Israel Has Evidence of Beatings, Brutalities Against Israeli Pows in Egypt

Israeli authorities have amassed evidence of systematic beatings and degradation of Israeli prisoners of war by their Egyptian captors which ended only three days before last month’s POW exchange began, it was learned here today. The evidence, compiled by the army and the Ministry of Defense will be presented to the United Nations and the International Red Cross. According to the evidence, every Israeli POW, regardless of rank, was subjected to brutality. Egyptian authorities also participated in or permitted the murder of POWs. particularly pilots who had bailed out of their planes safely. Some prisoners are believed to have died while undergoing interrogation, the Israeli presentation will charge.

Immediately on their capture, Israeli prisoners were stripped of their personal belongings and papers, their shoes and socks and helmets were taken and their hands were tied with telephone wire. They were forced to lie face down on the floors of troop-carrier trucks while their captors repeatedly kicked them, Israel charges. In Egyptian prisons, according to the alleged evidence, kicks and blows were administered continuously; prisoners were placed in solitary confinement and were forced to wash their faces in sewage water. A young armored corps soldier was tied arm and leg and beaten all over his body. Some men were beaten unconscious and the beatings were resumed after they were revived.

Israel claims that the Red Cross representatives were permitted to visit Israeli POWs only three days before the POW exchange. The POWs were then given pajamas, cigarettes and candy. Some were hastily treated by Egyptian doctors to cover up the evidence of ill treatment. According to Israeli authorities, every one of the returned POWs was in need of medical treatment and some were in a state of shock and could hardly speak when they got back to Israel. Israeli physicians detected evidence of internal injuries in some of the returned POWs. The Israeli charges relate only to prisoners captured by Egypt. No POWs have been returned from Syria to date but the evidence is that at least 28 Israeli soldiers were murdered in cold blood by their Syrian captors.