Photo circulated of Palestinians “forced to strip” in Jabalia… and Israeli army issues statement

(CNN)– A photo taken on Friday, and circulated on Telegram, showed a large crowd of more than 200 people, among the rubble in Jabalia in northern Gaza. Most of them were men, many of them not many naked, some of them old people, and they were clearly wounded, and there was at least one child among them.

Witnesses told the network CNN They were detained and most ordered to strip naked by the Israeli army as they tried to flee their homes in the Jabalia refugee camp, then held for hours outside in the cold.

The tired faces of the men in the picture showed their misery, as they looked anxiously in front of them, while those behind craned their necks to see what was happening..

The photo shows the residents of the refugee camp who tried to leave the area after the Israeli army forced them to leave amid what they are doing on the ground there..

The picture was shared for the first time on the channel Israeli on Telegram; Although it is unclear who took the photo, several men in the photo told the network CNN Israeli soldiers were taking pictures of them while they were in custody.

And I spoke CNN With 5 people who appeared in the picture, one of them was called Muhannad Khalaf, he said that he, his wife, and their infant son were trying to escape ​​from the camp using a designated safe passage when Israel’s army stopped them..

addedCNN On the phone: “We were all gathered in one place – men, women, children and old people, at 11 am, and 5 hours later, at 4 pm, they asked the women and children to go ahead and carry all our bags and belongings. ,” he said, adding that “the women and children were allowed to leave. “

He continued: “When they left, the men were ordered to take off their clothes and remain in their underwear only. We surrendered and sat in the cold for several more hours. It was very cold and during that time they abused us, called us names, laughed and took pictures.”“.

According to Khalaf, the men pictured were asked to come forward five at a time, to be searched by the Israeli army before they were allowed to go to Gaza City, which the Israeli army considered a “place safe.”.

He continued: “Some people were selected for detention while others were released.“.

The little girl who appeared in the photo is Juri Abu Ward..

Juri’s father, Muhammad Abu Ward, told the network CNN He had to take off his underwear and was held for 8 hours next to Juri. There was no food or water.

Frequent inspections in Gaza

Israeli forces laid siege to Jabalia and launched a new ground operation there more than 3 weeks ago, cutting off most supplies and forcing people to leave amid fierce fighting.

The Israeli army said it had seen signs of rebuilding Hamas ranks in the area, despite a year of heavy bombing and two previous ground operations that the army said were successful..

In recent weeks, the Israeli military has issued several evacuation orders for northern Gaza, including placing leaflets across Jabalia warning residents to “evacuate immediately. “

Many Palestinians told… CNN Earlier they came under fire while trying to follow evacuation orders.

While the Israeli military refused to comment on the situation captured in the photo, they admitted that they routinely detain and search people as part of their combat operations in Gaza.

He did not mention the question CNN About the elderly and injured, as well as the child, who was seen in the picture.

The Israeli army told the network CNN, In a statement: “Individuals suspected of involvement in terrorist activities are detained and interrogated,” he said that “detainees are treated in accordance with international law,” but he said “it often requires suspected terrorists to hand over their clothing so that their clothing can be searched and it can be determined that they are not concealing explosive vests or other weapons“.

He continued: “Due to security protocol, the clothing will not be immediately returned to the detainees,” adding that the clothing “will be returned as soon as possible.”“.

The Geneva Conventions, a body of international law that sets out the rules of armed conflict, insist that any detainee must be treated humanely, and the rules specifically prohibit actions that ” Violating personal dignity, especially degrading and humiliating treatment. “.

The United Nations and other human rights groups have criticized the Israeli army for its detention and abduction during its military campaign in Gaza, accusing it of using it as a weapon.

The UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Palestinian Territories and Israel said last month that it had found “enforced nudity, with the aim of degrading and humiliating victims in front of soldiers and other detainees, often used against male victims.”

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International also criticized Israel for what they said was a widespread practice.

In a July 2024 report on Israel’s treatment of detainees and prisoners, Amnesty International said that “forcing public nudity for long periods of time runs counter to the prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment and amounts to sexual violence. “

Human Rights Watch also accused the Israeli government of “allowing these kinds of practices. ”

Balqis Jarrah, interim director of the Middle East and North Africa division at Human Rights Watch, said: “The Israeli authorities have turned a blind eye for months to members of their army publishing degrading photos and videos of Palestinians in custody , showing them completely. or half-naked.”