Palestinian human rights under PA, Hamas at their ‘worst,’ says group
Local advocacy group says rights of those living in West Bank, Gaza routinely violated
RAMALLAH, West Bank — A leading Palestinian advocacy group says human rights for people living in the Palestinian territories are at their “worst” in years.
The annual report by the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights said hundreds of people were tortured by authorities in Gaza, ruled by the Islamic militant group Hamas, and in the West Bank, governed by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority.
It says several people died in Hamas detention and one died while incarcerated in the West Bank. It also says Hamas took 16 prisoners from their jail cells and killed them during the war with Israel last year.
Commission chief Ahmad Harb said other violations include bans on peaceful gatherings. He said rights violations “increased in volume” over the past four years.
