Israeli Court Orders Palestinian Authority to Pay $930,000 Compensation for Illegal Imprisonment

The Jerusalem District Court has ruled that the Palestinian Authority (PA) must compensate a Palestinian man approximately 3.34 million shekels (around $930,000) after he was unlawfully imprisoned for nearly five years. The plaintiff, a resident of the village of Samu, was accused by the PA of attempting to sell family-owned land to Israeli citizens from the Jewish settlement of Shomera, an act the PA considered a severe security offense classified as "treason."

The man was arrested in February 2014 by the PA's General Intelligence Service and subsequently convicted in a Hebron court in 2016, receiving a five-year sentence with hard labor and a fine. His appeal to the Ramallah Court of Appeals was rejected, and he remained incarcerated until February 2019. The Israeli court found the detention and imprisonment illegal, stating that selling land to Israelis cannot be deemed treason solely based on the buyers' nationality.

The court's decision also revealed extensive evidence of severe abuse and torture endured by the plaintiff during his detention. He was reportedly shackled to a metal chair for hours, placed in solitary confinement, physically beaten with sticks and objects while blindfolded, exposed to cold water in winter, deprived of food and sleep, and subjected to verbal humiliation. These abuses continued in Dahariya prison, where he was held in a cell known as the "Sharon Cell," designated for those suspected of collaborating with Israel or selling land to Jews. Testimonies from fellow prisoners corroborated the violence and mistreatment.

Medical documentation from December 2014 supported claims of physical harm, including scratches, finger injuries, and pain. The court criticized the PA for failing to present testimony from the officers allegedly involved in the interrogations and abuse. The compensation awarded includes legal fees.

Attorney Barak Kedem, representing the plaintiff, emphasized that while the financial compensation cannot restore the lost years or erase the damage, the ruling sends a clear message that the PA will be held accountable for persecuting Palestinians who engage with Israelis. He pledged to continue advocating for justice and substantial compensation for Palestinians harmed by the PA's policies.