Israel-Palestine conflict ‘Happening again’: Guantanamo victims say Israel using ‘US-style’ torture Former prisoners who suffered

News | Israel-Palestine conflict ‘Happening again’: Guantanamo victims say Israel using ‘US-style’ torture Former prisoners who suffered mistreatment in US detention facilities say Israeli abuse of Palestinian detainees follows the same patterns. A Palestinian woman holds a poster depicting some of the Palestinian detainees rounded up by Israeli forces since October 7, during a protest in support of those held in Israeli prisons on May 30, 2024 in Nablus, the West Bank [Sergey Ponomarev/Getty Images] By Osama Bin Javaid Published On 22 Jun 2024 22 Jun 2024 When former Guantanamo detainee Asadullah Haroon looks at pictures of Palestinians being held in Israeli prisons, the memories of his own abuse and torture in United States detention centres come flooding back. “This is the worst form of oppression,” he says. “When you are labelled as a terrorist you cannot defend yourself in any way. Without a doubt it’s the same process; they are torturing the people in the same way. I think the Americans have made this and the Israelis are implementing it.” Haroon, who won his case against the US government for illegal imprisonment in 2021, was held without charge in the notorious Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba for 16 years following his arrest in 2007. Without a doubt, he says, Palestinians held in Israeli prisons now are enduring similar treatment to that he experienced. KEEP READING list of 4 items list 1 of 4 ‘All of the rats in the Knesset’: Mass antiwar protest in Israel list 2 of 4 Houthis claim attack on ship that docked in Israel list 3 of 4 Israel pounds north Gaza after attack on southern al-Mawasi ‘safe zone’ list 4 of 4 Top US State Department official for Israel-Palestine affairs resigns end of list Advertisement “It’s like in the first days when I was arrested, I was beaten to an extent that I was standing; I couldn’t sit down or if I was sitting down and beaten up, I couldn’t get up. Same with insomnia and I was assaulted for several days. A lot of the prisoners were bitten by dogs. We were provided very little medical care. “Physical torture was really bad but the worst was mental torture in different forms. I believe there isn’t much of a difference in the torture of prisoners of Palestine, Guantanamo, Bagram and Abu Ghraib.” Attacked by dogs and deprived of water Some 54 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli jails since Israel launched its deadly war on Gaza in October last year, according to the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs in Gaza. The United Nations Human Rights Office in Palestine says it has been receiving multiple reports of mass detentions, abuse of prisoners and forced disappearances of Palestinians for months, while harrowing testimonies have been provided to aid agencies or posted to social media by Palestinians who have been released from detention. Ad In late April, the Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, published details of the abuse of Palestinian prisoners who had been jailed without trial. Its report included descriptions of regular beatings, prisoners being attacked by dogs, being forced to kiss the Israeli flag, being forced to curse the Prophet Muhammad, being deprived of water (including for a toilet in a cell shared by 10 inmates), the electricity being cut, insufficient food and being stripped naked. One prisoner’s account reads: “A guard then started to stuff carrots into the anus of AH and other prisoners.” A Palestinian detainee shows injuries to his hands after being released by the Israeli army into Gaza on June 20, 2024. The man had been detained during an Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip. The Palestinians who were released east of the city in the central Gaza Strip were seen to be weakened and had scars on their bodies [Ashraf Amra/Anadolu via Getty Images] Much of the abuse carried out in Israeli prisons has been filmed by the soldiers carrying it out. It has strong echoes of the treatment of Iraqi and Afghan prisoners in US detention centres such as the notorious Abu Ghraib prison – where US soldiers photographed themselves alongside prisoners in humiliating positions in 2003. The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI) and other human rights organisations have called on the United Nations special rapporteur on torture for urgent action to end “the systematic abuse, torture and ill-treatment of Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israeli prisons and detention facilities”. That submission by Adalah, HaMoked, Physicians for Human Rights Israel and PCATI describes a “brutal escalation”, characterised by what appears to be systemic violence, torture and ill-treatment against Palestinians in Israeli custody in seven different prisons and detention facilities since the start of the war in October. Lawyers and activists say the Israeli treatment of Palestinian prisoners bears all the hallmarks of “US-style” abuse and torture. “Unfortunately over the past 20 years the US has given the world a very bad example of how prisoners should be treated,” says human rights lawyer Clive Stafford Smith, who was one of the first lawyers to be granted access to detainees in Guantanamo Bay more than 20 years ago and has represented clients, including Haroon, who have eventually won their freedom from the prison. “Whether it is ISIS (ISIL) copying the orange uniforms, or other countries, including Israel according to the UN, using abusive interrogation methods, all this can be traced back to the sordid example of Guantanamo Bay and the other secret US prisons,” Stafford Smith says. “It is well past time that the US admitted our dreadful mistakes, and insisted once more that both the US and the rest of the world behave in a civilised manner.” Held without charge Of 9,500 political prisoners, more than 3,500 Palestinians are being held without charge in Israeli prisons. While thousands were already in prison before the war on Gaza began in October last year, many more have been arrested or rearrested since then. Those detained without charge can be held indefinitely by the Israeli military for renewable periods, based on “secret evidence” that neither the detainees nor their lawyers are permitted to see. Activists and human rights lawyers consider these people to be hostages with no legal recourse. Others who have experienced similar detentions, torture and abuse at the hands of US-led forces in Iraq and Afghanistan agree with them. Moazzam Begg, a former Guantanamo Bay inmate, was also held at the notorious Bagram prison in Afghanistan. He believes Israeli forces are using similar methods of abuse and torture against Palestinian prisoners to what he experienced in US detention centres [Michelle Shephard/Toronto Star via Getty Images] Moazzam Begg is a human rights advocate who was imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay for three years without charge. He also draws parallels with what Israelis call administrative detention under which Palestinians can be rounded up and denied legal rights. “There’s an evident parallel between Gaza and Guantanamo and the war on terror,” Begg says. “What you see from the treatment, from the stripping naked of the prisoners to the mistreatment of them, to the abuse of the religious and racial attributes. There’s absolutely a parallel. It’s undeniable.” Begg says what happened to him two decades ago, first in Afghanistan’s Bagram prison and then in Guantanamo, is still happening. “I’ve returned to Afghanistan several times. I’ve been back into the Bagram detention facility where I was stripped naked, where I was beaten. I was tied to other prisoners. I watched the abuse of other prisoners. I watched the murder of other prisoners by American soldiers. “And those American soldiers went on to do what they did from here, almost as a textbook copy in Abu Ghraib [the notorious prison in Iraq where US soldiers abused detainees in 2003 and 2004], what was done to us in Guantanamo. Again, the stripping, the cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.” Rights groups are demanding an urgent international investigation to hold the perpetrators of torture and abuse of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons accountable. Human rights group Euro-Med Monitor, which has documented the testimonies of former Palestinian prisoners, said: “The information gathered leads to the conclusion that the Israeli army routinely and widely commits crimes of arbitrary arrest, enforced disappearance, willful killing, torture, inhumane treatment, sexual violence, and denial of a fair trial. “Detainees were also denied access to food and medical care, including critical and life-saving care, were spat and urinated upon, and were subjected to other cruel and degrading acts and psychological abuse, including threats of rape and death, insults, and other forms of sexual violence.” Despite such calls for justice from rights groups and lawyers, however, Begg says he is not optimistic that things will change in the near future. “There’s no hope. I don’t see any hope in relation to international law, in relation to the United Nations resolutions – multitudes of them have been violated. “And the same with Israel committing genocide, ethnic cleansing, the targeting of children happening at a time when we claim that human rights laws and international law is across the board.” SOURCE: AL JAZEERA MORE FROM NEWS ‘All of the rats in the Knesset’: Mass antiwar protest in Israel Houthis claim attack on ship that docked in Israel 3 missing in a landslide in Swiss Alps as heavy rains cause flash floods India: Tainted alcohol death toll rises to 54 in Tamil Nadu MOST POPULAR 101 dead in 24 hours as Israel attacks Gaza residential neighbourhoods Top US State Department official for Israel-Palestine affairs resigns Russia hits Ukraine energy facilities, apartment block killing three Do elephants really call to each other by name? About Connect Our Channels Our Network Follow Al Jazeera English: © 2024 Al Jazeera Media Network

Google to pay $100M a year to Canadian news publishers in deal with Ottawa

Google to pay $100M a year to Canadian news publishers in deal with Ottawa Ottawa has agreed to set a $100-million yearly cap on payments that Google will be required to make to media companies when the government's controversial online news legislation takes effect at the end of the year. The announcement Wednesday has the Liberals bending to the tech giant's demands after Google threatened back in February to remove news from its platform. The Online News Act compels tech giants to enter into compensation agreements with news publishers for content that generates revenue for companies such as Google by appearing on its sites. Broadcasters and French-language and Indigenous news organizations would join newspapers in being eligible for the deals, with draft regulations suggesting the amount of money would be linked to the number of full-time journalists on staff. A formula in the government's draft regulations to implement the bill would have seen Google contribute up to $172 million to news organizations. Google balked, saying it was expecting a figure closer to $100 million, based on what it said was a previous estimate from Canadian Heritage officials. The company appears to have got what it wanted after an extended period of negotiation. Still, Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge called it a “historic development,” insisting Wednesday that the agreement was ultimately a win for the government and for the local news publishers it is seeking to support. “We have found a path forward to answer Google's questions about the process and the act. Google wanted certainty about the amount of compensation it would have to pay to Canadian news outlets,” she said on Parliament Hill. “Canada reserves the right to reopen our regulations if there are better agreements struck elsewhere in the world,” she added. Google's president of global affairs, Kent Walker, thanked the minister for “acknowledging our concerns and deeply engaging in a series of productive meetings about how they might be addressed.” He said in a statement that the “extensive discussions” addressed the company's “core issues” with the bill. “While we work with the government through the exemption process based on the regulations that will be published shortly, we will continue sending valuable traffic to Canadian publishers,” Walker said. The deal will allow Google to comply with the legislation by paying into a single collective bargaining group that will serve as a media fund. Meta, on the other hand, complied simply by blocking all news content from Canadian users of its largest platforms, Instagram and Facebook. A statement from the company Wednesday suggested that hardline approach hasn't changed. “Unlike search engines, we do not proactively pull news from the internet to place in our users' feeds and we have long been clear that the only way we can reasonably comply with the Online News Act is by ending news availability for people in Canada.” RELATED STORIES 'Good riddance' or 'don't unfriend us'? Canadian publishers torn over Meta move to block news Rodriguez says newsrooms will be supported should Meta, Google block news Heritage Minister says Meta news block endangers lives as Canadians flee wildfires Media can't wait for 'perfect' solution, says St-Onge as Google demands overhaul Meta to block news on Facebook, Instagram for Canadian users Are you blocked from seeing news on Facebook and Instagram? Here's how to connect with CP24 New bill will force tech giants to negotiate deals to pay media to use their content Google contacts each MP over fast-tracking of online news bill through Commons Google has 'serious' concerns with Liberal bill requiring platforms to pay for news Heritage minister says he's open to amendments as Meta slams online news bill As MPs pass Liberal online news bill, Meta again threatens to pull content Feds try to avoid Australian pitfalls in online news bill Trudeau shows no interest in compromising with Meta, Google over online news bill Google tests blocking news content for some Canadians in response to government bill Google Canada tells Senate Bill C-18 would create unreasonable financial liability Bell cuts put Bill C-18 back in the spotlight as Meta tests blocking news Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was satisfied with the agreement with Google and held out hope that Meta would eventually come around. “Unfortunately, Meta continues to completely abdicate any responsibility towards democratic institutions and even stability,” he said, “but we're going to continue to work positively in those areas.” Last month, News Media Canada - a lobby group for hundreds of Canadian newspapers and magazines - said it agreed with many of the issues Google raised during the back-and-forth over how the bill would be implemented. The group said there should be a cap on how much the search giant would have to pay under the law. But Friends, an advocacy group for Canadian broadcasters, said the deal doesn't deliver the kind of support for journalism that it had been hoping to see. “We will be looking to the regulations to ensure that smaller, independent, and equity-seeking media groups are assured access to funding,” executive director Marla Boltman said in a statement. An official with the Canadian Heritage Department said the final regulations for the law, which are due by mid-December, will also address Google's other concern that the law establishes linking to news sites as the basis for payment. The official said final regulations will clarify that Google's payment is to help news publishers and broadcasters, and not for news links. CBC and Radio-Canada will also get a portion of the $100 million, but that will be determined once regulations are finalized. In addition to its financial contribution, Canadian Heritage said Google will continue to make programs available for Canadian news businesses, such as training, tools and resources for business development and support for non-profit journalism projects. Google said Wednesday that the deal means there will be immediate changes to existing agreements it has with publishers in Canada under its Google News Showcase agreements, which were part of a $1-billion global investment. The company said it will review its ongoing investments in Canada when the final regulations are published. Google wouldn't say how much it is already paying publishers under existing contracts, saying such agreements are confidential commercial arrangements. Companies that fall under the Online News Act must have total global revenue of $1 billion or more in a calendar year, “operate in a search engine or social-media market distributing and providing access to news content in Canada” and have 20 million or more Canadian average monthly unique visitors or average monthly active users. For now, Google and Meta are the only companies that meet those criteria. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 29, 2023. PHOTOS Minister of Canadian Heritage Pascale St-Onge Minister of Canadian Heritage Pascale St-Onge rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin TangMinister of Canadian Heritage Pascale St-Onge rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. 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'DISCARDED IN THE FREEZER': OWNERS REELING AFTER DEATH OF 2 DOGS AT TORONTO AREA PETSITTER Donovan Wynn, 47, of Toronto (TPS handout) ALLAN GARDENS STABBING VICTIM IDENTIFIED AS TORONTO MAN, 47 Crews are shown putting up fencing restricting access to the Ontario Science Centre on June 21. 'A PAINFUL LOSS FOR THE CITY': ONTARIO SCIENCE CENTRE ABRUPTLY CLOSING FOREVER Police are shown at the scene of a shooting investigation in Vaughan on June 21. Four people were found in a home with gunshot wounds. (CP24) ONE PERSON DEAD, THREE INJURED IN 'TARGETED' SHOOTING AT VAUGHAN HOME: POLICE The Irving brothers, from left, John, James and Arthur are seen Nov. 7, 1987. Businessman James K. Irving has died at the age of 96. (The Canadian Press/Scott Perry) BILLIONAIRE BUSINESSMAN JAMES K. IRVING DEAD AT 96 Toronto Police ARREST MADE AFTER PEDESTRIANS ALLEGEDLY ASSAULTED IN DOWNTOWN TORONTO: TPS Ontario Science Centre THE ONTARIO SCIENCE CENTRE IS CLOSING. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE COMMUNITY? The moon is seen at 98 percent full as it rises out of the clouds Monday, June 13, 2022, beyond Winthrop, Mass. The moon will reach its full stage on Friday, during a phenomenon known as a supermoon because its proximity to Earth, and it is also labeled as the "Strawberry Moon" because it is the full moon at strawberry harvest time. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) THE STRAWBERRY MOON WILL BE AT ITS PEAK TONIGHT. HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW. From a smash-and-grab robbery at a Brampton jewelry store to the gold heist at Toronto Pearson airport, suspects in several recent crimes in the Greater Toronto Area have been caught in the act by surveillance video. Here's a look at some of those that have made headlines. ONTARIO SUSPECTS CAUGHT IN THE ACT A vehicle recovered as part of a Toronto police auto theft investigation is shown. Police said on June 21 that they have recovered more than 100 stolen vehicles. MORE THAN 100 STOLEN VEHICLES RECOVERED IN AUTO THEFT PROBE INVOLVING SERVICEONTARIO EMPLOYEE: TORONTO POLICE Michele-Marie Beer says TTC operator Monique Blake saved her life after noticing she was in need of medical attention on board a streetcar last month. WOMAN WITH BRAIN TUMOUR CREDITS TTC OPERATOR WITH SAVING HER LIFE Officers have taped off a residence on Erie Road in Harrow Township for a death investigation on June 20, 2024. (Bob Bellacicco/CTV News Windsor) FOUR PEOPLE DEAD AT RURAL SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO HOME, POLICE INVESTIGATING Motorists are seen driving in the area of Allen Road and Lawrence Avenue on Friday, June 21, 2024. Ontario Provincial Police are searching for a driver they say shot at an officer during a traffic stop in the area early Friday morning. DRIVER SOUGHT AFTER SHOOTING AT OFFICER DURING TORONTO TRAFFIC STOP: POLICE 16-year-old international student fr

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