The United Nations human rights office has reported that Palestinians detained by Israel since the outbreak of the war in Gaza could have been subjected to torture. A UN report details testimony from detainees, including men, women, and children, who described being held in “cage-like facilities” and forced to remain naked, “wearing only diapers”.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, stated that the testimony obtained by his office indicates Israeli authorities may have committed “appalling acts”, including waterboarding and the use of attack dogs on detainees.
The report also highlights that many Palestinians have been held without charge, denied access to legal representation, and kept in deplorable conditions.
Israeli forces have detained thousands of Palestinians during the war in Gaza, from the occupied territory itself, as well as the West Bank and Israel.
Human rights defenders have raised alarms about the detention facilities, with allegations of widespread mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners emerging from both Israeli whistleblowers and former detainees.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been refused access to visit these prisoners, according to the report.
While Israeli authorities stated in July that they were investigating reports of abuse, no details have been released. Israel has previously responded to such allegations by asserting that violence against detainees is prohibited and that their forces are regularly briefed on conduct expectations.
Last week, Israeli military police detained reservists accused of mistreating and sexually assaulting a Palestinian prisoner in an incident that sparked concern from the US State Department. The unnamed detainee suffered extensive injuries from the assault.
However, the UN report released provides the most comprehensive account of alleged mistreatment, based on testimonies from former detainees and their families.
The war in Gaza was triggered by a Hamas attack in southern Israel in October last year, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 Israelis and the capture of 251 hostages. Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, led to the deaths of over 39,000 Palestinians.
The UN report suggests that thousands of Palestinians have been arrested, including medical staff, patients, and children in schools.
At least 53 people are believed to have died in detention. Released detainees recounted experiences of blindfolding, sleep deprivation, electric shocks, and cigarette burns to UN investigators. Some men and women also reported instances of sexual and gender-based violence.
Türk condemned the testimonies as indicative of “flagrant violation of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.”
The UN report calls on all parties to immediately end “arbitrary detentions, including the holding of hostages, as well as torture or other ill-treatment, rape and other forms of gender-based violence, and ensure accountability for serious violations and abuses”.
The findings are expected to provoke a strong response from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, which maintains that its troops are acting within international law in Gaza and has long criticised the UN for alleged bias against Israel.
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