Israel accused of systematic torture of Palestinian detainees

On the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the Palestinian Center for the Defense of Prisoners reported a sharp rise in physical and psychological abuse of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons. The centre says roughly 150 Palestinians have died in custody, with about 90 deaths occurring since the Oct. 7, 2023 conflict began. It documents routine beatings, prolonged stress positions, humiliation, starvation, solitary confinement, sexual assault and denial of medical care, describing the practices as a state‑directed policy.

Joint statements from Palestinian detainee organisations indicate over 9,600 Palestinians are currently held, including 86 women (25 under administrative detention) and about 350 children, many in Ofer, Megiddo and Damon prisons. The UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory has called the torture "state doctrine," echoing findings from B’Tselem and Amnesty International that portray dozens of Israeli facilities as systematic torture camps. The Center urges the United Nations and treaty‑monitoring bodies to launch independent investigations and hold Israeli officials accountable for the alleged violations of international law.