UN Panel Alleges Israel Runs a Torture Policy in Detention
A UN torture committee details alleged harsh detention conditions in Israel and calls for independent investigations. Israel denies the claims, calling them disinformation.
A United Nations committee on torture has raised concerns over detention practices in Israel, citing evidence of a de facto state policy of organized torture. The observations were made during Israel's review under the UN Convention Against Torture, with testimony from Israeli and Palestinian rights groups.
What the UN panel found
Both Israeli authorities and Palestinian rights groups provided testimony about detention conditions, noting thousands of Palestinians have been held since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.
Detention rules and what they allow
Israel's laws on administrative detention and on unlawful combatants allow extended detention without access to a lawyer or family members.
Families and disappearances
Families say they wait months to learn whether a relative is detained, a practice described by the UN panel as enforced disappearance.
Groups affected
The committee criticised the use of the unlawful combatants framework to detain groups including children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
Harsh detention conditions
However, the harshest findings relate to conditions in detention: reported shortages of food and water, beatings, attacks by dogs, electroshock, waterboarding, sexual violence, permanent shackling, denied toilet access, and wearing diapers.
Legal conclusions
The panel concluded such treatment amounts to war crimes and crimes against humanity. It also said there is evidence of a de facto policy of organized torture that could fit the definition of genocide under international law.
Israel's response
Israel has previously rejected genocide accusations, arguing it faces security threats from Hamas.
Expert reactions
One committee member remarked that the testimony left them deeply appalled. They urged independent investigations and accountability for those responsible, including senior military officers.
Israel's public stance
Israel did not issue a public comment when the panel released its conclusions, though its ambassador earlier described torture allegations as disinformation.
Legal context and wider concerns
While acknowledging security challenges, the panel stressed that violations by one side do not justify abuses by the other, and that the torture ban is absolute under the UN torture convention. Some international lawyers argue the convention applies to occupied territories, a point of dispute.
Regional backdrop
The report comes amid broader rights concerns, including killings in the West Bank and dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza where aid remains limited despite a ceasefire.
Expert comment: A panel member described the testimony as deeply troubling and urged independent investigations. The remarks underscore the need for accountability to prevent future abuses.
Short summary
Short summary: The UN torture committee documents serious detention abuses and calls for independent probes and accountability. It stresses that torture is banned under international law, regardless of security concerns, and notes gaps in accountability amid ongoing regional crises.
Key insight: The UN panel stresses that torture is strictly prohibited under international law and urges independent investigations, even amid security challenges. Source: BBC News