Zionist Israeli police launch brutal attack on Palestinian inmates in Nafha prison

Israeli police forces have attacked Palestinian inmates at an Israeli prison in the Negev desert, brutally wounding a number of them in a reportedly unprovoked raid.

The Palestinian Committee for Prisoners’ and Ex-Prisoners’ Affairs said on Wednesday that the Israeli forces stormed section 14 of the Nafha prison in the Negev desert town of Mitzpe Ramon in a “brutal” assault.

It said the Israeli forces used batons, tear gas and pepper spray in the attack, adding that they were striking randomly and in a hysterical manner.

The committee added that the wounded prisoners were transferred to Soroka hospital while an unspecified number of detainees were sent to solitary confinement.

Palestinian sources said some of the injured are in critical conditions.

The committee also said that the Israeli forces are still in and around the jail, warning that the situation is dangerous and could exacerbate in the upcoming hours.

It also held the administrative authorities at the jail responsible for protecting the detainees’ lives and called on human rights bodies to immediately visit the prison and the hospital to check the conditions of the prisoners.

Earlier this year, 50 Palestinian inmates reportedly went on hunger strike at Nafha Prison to protest against their mistreatment as well as poor conditions at the detention facility.

More than 7,000 Palestinians are reportedly in Israeli jails, including those under administrative detention, which is a practice that effectively allows their indefinite incarceration without charge or trial.