Amid further reported bombardment of Gaza overnight into Tuesday,
UN and partner organizations have expressed deep concern over the
“inhuman” detention of suspected Palestinian fighters in the
enclave by Israeli authorities, alleging treatment so poor that
some had to have limbs amputated “due to prolonged shackling”.
In a new report on the
situation in Gaza for May 2024, the authors cited testimonies
“from medics and whistleblowers” that injured detainees have been
held at a field hospital with “shackled hands and feet and
blindfolded 24/7 to their beds”.
Hostage fears
In addition, as of 19 May, 128 of the 253 people captured during
Hamas-led terror attacks in southern Israel on 7 October still
remain in Gaza, the report's authors said, underscoring that the
taking of hostages is a “grave breach of the Geneva Conventions
and a war crime”. More than 35 of the hostages have been declared
dead and those still alive likely face “the direst of
conditions”, with accounts from those released indicating
“multiple reports of sexual abuse in captivity”.
Desert camp
Returning to the Palestinian detainees, testimonies indicated
that prisoners are “fed through a straw, with
several cases of detainees having their limbs amputated due to
prolonged shackling”, according to the update from
the Global Protection Cluster,
which brings together UN agencies and other international and
non-governmental organizations.
It echoes earlier concerns about
alleged mistreatment of detainees from the UN human
rights office, OHCHR and independent rights experts.
The Israeli army has previously denied these claims.
At least 27 detainees from Gaza likely died while in custody at
an Israeli military base including at Sde Teiman in Israel's
Negev desert, it is believed, while “at least four” others from
the enclave died in Israel Prison Service (IPS) facilities either
because of alleged beatings or a lack of medical assistance.
Blindfolded and handcuffed
“Whether detained at IPS or army facilities, detainees are
reported to face extremely harsh conditions of detention,
including overcrowding and some detained in
cage-like facilities, being constantly blindfolded
and handcuffed, lack of access to toilet, exposure to the
elements, provision of food and water in quantities
barely sufficient to survive.”
Women and children are among those held during “mass detentions”
carried out by the Israeli Defence Force, the report maintained,
adding that many families “have no information about their loved
ones”, while Israel “fails or refuses to provide information on
the whereabouts or fate of many of those detained…Boys 14+ are
usually detained with adult men. Younger children are detained
with women and elderly family members, usually for a shorter
time.”
Mass arrests
The Israeli army recently claimed to have detained 2,300
Palestinians from Gaza during ground operations in Gaza, the
report's authors said, adding that the true number was likely
much higher.
At the end of April, some 865 detainees were held as “unlawful
combatants”, a category unknown under international law.
“Numerous” further disturbing testimonies indicate that detainees
are subjected to “forced nudity, sexual harassment, threats of
rape, as well as torture through severe beatings, dog attacks,
strip searches, waterboarding, and denial of food, sleep, and
bathroom access, among other cruel practices”.
According to accounts from released detainees and medics with
access to those being held, the aim of this treatment is to
elicit forced confessions and screen for alleged members of
Palestinian armed groups.
