B’Tselem: Israeli prison guards beat bound Palestinian prisoners: Whitewashing highlights importance of ICC

Although Israel claims it ensures accountability for offenses against Palestinians, Josh Breiner revealed yesterday in Israeli daily Ha’aretz, following complaints filed by Israeli rights group HaMoked, that appalling attacks by Israeli prison guards against bound Palestinian prisoners at Ketziot Prison were whitewashed. The investigation of this clear-cut, documented case, in which the victims knew precisely who harmed them, was shut down by law enforcement authorities after several symbolic gestures, on the grounds of “perpetrator unknown.” No one bothered to even mix the white paint, let alone cover someone in it.
The video documentation released by Ha’aretz
The Israeli apartheid regime is based on constant, organized violence against Palestinians that is crucial to its survival. Therefore, the regime is neither willing nor able to investigate, let alone prosecute, those who plan and execute this violence. In this instance, backing by senior commanders and the cooperation of law enforcement authorities in the cover-up allowed sadistic guards to run amok in front of cameras with no one held accountable. The case proves, yet again, that Palestinian victims of violence by Israeli security forces cannot achieve justice via Israeli systems and can hope to do so only in an international court.