RAMALLAH: Palestinian authorities have demanded the Israeli military release information about more than 100 people thought to have been detained in Gaza during its assault on the territory since October 7.
The head of the Palestinian Authority's commission for prisoners, Qaddura Fares, said on Sunday that Israeli officials had told him at one point their side had made 105 arrests.
But he said Israel had not announced the number publicly and there was "no detail about what has become of these people".
"We fear they may have been killed after being detained and interrogated," he said.
The Israeli military on Monday said that it could not comment on the issue at this stage.
Palestinians government says the Israeli offensive has killed nearly 15,000 people, mostly civilians. The bombardments have flattened homes and displaced 1.7 million of Gaza's 2.4 million people, according to the United Nations.
The UN humanitarian affairs office OCHA said in a report that Israeli forces had detained people walking to southern Gaza from the north on the Salah al-Din road during the Israeli operations and a truce that came into force on November 24.
Red Cross medical worker Ramadan Hossu said in a video released by his organisation that Israeli forces strip-searched and handcuffed him after detaining him on the road.
One displaced Gaza resident, Sahar Awwad, said that Israeli soldiers detained her son Mohammed as he tried to leave southern Gaza on November 12.
"He was freed after nine days" after "undergoing torture," Awwad said.
OCHA said families had been separated by Israeli forces at a checkpoint on the Salah al-Din road.
One child "had to cross through the checkpoint on his own following his father's arrest," it said.
On the outskirts of Gaza City, families took to the road on foot to head south, pushing luggage and relatives in wheelchairs, and carrying children in their arms.
Israel has told Palestinians in Gaza to leave the north for the relative safety of the south, but it has now sent text messages to those in the southern city of Khan Yunis warning it knows hostages are being held there.
The pause in fighting has allowed more aid to reach Palestinians struggling to survive with shortages of water and other essentials.
Bbut Adnan Abu Hansa, a spokesman for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), warned of "unprecedented" humanitarian needs.
"We should send 200 lorries a day continuously for at least two months," he said. — AFP
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