Rights group: “Israel” abducting civilians

Source: Daily Star, 26-9-2006
BEIRUT: The Khiam Rehabilitation Center for the Victims of Torture said Monday that "Israel" continues to abduct Lebanese citizens from Lebanese territories in a "clear violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and UN Security Council Resolution 1701."
The center said in a statement that "the convention prohibits the taking of hostages who have no active role in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those put out of action by sickness, wounds, detention or any other cause."
The center urged the international community to force "Israel" to stop abducting civilians and release all Lebanese detained in its prisons.
It added that "Israel's" actions violate Resolution 1701, which calls for a cessation of hostilities between "Israel" and Hizbullah.
The statement said that 13 people have been detained, tortured and then released by "Israeli" soldiers since the cease-fire was put into effect on August 14.
It added the "Israelis" "used the strongest forms of psychological and physical torture against the detainees."
Mohammad Safa, a former detainee and the head of the center, told The Daily Star Monday that he would head to Geneva this week to raise the issue of "Israel's" massacres and crimes against humanity committed on Lebanese territories during its 34-day war on Lebanon before the second session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.