HUMAN TWO AUTHORITIES, RIGHTS ONE WAY, ZERO DISSENT WATCH Arbitrary Arrest & Torture Under the Palestinian Authority & Hamas Two Authorities, One Way, Zero Dissent Arbitrary Arrest and Torture Under the Palestinian Authority and Hamas Copyright © 2018 Human Rights Watch All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America ISBN: 978-1-6231-36673 Cover design by Rafael Jimenez Human Rights Watch defends the rights of people worldwide. We scrupulously investigate abuses, expose the facts widely, and pressure those with power to respect rights and secure justice. Human Rights Watch is an independent, international organization that works as part of a vibrant movement to uphold human dignity and advance the cause of human rights for all. 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For more information, please visit our website: http://www.hrw.org OCTOBER 2018 ISBN: 978-1-6231-36673 Two Authorities, One Way, Zero Dissent Arbitrary Arrest and Torture Under the Palestinian Authority and Hamas Map .................................................................................................................................... i Glossary ............................................................................................................................. ii Summary ........................................................................................................................... 1 Recommendations ............................................................................................................ 13 To Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas ........................................................ 13 To the Palestinian Legislative Council ..................................................................................... 13 To PA Attorney General Ahmad Barrak ..................................................................................... 14 To the PA Interior Ministry, Preventive Security, Intelligence Services, and Joint Security Committee .............................................................................................................................. 15 To PA Military Prosecutor Maj. Gen. Ismail Faraj ...................................................................... 15 To Hamas Authorities in Gaza ................................................................................................. 15 To the United States, European Union, and Other States ......................................................... 16 To Qatar, Iran, and Turkey: ...................................................................................................... 17 To ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda .......................................................................................... 17 To Social Media Companies and Internet Service Providers ..................................................... 17 To the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment ........................................................................................................................ 18 To the State of Palestine ......................................................................................................... 18 Methodology .................................................................................................................... 19 Background ...................................................................................................................... 21 I. West Bank ..................................................................................................................... 23 Political Opposition ................................................................................................................ 25 Social Media .......................................................................................................................... 27 Journalists ............................................................................................................................. 29 Demonstrations ...................................................................................................................... 35 On University Campuses ......................................................................................................... 38 Opposition Strongholds .......................................................................................................... 42 Criminal ................................................................................................................................. 47 II. Gaza Strip .................................................................................................................... 50 Political Opposition ................................................................................................................ 51 Social Media .......................................................................................................................... 55 Journalists .............................................................................................................................. 61 Demonstrations ...................................................................................................................... 65 On University Campuses ......................................................................................................... 70 Criminal ................................................................................................................................. 71 III. Legal Standards .......................................................................................................... 76 Arbitrary Detention in International Law .................................................................................. 77 Torture under International Law .............................................................................................. 78 Palestinian Law ...................................................................................................................... 81 IV. Insufficiency of Accountability Mechanisms ................................................................ 83 Internal Accountability Mechanisms ....................................................................................... 83 Prosecution ............................................................................................................................ 85 External Oversight ................................................................................................................. 86 Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................... 87 Annex I-VIII: Human Rights Watch Letters and Governmental Responses ......................... 88 Map i HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH | OCTOBER 2018 Glossary Bus: A term referring to a room where Hamas authorities in Gaza blindfold detainees and force them to stand or sit in a small chair for extended periods of time, usually during interrogations to pressure them to confess. Detainees cannot speak, move, take medicine, sleep, or eat without permission from guards. Civil Police (Palestinian Authority (PA) and Hamas): Established in 1993, the police are charged with “safeguarding public security, public order, and law enforcement” and, since 2007, report to their respective Interior Ministries in Gaza and the West Bank. Both police forces handle conventional police duties and oversee places of detention.1 General Intelligence Services (PA): Reporting directly to the Palestinian presidency, the Intelligence Services is specialized in counter-intelligence and has the legal authority to carry out arrests on information it collects from “outside the geographic boundaries of Palestine.”2 Joint Security Committee (PA): A joint coordinating task force of all security forces in the West Bank, including the police, Preventive Security, General Intelligence, and Military Intelligence, established in 2006 under the authority of the prime minister to handle internal security issues.3 They are situated in most governorates within the headquarters of Preventive Security or the General Intelligence Services and do not have the independent authority to carry out arrests. Although formally disbanded in June 2018, it has not relinquished its detention authority. Internal Security (Hamas): Established in September 2007 by Hamas, this security force deals with domestic security and reports to the Interior Ministry. 1 Palestinian Police, “About the Police” (in Arabic), undated, http://www.palpolice.ps/ar/about (accessed July 17, 2017). 2 Palestinian News and Information Agency, “The Law Governing Military Intelligence” (in Arabic), undated, http://info.wafa.ps/atemplate.aspx?id=2658 (accessed July 17, 2017). 3 Muqtafi, Birzeit University, “Decision No. 285 of 2006 Regarding the Formation of a Committee of Officers of the Palestinian Security Forces” (in Arabic), undated, http://muqtafi.birzeit.edu/pg/getleg.asp?id=15268 (accessed July 17, 2018). TWO AUTHORITIES, ONE WAY, ZERO DISSENT ii Military Intelligence (PA): A part of the National Security Forces, this body policies other security agencies and has the authority to arrest other members of the security forces, though not