Suspects' lawyers claim they're being tortured
Suspects' lawyers claim they're being torturedHezki Ezra

Israel's Shin Bet internal security service (Shabak) released a statement Sunday morning claiming that "significant progress" had been made in the investigation into the deadly arson attack on the home of the Palestinian Dawabshe family in Duma last summer.

However, as has become routine with such announcements, no further elaboration was given - leading the suspects' lawyers to brand it a blatant political move.

The Shin Bet has faced strong condemnation and pressure from some corners for its harsh treatment of the alleged suspects in its custody. The Attorney General has acknowledged that investigators were granted permission to use "exceptional" interrogation methods, which defense lawyers say amount to torture - including sleep deprivation and beating suspects, including a minor, repeatedly in sensitive areas of the body. They have also been forbidden from praying and - until just a few days ago - denied the right to see their lawyers.

Responding to the reports of "progress" in the investigation this morning, defense attorney Itamar Ben-Gvir fired that "the leak by the security services of progress in the Duma investigation is a blatant attempt to prepare the hearts of the judges at the (upcoming) hearing to continue the torture that the detainees are being subjected to."

Ben-Gvir said he himself had no idea whether there had indeed been any progress at all, given that he has been denied access to his client, "but I assume that if there was such progress... the Shabak would not prevent me from seeing my client. If there is progress there is no reason to forbid meetings with a lawyer."

The Honenu civil rights group - which provided the suspects with lawyers - issued a response to the news as well.

"The torture of Jewish children in the Shin Bet's dungeons is not acceptable at all, the NGO said, asserting that "any Israeli citizen subjected to such torture" would confess to whatever he was asked to say.

"Regrettably, the investigation into the incident in Duma is under a gag order and therefore the Israeli public has not yet been exposed to the conduct of those handling the case," it continued. "We are certain that it is the public's right to know the details - a Jewish heart cannot remain indifferent to these details, and would not accept them in any form."

The statement continued to note that some suspects have still not seen their lawyers after 20 days in custody under such conditions, and have not even been informed of the precise charges against them.

In a recent petition to the courts, the suspects' lawyers asserted that their clients' treatment stood in contradiction to both Israel and international humanitarian law.