A United Nations human rights committee in Beirut heard witnesses today accuse Israel of torture, atrocities and mass murder in the occupied Arab territories. Dr. George Dib, a professor of international law at Lebanon University and a research worker of the Palestine Research Council, testified before the UN body, headed by Ibrahim Boye, the permanent representative of Senegal to the UN.
The human rights committee was established under a resolution of the UN Human Rights Commission to investigate the treatment of Arabs in territories occupied by Israel in the June, 1967 war. Israel has refused to cooperate with the committee unless a simultaneous investigation is undertaken of the treatment of Jews in the Arab countries and the committee will not visit the occupied areas.
Dr. Dib alleged that 17 methods of torture were used by Israelis on Arab prisoners. He said they included electric shock applied to the genitals and rectum. He also alleged that 23 Arab men were shot at Rafah, in the Sinai three weeks after the war and were buried in a mass grave.
Dr. Dib alleged that wilful killing “has been frequent throughout the occupation. He said that of 200 individual cases brought to his attention, 18 were rejected because of insufficient evidence. It was reported that American witnesses are prepared to give evidence against Israel. Mr. Boye said the committee will not enter Israel because of Israel’s refusal to cooperate with it.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
