Palestinian Detainees Allege Sexual Abuse in Israeli Prisons

Note to readers: This report contains descriptions of sexual violence and torture that may be distressing.

Two Palestinian men have told INLIBER they endured severe abuse, including sexual violence, while detained by Israeli authorities. The testimonies come as independent bodies and human-rights groups scrutinize conditions inside Israeli prisons, particularly in the wake of the 7 October attacks.

The United Nations’ top watchdog on torture recently voiced deep concern over allegations of widespread abuse of Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails, noting a surge in claims after the October 2023 violence. Rights groups on both sides of the conflict have described what they call a systemic pattern of mistreatment in some facilities.

Israel has rejected these claims. Critics say a climate of anger and anger over hostages has contributed to a culture of impunity within prison services, especially toward detainees seen as aligned with Hamas and its attacks.

In 2024, leaked CCTV from Megiddo prison in northern Israel reportedly showed a Palestinian detainee being subjected to sexual abuse by guards. The incident prompted resignations and a wave of public scrutiny at senior levels of the military and government.

Firsthand accounts from detainees

Sami al-Saei, 46, a former freelance journalist from Tulkarm in the northern West Bank, was held under an administrative detention order for 16 months before his release this past summer. Administrative detention means a person can be held without formal charges or trial for extended periods under military authority.

Al-Saei claims that while in Megiddo prison he was partially stripped and subjected to a sexual assault with a baton around 13 March 2024. He told INLIBER that several guards participated, taunting him and suggesting they could involve his family as well. He described the assault as lasting roughly 15–20 minutes, with additional pain from repeated beatings and forced contact with his genitals. He says the abuse occurred on multiple days, though the sexual assault itself happened on one occasion.

Despite the risk of social stigma in his conservative community, he chose to break his silence. The prison staff allegedly included five or six guards who laughed through the abuse, according to his account.

The Israel Prison Service (IPS) responded to inquiries by stating that the agency operates within the law, prioritizes inmate safety, and does not recognize the claimed events. The IPS did not provide details about any investigations into these allegations when asked by INLIBER.

Ahmed, who asked to be identified by a pseudonym, lives in the West Bank with his wife and 11 children. He was arrested in January 2024 after posts praising the Hamas-led attacks were deemed incitement. He was sentenced to one year in prison and fined roughly $2,900. Ahmed alleges that guards stripped him, forced him to the ground, and held his head underwater during an act of humiliation. He described a separate incident in which a dog was used in a sexualized, degrading manner, and he says the guards beat him during the ordeal. He was released 12 days after the alleged abuse to complete his sentence.

Ahmed reported having no medical records to verify his claims. INLIBER asked the IPS for comment or a response to Ahmed’s allegations but received no reply.

Context and broader concerns

There are more than 9,000 Palestinian security detainees currently in Israeli facilities, many of whom have not been charged with any crime. The UN and rights groups say the number represents a serious risk of prolonged detention without due process.

Five Israeli human-rights organizations—Adalah, the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, HaMoked, and Physicians for Human Rights–Israel, among others—have warned of a sharp rise in torture and cruel treatment across detention facilities. They argue safeguards have frayed and that abuses have occurred with limited accountability, sometimes escalating to fatalities in custody.

Israel’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva rejected the criticisms as disinformation, asserting that Israel adheres to its obligations and that there is no systemic use of sexual or gender-based violence in detention. He said agencies responsible for enforcement are acting within the law and with due oversight.

Within Israel and the PA territories, tensions run high around detentions and accusations of abuses on all sides. In Gaza, Hamas has publicly executed suspected collaborators, while some hostages and survivors have claimed mistreatment by Hamas and its allies. Separately, there have been reports of alleged abuse by Palestinian Authority security forces in areas under PA control, which INLIBER has sought comment on without success.

In a separate UN submission, human-rights groups argued that torture and cruel treatment appear to have intensified across detention systems and that powerful officials have sometimes shielded these abuses from scrutiny. They called for independent investigations and stronger protections for detainees.

There is ongoing international attention on both sides of the conflict, with calls for accountability and reforms to ensure humane treatment of detainees regardless of the charges they face.

Expert perspective

Expert comment: Human-rights researchers emphasize that even a fraction of these reports would indicate systemic failures requiring independent investigations, transparency, and robust safeguards. Without such oversight, abuses risk repeating in future detention episodes.

Key takeaways

Despite official denials, multiple testimonies underscore concerns about how detainees are treated inside detention facilities in the region. International bodies continue to monitor and call for accountability, independent probes, and clearer protections for detainees. The debate remains highly polarized, with political tensions shaping how abuses are reported and addressed.

There are also broader questions about detainee rights, due process, and the balance between security concerns and humane treatment in detention settings.

Short summary

Two Palestinian men describe abuse, including sexual violence, inside Israeli detention facilities. The accounts align with UN warnings and rights-group claims of systemic mistreatment, though Israel denies the allegations. The cases highlight ongoing concerns about due process, accountability, and detainee protections amid a tense regional backdrop.

Experts urge independent investigations and stronger oversight to ensure humane treatment, while international bodies continue to scrutinize conditions in both Israeli and Palestinian detention systems.

Key insight: Allegations of sexual and physical abuse in detention reveal vulnerabilities in detainee protections amid conflict, underscoring the need for independent investigations and transparent accountability. BBC

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