• The resurgence of dehumanising identification practices in Palestine serves as a stark reminder of just how oppressive the Israeli regime is.
  
• This alarming pattern highlights the essential imperative of being vocal advocates in upholding the human dignity of Palestinians. It is our duty to work toward preventing what we are witnessing, the mirroring of the somber pages of history.

‘Arrested, tortured and insulted’, workers say after being returned to Gaza by Israel

Israel has allowed the return of 3,200 Gaza workers to the coastal enclave who had been detained and left stranded following the October 7 attacks.

Palestinian workers are reunited with their families after being released by Israeli authorities- November 3, 2023 [Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters]

Salameh has been detained, subjected to harsh treatment, and to questioning. The 55-year-old expressed deep remorse for his previous employment in the region but refrained from disclosing his workplace out of concern for potential repercussions from the Israeli army. He is one of at least 18,500 Gaza residents who held permits to work outside the enclave.

Salameh recounted how he, along with fellow Palestinian labourers from the Gaza Strip, was detained and tagged on October 8. Subsequently, they were transferred to Ofer Prison, located on the periphery of the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah. In this facility, they were interrogated and subjected to extensive maltreatment, including a harrowing experience described by Salameh as an “electric chair” torture that persisted over the course of several days.

“The Israelis asked us strange questions,” he said. “They wanted to know where the Hamas tunnels are located, where the rocket launchers are placed and how the fighters move in and around Gaza.”

Numbered Identification Tags

A video circulating across social media platforms portrays ‘liberated’ Palestinian labourers, each bearing conspicuous identification tags affixed to their ankles. The reduction of individuals to mere numerical identifiers serves as a stark reminder of historical parallels, notably harking back to the oppressive and brutal practices reminiscent of Nazi Germany, where an individual’s identity could be stripped away, reducing them to a dehumanizing numerical designation..

Such practices are widely regarded as a violation of basic human rights and are strongly condemned by the international community. The use of identification numbers in this context is seen as a troubling and ethically problematic approach, as it echoes a dark chapter in history and raises serious moral concerns. It’s essential for the world to remain vigilant in addressing such issues and working toward a more just and equitable resolution.

Identification Tags and Tattoos During the Holocaust

These practices are universally acknowledged as a fundamental transgression against the very core of human rights and, as such, draw unequivocal condemnation from the global community. The employment of identification numbers in this particular context is deemed a disquieting and ethically contentious course of action, evoking the ominous spectre of a sinister historical era, thereby giving rise to profound moral apprehensions. Oppressive regimes employ such methods to facilitate the commission of atrocities. History has taught us that when individuals are reduced to mere number tags, it becomes easier for oppressors to commit unspeakable acts against them, detached from their shared humanity. 

‘Never again’ should be for everyone

The phrase “Never Again” once solemnly echoed as a universal commitment to prevent the horrors of the Holocaust from recurring. Today, the disconcerting resurgence of dehumanizing identification practices, this time in Palestine, challenges the integrity of this pledge.

Civil society, human rights organisations, and concerned individuals are integral in advocating for change and raising awareness.

May the dawn of change in Palestine arrive swiftly..Ameen