NABLUS, April 21, 2016 (WAFA) – Israeli soldiers last night assaulted and beat up a Palestinian youth near the village of Azzoun a-Atma, to the south of Qalqilia in the West Bank, according to security sources.

Israeli soldiers attacked and brutally beat up Ahmad Bassam Mohammad, 21 years old from the village of Asira al-Qibilia in Nablus district, while he was attempting to enter Israel for work.

Mohammad sustained bruises across his body due to the physical assault, and was transferred to Rafidia public hospital in Nablus for medical treatment.

According to Israeli human rights group B’Tselem, “the Israeli forces use violence, at times gross violence, against Palestinians unnecessarily and without justification.”

It adds: “With the outbreak of the al-Aqsa intifada, however, a significant increase in the number of beatings and instances of abuse has occurred, in part because of increased friction between Palestinians and Israeli security forces.”

“Most cases involve a "small dose" of ill-treatment such as a slap, a kick, an insult, a pointless delay at checkpoints, or degrading treatment. These acts have become an integral part of Palestinian life in the Occupied Territories. From time to time, however, cases of severe brutality occur,” the group has remarked.

“Many Palestinians, primarily those who entered Israel without a permit, even refrain from filing complaints in cases of severe brutality because they fear that filing the complaint will only bring harm on themselves.”

M.N