A new report from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has detailed allegations of widespread torture and abuse of Palestinian detainees by Israel during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Released on Wednesday, the 23-page report highlights numerous human rights violations, including prolonged arbitrary detention and instances of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.
The report, based on interviews with released detainees and other victims from October 7 to June 30, reveals that thousands of Palestinians, including medical staff, have been detained and transported from Gaza to Israel under harsh conditions, typically shackled and blindfolded. As of the end of June, over 9,400 “security detainees” were reported to be held in Israeli facilities, often incommunicado and without legal representation.
Tragically, the report notes that at least 53 Palestinian detainees have died in Israeli detention centers. The documented abuses include severe torture, deprivation of basic needs, and sexual violence. Former detainees have described being held in “cage-like” conditions, stripped naked for extended periods, and subjected to physical and psychological torment, including waterboarding, burns from cigarettes, and attacks by dogs.
This report comes amid a tense situation in Israel, where far-right politicians and demonstrators are opposing investigations into allegations of abuse by Israeli soldiers. Last week, eight released Palestinian prisoners reported torture during their detention in Ofer Prison in the West Bank. The Israeli military is currently investigating these claims, focusing on abuse at the Sde Teiman detention camp.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk condemned the acts detailed in the report as “flagrant violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.” He emphasized that the Israeli military’s lack of transparency regarding detainee conditions and the denial of access to international monitors further exacerbate the situation.
The UN report underscores the urgent need for accountability and reform to address the severe human rights violations occurring in the context of the ongoing conflict.
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