**GENEVA** – The United Nations Committee against Torture has expressed profound disquiet regarding a surge in allegations of severe mistreatment, including sexual abuse and beatings, perpetrated against Palestinian detainees within Israeli correctional facilities. These disturbing reports, which rights organisations have described as systemic, have reportedly escalated significantly in the aftermath of the October 7th attacks by Hamas on Israel.
The UN body, tasked with monitoring adherence to the Convention against Torture, noted that the accusations have “gravely intensified” since the militant group’s incursion into Israel last year. This intensification, the committee suggested, points towards a worrying pattern of behaviour that could amount to a "de facto state policy of organised and widespread torture and ill treatment." The committee's statement marks a significant escalation in international scrutiny of Israel's detention practices concerning Palestinians.
Among the most harrowing accounts is that of Sami al-Saei, a 46-year-old former freelance journalist arrested in January of this year. Al-Saei, who was held for 16 months under administrative detention before his release in the summer, claims that on or around March 13th, guards at Megiddo prison in northern Israel subjected him to a brutal assault. He alleges that he was partially undressed and sexually violated with a baton. Al-Saei’s arrest reportedly stemmed from his alleged involvement in facilitating interviews between journalists and members of Hamas and other armed factions.
Further compounding these concerns is the circulation of leaked CCTV footage from an Israeli military detention centre. The video purportedly depicts the sexual abuse of a Palestinian man from Gaza by prison guards. The emergence of this footage last year triggered considerable consternation and recriminations within Israel's military and political echelons, reportedly leading to at least one resignation and prompting widespread criticism of the conduct displayed.
Both Israeli and Palestinian human rights advocates have been documenting these alleged abuses, characterising them as "systematic." They posit that a pervasive "culture of impunity" may have taken root within the Israeli prison service, fuelled by public outrage over the October 7th attacks and the ongoing plight of Israeli hostages. This atmosphere, they argue, has seemingly emboldened some personnel to inflict disproportionate and inhumane treatment on detainees, particularly those perceived as being affiliated with or supportive of Hamas.
The revelations have placed significant pressure on the Israeli authorities to address these deeply troubling allegations. While Israel has not formally responded to the UN committee's latest statement, past denials have typically maintained that its security forces adhere to international law and that any instances of misconduct are investigated. However, the corroboration of multiple accounts and the visual evidence, however disturbing, present a formidable challenge to these assertions and underscore the urgent need for independent and transparent investigations into the conditions and treatment of Palestinian detainees. The ongoing conflict and the deeply entrenched animosity between the parties only serve to complicate efforts to ascertain the full truth and ensure accountability.