KEY POINTS:
Torture is used regularly on Palestinians detained by the Fatah-dominated security forces in the West Bank and by their Hamas counterparts in Gaza.
Palestinian human rights organisation Al Haq says between 20 and 30 per cent of the people arbitrarily detained in Gaza and the West Bank have
suffered severe beatings, whippings, and other degrading punishments.
It says that three people have died in Gaza and one in the West Bank during the detentions since the split that followed Hamas' enforced takeover of the Gaza Strip 13 months ago.
Each group has arbitrarily detained about 1000 people.
Al Haq's report about "politically motivated" detentions is corroborated by another to be published by the New York-based Human Rights Watch, which highlights two Gaza cases involving "multiple gunshots at close range" at the legs of detainees.
The HRW researcher Fred Abrahams also said that the international community, which has pledged US$8 billion to the Western-backed, Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, has "a heavy responsibility to make sure [its] security forces don't use torture and respect human rights".
"Arrests for political reasons haven't stopped for a second," Al Haq director Shawan Jabarin said.
Al Haq described methods used by interrogators. Commonly, detainees' heads are covered by sacks and their hands tied behind their backs. They are made to stand for long hours. Those who move risked beatings. Other methods included threats, humiliation and isolation.
Jabarin said that while he had no proof of an official torture policy, he believed that political leaders were indirectly encouraging abuse by looking the other way.
Abbas' Prime Minister, Salam Fayyad, acknowledged "shortcomings," but said human rights violations have decreased.
In Gaza, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum accused the Fayyad Government of trying to destroy Hamas in the West Bank with US backing. Barhoum acknowledged "mistakes" were made by the Hamas forces, but said violators were increasingly being punished.
- INDEPENDENT, AP
WORKER LEFT BADLY BEATEN
Jabour, a 33-year-old construction worker, said he was detained on November 17 by Military Intelligence in Nablus, near Salem.
He said he was asked where he had hidden the automatic rifle of his late brother, a member of the Hamas military wing killed by Israel in 2002.
Jabour insisted he had no ties to Hamas and said he did not know of a weapon.
He said that for the next six days, he was beaten severely with sticks, pipes and fists, including on the soles of his feet. His legs became so swollen and his feet so sore that he couldn't stand up, he said.
Jabour said he was taken to Nablus' Rafidiyeh Hospital after an interrogator rammed a screwdriver into his back, making him pass out.
Jabour was released several days later, without charge.
- AP