Middle East conflict - UN: Torture and ill-treatment of Gaza prisoners in Israel
At least 10,000 Palestinians from the Gaza Strip are reportedly being held in Israeli custody under "deplorable conditions," according to a report by the UN Human Rights Office. The office in Geneva said there are reports of torture and ill-treatment, with at least 53 people dying in Israeli custody.
The report also mentions the hostages taken from Israel to the Gaza Strip last October, who have reported mistreatment.
The report covers the period since October 7, 2023, when terrorists from the Gaza Strip attacked Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages to the Gaza Strip. Thousands of Palestinians have also been detained in the occupied West Bank and Israel.
Reports of atrocities in captivity
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said, "The testimonies received by my office and other bodies indicate a series of atrocities." Dogs have been unleashed on detainees, and others have experienced waterboarding, both flagrant violations of human rights and humanitarian law, according to Türk.
People have been transported to Israel bound and blindfolded, with men and teenagers being particularly targeted, but women also affected. They are being held without charge or access to lawyers.
Detainees have reported being held in cage-like cells, kept naked for extended periods, and forced to wear diapers. They have been deprived of water and food and prevented from sleeping. Some have reported electric shocks, cigarette burns, and sexual violence.
Israel has not yet responded to the report.
Hostages also reported mistreatment
Hostages taken during the Hamas and other extremists' attack on October 7 and later released have reported being beaten during capture and given insufficient food and water. They have also reported sexual violence.
The report also criticizes the Palestinian Authority for arbitrarily detaining and sometimes mistreating opponents in the West Bank.
Türk called for the immediate release of remaining hostages and arbitrarily detained Palestinians. All allegations of mistreatment and torture must be immediately investigated.
Israeli soldiers arrested
This week, Israeli military police arrested nine soldiers at the Sde Teiman military base near the desert city of Beersheba, suspecting them of severely sexually assaulting a Hamas terrorist, who had to be hospitalized with injuries. The soldiers' arrest sparked massive unrest in Israel.
Israel's Military Advocate General filed charges against a soldier on Tuesday for allegedly using "severe violence" against Palestinian prisoners during the transportation of so-called security detainees to Israeli prisons between February and June this year.
The conflict between Palestinians and Israelis has resulted in numerous human rights violations, with at least 10,000 Palestinians being held under deplorable conditions in Israeli custody, as reported by the UN Human Rights Office.
The report also highlights instances of mistreatment and torture of hostages taken from Israel to the Gaza Strip, including beatings, insufficient food and water, and sexual violence.
