UN accuses Israel of torturing Palestinian detainees
The United Nations has accused Israel of torturing Palestinian prisoners during the Gaza conflict, according to a report by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and other sources. UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk stated on Wednesday that witness testimonies suggested "a series of horrific acts such as waterboarding and unleashing dogs on detainees." Detainees were often not given reasons for their arrest or access to lawyers, the report said.
Since the radical Islamic Hamas' large-scale attack on October 7, the OHCHR reports that thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip have been brought to Israel, "usually bound and blindfolded." Thousands more have been detained in the West Bank and Israel. The report states that at least 53 Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank have died in Israeli custody since the conflict began.
Türk called on all parties to the conflict to agree to a ceasefire, respect international law, and ensure accountability for violations and abuses.
The report, "Detention in the Context of the Escalation of Hostilities in Gaza," covers the period from October 7 to June 30. It concludes that there is "reasonable grounds to believe" that Israeli and Palestinian armed groups have committed "grave violations and abuses" against "the right to life," including torture and rape, which may constitute war crimes.
On Monday, the Israeli army arrested several soldiers and launched an investigation following allegations of the mistreatment of a Palestinian detainee in an Israeli prison camp.
The United Nations commended the investigation launched by the Israeli army in response to allegations of mistreatment of a Palestinian detainee, as highlighted in their report. The Israeli response demonstrates the importance of accountability within the context of the United Nations' accusations of human rights violations during the Gaza conflict.
