A recent report by the United Nations has highlighted severe instances of torture and mistreatment faced by Palestinians detained by Israeli authorities. The UN’s investigation reveals that many detainees have been subjected to harsh treatment, including physical abuse, psychological torture, and degrading conditions during their detention.
The report, compiled by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), details the experiences of numerous Palestinian detainees taken in Gaza, Israel, and the West Bank. Testimonies from the detainees describe being held in cage-like facilities, stripped naked for prolonged periods, and wearing only diapers. They were subjected to prolonged blindfolding, deprivation of food, sleep, and water, electric shocks, and burns from cigarettes. Some detainees reported being attacked by dogs, subjected to waterboarding, suspended from the ceiling, and experiencing sexual and gender-based violence.
The report emphasizes that these practices violate international human rights laws and standards. It calls on Israeli authorities to immediately halt these practices and ensure that all detainees are treated humanely and in accordance with international legal norms. The OHCHR has urged Israel to investigate allegations of torture and mistreatment and to hold those responsible accountable. The report also states that Israel has not provided information regarding the fate or whereabouts of many detainees, and the International Committee of the Red Cross has been denied access to the facilities where they are held.
As of the end of June, Israel’s prison service held more than 9,400 “security detainees,” with some being held in secret without access to lawyers or respect for their legal rights. The international community has been urged to apply pressure on Israel to adhere to its obligations under international law and to end the mistreatment of Palestinian detainees.
The report also addresses the Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. It notes that the Palestinian Authority has “continued to carry out arbitrary detention and torture or other ill-treatment in the West Bank,” reportedly to suppress criticism and political opposition. Human rights organizations have echoed the UN’s concerns and called for urgent action, stressing the need for independent monitoring of detention facilities and the implementation of safeguards to protect the rights and dignity of detainees.
