determine if they have any connections to Hamas. The detentions have sparked outrage after photos and videos of the detainees, who were tied up outdoors and stripped to their underwear, went viral on social media.
Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy confirmed that the detentions took place in Jabaliya and Shajaiye, areas in northern Gaza that have experienced intense airstrikes and fighting. The government has described these areas as strongholds for Hamas, which has been in power in Gaza since 2007.
However, critics argue that mass detentions and the humiliating treatment of the detainees may violate the laws of war. They point out that many people were unable to evacuate due to health issues, disabilities, or the high cost of fleeing.
A Washington, D.C.-based fund-raiser, Hani Almadhoun, claimed that two of his relatives who were detained, aged 13 and 72, were not of military age. Brian Finucane, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, also expressed concerns about the treatment of the detainees, stating that it seems inconsistent with international law.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, chief spokesman for the Israeli military, confirmed that over 200 suspects had been detained, including Hamas commanders and fighters. Israeli authorities declined to comment on the treatment of the detainees, but Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, a military spokesman, explained that the stripping of the detainees was done to ensure they were not carrying explosives.
The detentions have drawn international attention, with the International Committee of the Red Cross expressing concern and emphasizing the importance of treating all detainees with humanity and dignity. Families and rights groups have reported that many of the detained men have not been heard from since their arrest.
Despite the controversy, some of the detained individuals have been released, possibly due to advocacy efforts by their families and media coverage. Diaa Al-Kahlout, a correspondent for Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, was among those detained. His colleagues recognized him in one of the videos and stated that he had chosen not to evacuate because he wanted to continue reporting on the situation in northern Gaza.
It is important to note that Christiaan Triebert and Chevaz Clarke contributed reporting to this article.