Soldiers marked Palestinian detainees with a number on their forehead and hand, IDF: 'Lessons have been learned'

Ahmad Khatmawi, a resident of Qabatiya and a released prisoner arrested for the fourth time, told the Qatari channel 'Al-Araby' this morning (Tuesday) that he was marked by the soldiers who arrested him with numbers on his body. The IDF acknowledged the report and stated:

'Commanders clarified the severity of the act to the forces, and lessons have been learned regarding the matter.'

Khatmawi said that he was arrested the previous time 10 days before the IDF raid on Qabatiya. He claimed: 'They interrogated me with questions and answers. They said that the settlers are coming and that they don't want problems, and that I am a new prisoner. I have never seen such a thing before. It was an interrogation and intimidation of the residents and the prisoners. They are afraid of the reaction of the prisoners and the reaction of the residents here because of the settlements and the Jenin area. They want to send a message that whoever confronts the settlers will cause problems, and that the settlers will stay here for a long time.'

Regarding the numbers, he said he does not know what they mean, and claimed: 'This is the first time they have put them on me. This is the fourth time I have been arrested, and actually the fifth time I have been brought here. There is a large number of detainees. There are women in handcuffs, about 50 prisoners in the house where we met them.' He added: 'They are humiliating us in every possible way.'

As mentioned, the IDF stated regarding the report: 'Yesterday, during a brigade operation in the village of Qabatiya in the Menashe region, security forces marked suspects who were interrogated during the operation. Commanders clarified the severity of the act to the forces, and lessons have been learned regarding the matter.'