A Palestinian man, Arafat Jaradat, died under suspicious circumstances as he was being interrogated by Israeli authorities. The Official Story (TM) is that he died under cardiac arrest. However, that is hard to believe because he was just 30 years old. The family notes that he had no known health issues. Once again, the Israeli dictatorship is holding children hostage as part of their campaign of perpetual warfare and collective punishment.
Palestinians are going on hunger strike over this suspicious death. B'Tselem reports that more than 4,500 Palestinians are being held in prisons; 178 of whom are being administratively detained. Over 700,000 have been held in Israeli prisons since 1967. In 2012, 143 children between 16 and 18 were jailed and 21 minors under the age of 15.
Tensions between the Israelis and Palestinians are rising over this issue, with the Palestinians demanding an international investigation over what happened.
"Our information was that Jaradat was being interrogated and then he died. Therefore we call for an international investigation into his death, that may have resulted from torture," Palestinian Minister of Prisoners Issa Qaraqea said.
Qaraqea did not elaborate on whether or not he had actual evidence of torture.
The Israeli dictatorship is already trying to cover their rears over this issue. An official inquiry (TM) has already been launched. But we already know what the result is going to be. The Official Story (TM) is that nobody did anything wrong.
The Official Story (TM) also states that Jaradat confessed to throwing stones. However, that is no more believable than the Iranian ayatollahs coercing people into confessing on national TV that they were involved in the plot to kill two of their nuclear scientists.
Jaradat was arrested in conjunction with charges that he was involved in stone-throwing at Israeli soldiers. While no reasonable person should condone such actions if true, the fact of the matter is that the Israeli dictatorship metes out punishments well out of proportion to the crime committed. The struggle for independence will be won or lost in the court of public opinion.