Israel stands accused of arbitrary detention and severe mistreatment of Palestinians, including torture and inhumane conditions, according to a UN report published on 31 July. The report details widespread abuses since 7 October 2023, highlighting arbitrary detention, torture and extreme mistreatment of Palestinians held by Israeli authorities.
Thousands of Palestinians, including medical staff, patients and civilians, have been detained, often in secret and without due process. The report describes conditions such as prolonged blindfolding, deprivation of basic necessities, electric shocks and burns. Some detainees have been subjected to waterboarding, attacks by dogs and sexual abuse.
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk condemned the reported abuses, stating, “The testimonies gathered by my Office and other entities indicate a range of appalling acts, such as waterboarding and the release of dogs on detainees, amongst other acts, in flagrant violation of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.”
Since the conflict began, Palestinians have been detained while seeking refuge in schools and hospitals or at checkpoints. The Israeli military has not provided adequate information about the detainees’ conditions or whereabouts and the International Committee of the Red Cross has been denied access to the facilities.
