JURIST - Paper Chase: Hamas officials claim abuse by Israel captors during detention

[JURIST] Two Hamas officials - the Palestinian Minister for Prisoners' Affairs and a deputy speaker in the Palestinian Legislative Council [official website] - who were released from Israeli custody [SA report] this week told reporters Wednesday that they had been abused while detained. Wasfi Kabha and Hasan Khurayshah said that they had were interrogated for hours, were not provided with suitable water and food, and were given dirty clothes, towels and blankets. Prison officials said the two detained Palestinian officials were treated humanely, as all detainees are treated while under Israeli custody. Kabha told AP that he was released after a military tribunal cleared him of membership in a terrorist organization. Another Hamas official, Samir Abu Eisheh, was released [JURIST report] in July.

The Hamas officials were seized [JURIST report] by Israeli authorities following the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier [JURIST news archive]. Israeli officials said in June that the captured Palestinian lawmakers would be tried under standard criminal warrants [JURIST report] for membership in or leadership of a terrorist organization. BBC News has more.

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