Zarog’s head injury; Photo credit: Free use
Monday, November 11, 2019, 7:53 The home in which Zarog, who is under an administrative distancing order, barricaded himself for many hours on Sunday, November 10, in Yitzhar, was equipped with cameras that documented the police brutality.
The first footage taken from the cameras presents a disturbing picture of severe police brutality. The video clips transferred to Honenu will be transferred this morning to legal experts who are expected to file complaints and civil suits against the members of the fire fighting authority and the policemen who detained Zarog.
In the first video clip publicized on the morning after the incident (Monday morning) Zarog is seen chained to a large, bulky device while one policeman twists his arm behind his back and other policemen and personnel from the fire fighting authority operate engineering tools next to him. At some point a loud noise is heard and immediately afterwards Zarog cries out in pain and calls for help. At that moment Zarog is injured in his leg by the tools and pleads with security forces to stop. It appears that no-one present provides him with medical aid. The MDA (EMS) personnel summoned to the home were prevented by the police from entering and treating Zarog’s injuries.
Zarog’s injury; Video credit: Free use
Avraham, a friend of Zarog from Yitzhar: “Yesterday we all watched the police brutality which transpired outside of the house. The video clips from inside the house are extremely disturbing and difficult to watch: hours and hours of suffering and abuse. They disregarded his well-being and injured him. One must remember that Zarog non-violently resisted a distancing order undemocratically served to him without a trial, throwing him out of his home and away from his family.”
After the detention, Honenu Attorney Nati Rom arrived at the Central Unit of Yehuda and Shomron Police Station where Zarog was remanded. Rom granted Zarog legal counsel and assisted him. As he left the station Rom stated: “I met with Neriya. He is very worn out and battered in numerous places on his body. There were reports of police brutality during his detention. Unfortunately they prevented the MDA teams summoned to the scene and also me, his attorney, from examining his condition. I hope that overnight he will receive medical treatment. We all hope that he will be released soon. This is a draconian order. He did not have the opportunity to defend himself, through no fault of his own. They want to tear a man from his home, his wife and his children. There is no place for that in a democratic country. Certainly not for such a violent detention.”
Honenu Attorney Nati Rom; Video credit: Free use
12:19 Update: Zarog was evacuated from the police station to the hospital, treated throughout the entire night and returned late the following morning to the Yehuda and Shomron District Police Station. He is currently being interrogated.
Prior to his interrogation Zarog was allowed to consult Honenu Attorney Nati Rom, who is representing him. Zarog said that he spent the entire night in the hospital and suffers from bruises and other injuries all over his body.
Zarog is being interrogated on suspicion of violating an administrative distancing order. He had remained in Yitzhar contrary to the order which distanced him from his home. Additionally, he is being interrogated on suspicion of disrupting policemen in the line of duty, due to his barricading himself in a house last night.
12:52 Update: At 14:00, Neriya will be brought to the Petah Tikva Magistrates Court for a deliberation.