Experts Warn of Systemic Abuse in Israeli Detention Facilities

Reports of gang rape and other forms of sexual violence against Palestinian detainees have been disturbing, with some support from figures within Israeli politics and society.

Independent human rights experts have condemned the reported torture and sexual violence in Israel's Sde Teiman prison as both illegal and deeply troubling, describing these reports as merely the surface of a broader issue. The experts highlighted a systemic pattern of abuse against Palestinians in detention and arbitrary arrest practices, exacerbated by a lack of accountability from the Israeli State since 7 October 2023.

Currently, around 9,500 Palestinians, including hundreds of children and women, are imprisoned, with approximately one-third held without charge or trial. Many others are being detained in various facilities and makeshift camps due to a recent surge in arrests across Palestinian territories.

The experts have received credible reports of severe mistreatment, including torture, sexual assault, and inhumane conditions, with at least 53 deaths attributed to these abuses over the past ten months. Testimonies describe detainees subjected to extreme conditions such as being confined in cage-like enclosures, bound to beds while blindfolded, deprived of basic necessities, and enduring physical and psychological torture, including electrocution, waterboarding, and severe sexual violence.

Reports of gang rape and other forms of sexual violence against Palestinian detainees have been disturbing, with some support from figures within Israeli politics and society. This underscores a broader crisis of moral and legal accountability.

The Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory had previously called for international intervention and an investigation by the International Criminal Court in 2023, labeling these practices as potential crimes against humanity. However, the call for action has not yet been acted upon.

The experts argue that such torture practices are not only illegal but constitute international crimes and are part of Israel's broader strategy of oppression. They link these abuses to the wider context of Israel's military actions in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, describing the ongoing situation as genocidal.

They emphasize that many Palestinian detainees are effectively hostages under unlawful occupation, referencing the International Court of Justice's July 2024 Advisory Opinion on Israel's occupation. The experts call for increased oversight and accountability of Israeli practices in the occupied territories.

Criticizing the lack of response from international bodies, the experts urge the Human Rights Council to demand the deployment of special procedures mandate holders and a Commission of Inquiry to monitor and investigate conditions in detention facilities. They stress the urgent need for an independent international presence of human rights observers to address and prevent these severe rights violations.