������

Shai Parnes is the spokesperson for the Israeli human rights organisation B’Tselem. Since its founding in 1989, the rights group has focused on researching and documenting Israel’s military occupation of the Palestinian territories and its associated human rights violations.

Through testimonies, photographs, reports, and videos, B’Tselem plays a crucial role in detailing the everyday impact and abuses of the occupation, in place since 1967, on the daily lives of Palestinians.

������: For decades, B’Tselem has brought together Israeli and Palestinian human rights defenders. Did the Hamas attack on 7 October affect the relationship between the organisation’s Israeli and Palestinian staff?

Shai Parnes: We were all shocked by the attack, the atrocities, and the footage on the morning of 7 October. It was truly horrifying, and there were feelings of horror, shock, and fear throughout Israel. Within our team, we had difficult conversations and tough times. But I believe we emerged stronger as an organisation. We continued doing what we have always done: valuing and protecting every human life in the region, no matter who it is. Shortly after the Israeli assault on Gaza, we once again concluded that there is no future or hope for this region unless we treat all people equally - Israelis, Palestinians, and everyone else.

Building trust within Palestinian communities is crucial for B'Tselem's work on the ground. How does B'Tselem establish relationships with Palestinians who may be sceptical of outsiders or organisations documenting human rights violations?

Half of our staff and department heads are Palestinians. We work closely together, and that’s also how we present ourselves externally. Another important point is that our field researchers in the West Bank and Jerusalem are Palestinians. They are part of the (local) communities, which makes it easier to establish connections. Obtaining information from Gaza is indeed challenging due to the extreme conditions the people there are facing. But we do our best to find out what is really happening on the ground. We have contacts in Gaza, as well as with people who managed to flee the area but still have friends and family there. We remain committed to being truthful and reliable. This is why B'Tselem enjoys respect both internationally and within Palestinian society and communities.

��'�ղ������’s highlighted the torture and ill-treatment of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention describing Israeli prisons as a 'network of torture camps'. Could you walk us through the methodology your team used in gathering testimonies for this report?

When we first heard the initial testimonies, we thought, okay, these might be isolated cases. We interviewed the prisoners, verified their accounts, and published those early testimonies. But by February and March, as many more Palestinian detainees were released from administrative detention in Israeli facilities, we kept hearing the same reports: beatings, humiliation, deprivation of food, sleep, and medical care, etc. That’s when we recognised a pattern and decided to approach it as a formal project. 

In total, we collected 55 testimonies from individuals across the region - residents of the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Gaza, and even some Palestinian citizens of Israel. These individuals, held in 16 different facilities, came from both genders, various age groups, and diverse backgrounds. They didn’t know each other, yet their stories shared striking similarities. Since this treatment was consistently reported across 16 detention centres - some run by the military and most by the Israeli prison system - we had to conclude that these abuses were systematic. This is why we call Israeli prisons a “network of torture camps”.

Even Palestinians with Israeli citizenship reported that they were tortured?

Yes, there were four Palestinians with Israeli citizenship whom we also mentioned in the report. They were arrested because of social media posts. One of them was detained during a demonstration. I should also mention that most of those who provided their testimonies were released without any charges being filed against them.

Generally in the West, there is often the impression that Palestinians with Israeli citizenship enjoy the same rights as Jewish Israelis

In an apartheid regime, people are treated differently based on their ethnicity. Not everyone under this regime receives the same treatment under the law. There is one set of laws and rules for Gazans, another for Palestinians in the West Bank, yet another for Palestinians who are living in East Jerusalem, and a separate set of laws for Palestinians with Israeli citizenship. It is true that Palestinians with Israeli citizenship have more rights than Palestinians who live in the West Bank or Gaza, since they have some civil rights. But there are still many rules in the Israeli system, which discriminate even Palestinians with Israeli citizenship. Meanwhile, across the entire region, from the Jordan River to the sea, anyone who is Jewish enjoys full privileges and rights, regardless of where they live.

Settler violence is an ongoing problem in the West Bank. Israel’s finance minister Bezalel Smotrich has announced that he plans to annex the West Bank in 2025. What impact would such an annexation have?

Israel is an apartheid state. The policy of expansion, settlement building, land confiscation in the West Bank, and the displacement of Palestinians is nothing new. We have been observing and reporting on this for decades. The difference now is that the Israeli government is speaking about it more openly. The entire region is controlled by the Israeli government, and the current situation reflects this, with a policy aimed at expanding settlements, seizing land, and displacing Palestinians.

Since 7 October, settler violence has increased. Settler violence is an unofficial arm of Israeli state power. If the Israeli authorities wanted to stop it, they could. We have seen many cases where these settler attacks were either accompanied or even supported by Israeli forces. Therefore, calls for ethnic cleansing from high-ranking politicians like [Itamar] Ben-Gvir and Smotrich are not surprising. This is exactly what is happening in the northern Gaza Strip right now.

The Israeli military recently declared that residents of the northern Gaza Strip are not allowed to return to their homes

At the end of October, we released a press statement 'The world must stop the ethnic cleansing of northern Gaza'. In fact, the international community doesn't need our press release to understand what is happening in Gaza. You can look at the statements by Ben Gvir and Smotrich, who are senior ministers in the Israeli government, openly speaking about it. They are among the most influential figures in Israel. You don’t need to interpret it - they openly said that this is what they are going to do: expelling Palestinians and resettling Gaza.

B’Tselem, together with 14 other human rights and civil society organisations, has expressed significant concerns regarding the resolution of the German Bundestag on the ‘Protection of Jewish Life’. The main concern is that this resolution could restrict freedom of speech, particularly for those advocating for the rights of Palestinians

A significant number of those who are mistreated in Germany and worldwide for their stance against human rights violations are actually Jewish. However, the wording of the statement does not focus on the mistreatment of Jews but aims to silence those who criticise the policies of the Israeli government. There are Jews worldwide with differing opinions on various issues. It is important not to confuse the Israeli government or the Israeli state with Jews worldwide.

Like any other ethnic group, Jews are not homogeneous. Some criticise the actions of the Israeli government, while others support them. If one wishes to protect Jews or any other group, they must allow everyone the freedom to express their views - not just those whose opinions they agree with.

Since 7 October, your organisation has faced increased attacks on its work from the far-right Israeli government. What impact has this had on your work?

We have received some attacks on our published reports, but I can say that this has not affected our work. From time to time, we have been verbally attacked and targeted on social media. We have had to deal with some false claims and accusations. However, the real danger concerns our Palestinian staff. Many of them come from the West Bank and are constantly at risk, as, as mentioned, they have no political rights under the occupation.

What role do you believe international bodies should play in addressing the legality and human rights concerns arising from the current war?

The international community must pressure the Israeli government to stop the ethnic cleansing in northern Gaza, agree to an exchange agreement, end the war, and stop the violence in the occupied territories. Every day that the war continues, people are paying with their lives.

Elias Feroz studied Islamic religion and history as part of his teacher training programme at the University of Innsbruck in Austria. Elias also works as a freelance writer and focuses on a variety of topics, including racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, the politics of history, and the culture of remembrance

Follow him on X: