A recent report by the Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem has brought to light serious allegations of systematic abuse and torture of Palestinian detainees by Israel since the outbreak of the war in Gaza on October 7, 2023. The report claims that Palestinian prisoners have been subjected to a range of severe mistreatments, including arbitrary violence and sexual abuse, highlighting a troubling pattern of institutionalized abuse.
According to B’Tselem, the report is based on interviews with 55 Palestinians who were detained in Israeli prisons and detention centres since the conflict began. Many of these detainees were reportedly held without trial. The testimonies collected by the organization point to a coordinated policy of abuse that has been carried out systematically.
The findings come in the wake of a separate incident where nine Israeli soldiers were detained over accusations of severe abuse, including sexual violence, against a detainee in a military facility in the Negev desert. This case has added to the mounting scrutiny of Israel’s treatment of prisoners.
The Israel Prison Service (IPS) has responded by stating that all detainees are treated in accordance with the law and that any complaints of abuse are thoroughly investigated. They insist that basic rights are upheld and that all allegations are addressed through proper legal channels.
B’Tselem’s report details a wide range of abuses allegedly inflicted on Palestinian prisoners, including arbitrary beatings, degrading and humiliating treatment, sleep deprivation, and the repeated use of sexual violence. The organization argues that these practices are not isolated incidents but rather a reflection of a broader, deliberate policy of abuse, particularly under the direction of Israel’s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir.
The abuse described in the report reportedly includes severe beatings, starvation rations, denial of medical care, and deprivation of basic necessities such as water, sanitation, and adequate clothing. The organization’s investigation revealed that conditions in Israeli detention facilities have become so dire that they are now described as “torture camps.”
Interviews with former detainees corroborate the report’s findings, with accounts of severe mistreatment, including beatings, sexual violence, and inadequate living conditions. Former prisoners describe extreme overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and the denial of essential needs, which have contributed to a significant increase in deaths in custody since the war began.
The increase in detainee numbers has been attributed to intensified arrest waves following the Hamas attack on October 7. Prior to this date, approximately 5,200 Palestinians were held in Israeli jails, but this number surged to over 9,600 in the months following the conflict. Many detainees are held under administrative detention, which allows for indefinite detention without charge or trial.
The report’s revelations have drawn international criticism and added to the pressure on Israel regarding its conduct during the war. Despite the Israeli government’s denial of the allegations and claims of improved conditions for detainees, the B’Tselem report and other testimonies suggest a troubling and systemic pattern of abuse.