Palestinian detainees recount alleged abuse in Israeli prisons

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of sexual violence and abuse that may distress readers.

Two Palestinian men have told INLIBER they endured abuse while in Israeli detention, echoing allegations raised in recent reports about how some prisoners are treated. The United Nations committee monitoring torture has warned of troubling patterns of ill-treatment in Israeli jails, while rights groups say the issue is not isolated. Israel denies these claims.

Rights groups and UN bodies have highlighted what they describe as a systemic problem, especially for detainees who are suspected of supporting Hamas or involved in attacks. Leaked footage and investigations in recent years have intensified the public debate in Israel and beyond.

Last year, leaked CCTV from inside an Israeli military prison showed a Palestinian detainee from Gaza being subjected to sexual abuse by guards. The incident prompted resignations and repercussions at the highest levels of Israel’s military and political leadership.

Personal accounts from the West Bank

Sami al-Saei, 46, a former freelance journalist from Tulkarm in the northern West Bank, spent 16 months in administrative detention without charges before his release this summer. He says he was held at Megiddo prison in northern Israel and that guards forcibly stripped him and sexually assaulted him with a baton around March 2024. He describes the attack as lasting 15 to 20 minutes, with additional painful beatings and attempts to humiliate him by touching sensitive areas.

Al-Saei says he spoke to INLIBER despite fearing social stigma in conservative Palestinian society. He recalls a group of five or six guards who mocked him and allegedly told him they would target his family as well. He endured both physical and sexual abuse and says the level of pain was extreme.

In his account, daily beatings occurred, but the sexual assault occurred only once. The prison authorities were contacted for comment, with the Israel Prison Service (IPS) saying it operates within the law and protects inmates’ rights, while not confirming or denying the specific accusations.

Broader pattern and notable incidents

Beyond individual testimonies, reports from Israeli and Palestinian rights groups describe a wider pattern of alleged abuse across detention facilities. In July 2024, CCTV from the Sde Teiman military prison in southern Israel reportedly captured a detainee being assaulted with a sharp object, resulting in serious injuries. Five Israeli reservist soldiers faced charges for aggravated abuse and severe bodily harm, and a press conference was held in which four masked soldiers appeared on Israeli television. The fifth soldier revealed his identity and claimed innocence.

The Military Advocate General, Major General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, later resigned after acknowledging that she approved the leak of the footage to counter what she described as false propaganda. Supporters of the accused have protested in front of relevant facilities, arguing for solidarity with the soldiers.

The Israeli government maintains it upholds strict anti-torture rules and that most allegations are unfounded. A recent public opinion survey suggests a sizable portion of Israelis do not support investigating soldiers over alleged abuses in Gaza-related detention.

A second perspective from the West Bank

Ahmed, an alias used by a detainee from the West Bank, says he was arrested in January 2024 for incitement to terrorism after social media posts praising the Hamas-led attacks on October 7. He describes a physical assault by guards, including being made to strip, humiliated, and beaten, with an account of a dog being used as part of the abuse. Ahmed was released after serving his sentence and has not produced medical documents to support his claims. INLIBER has sought a response from the IPS on his allegations but has not receivedcomment.

Context and international response

There are thousands of Palestinian security detainees in Israeli jails, with numbers rising since the Gaza conflict began. The UN Committee against Torture has condemned the attacks in October and expressed concern about how detainees are treated under Israeli custody, while some hostages and survivors allege abuse by Hamas and its allies in Gaza. The Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the West Bank, also faces accusations of mistreatment in its facilities, though INLIBER has not verified those claims.

In a separate report, five Israeli human rights groups described a dramatic escalation of torture and cruel treatment in detention facilities, calling for stronger safeguards and accountability. Israel’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva has rejected these claims as disinformation, asserting that Israel remains committed to human rights and to upholding the law in all security operations.

Expert assessment

Expert comment: Independent rights analysts emphasize the need for transparent investigations and credible evidence before drawing conclusions about systemic abuse. If verified, the reported cases would point to serious gaps in detention oversight that require urgent reforms.

Summary

Two Palestinian men describe alleged sexual and physical abuse while in Israeli detention, echoing broader concerns raised by the UN and human rights groups. Israel denies the charges, while officials acknowledge the importance of investigation and accountability where evidence exists. The cases underline ongoing tensions over detention practices in a highly polarized regional context, with calls for independent reviews from international bodies and local watchdogs.

Key insight: Allegations of abuse in detention facilities underscore the need for independent investigations and stronger safeguards to ensure adherence to international law. Source: BBC News.

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