UN Report Accuses Israel of Arbitrary Detention, Torture, and Ill-Treatment of Palestinians

The report documents at least 53 Palestinian detainee deaths in Israeli military facilities and prisons since the attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups.

The UN Human Rights Office has released a report detailing serious human rights violations by Israeli authorities, including arbitrary, prolonged, and incommunicado detention affecting thousands of Palestinians since October 7, 2023. The report also highlights allegations of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, including sexual abuse.

According to the report, since the onset of hostilities on October 7, thousands of Palestinians, including medical staff, patients, residents fleeing the conflict, and captured fighters, have been detained by Israeli forces. Many were transported from Gaza to Israel shackled and blindfolded, while others were detained in the West Bank and Israel. These detainees were often held in secret, without being informed of the reasons for their detention or provided access to legal representation or judicial review.

The report documents at least 53 Palestinian detainee deaths in Israeli military facilities and prisons since the attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups. It raises concerns over the arbitrary nature and punitive aspects of these detentions, highlighting reports of severe ill-treatment and violations of due process.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk condemned the reported abuses, which include waterboarding, the use of dogs on detainees, and other acts of torture in violation of international human rights and humanitarian law. He criticized the Israeli military for not publicly disclosing the basis for detaining Palestinians and for not providing information about the fate or whereabouts of many detainees. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been denied access to these facilities.

The report also notes that conditions in detention facilities are particularly harsh, with detainees subjected to prolonged blindfolding, deprivation of basic necessities, and physical abuse. Some detainees reported being stripped naked and subjected to electric shocks, burns, and other forms of mistreatment. Women and men have also reported incidents of sexual and gender-based violence.

In Gaza, the report highlights similar issues, with detainees, including men and adolescent boys, being taken from schools, hospitals, residential buildings, and checkpoints. Conditions for hostages held by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups are also described as dire, with reports of beatings, inadequate medical care, and sexual violence.

The report further criticizes the Palestinian Authority for arbitrary detention and torture in the West Bank, primarily targeting those who criticize or oppose the authority.

Türk emphasized that international humanitarian law mandates humane treatment for all detainees and strictly prohibits torture and other forms of ill-treatment. He called for the immediate release of all hostages and Palestinians arbitrarily detained by Israel and urged for thorough, independent investigations into these violations to ensure accountability and provide remedies for victims and their families.