Israel faces accusations of systematic prison torture and attempted alteration of Harem‑i Ibrahim Mosque

Palestinian human‑rights organisations, including the PLO‑affiliated Prisoners’ Committee and the Prisoners' Solidarity and Human Rights Institution, issued a joint statement on 26 June alleging that Israeli prisons and detention centres have systematically intensified torture and inhumane treatment since the October 2023 Gaza attacks. They cite widespread methods such as starvation, sleep deprivation, denial of water and medical care, electric shocks, forced positions and humiliating procedures affecting children, women, the elderly, the sick and the wounded. The statement says the abuse began at the moment of arrest and is part of an organised policy involving the Israeli army, prison administration and interrogation units. The organisations also note a sharp rise in complaints against guards since Itamar Ben‑Gvir became Israel’s National Security Minister in January 2023.

Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned a controversial Israeli planning project that seeks to modify the Harem‑i Ibrahim Mosque in Hebron, describing it as an attempt to “Jewify” the historic Islamic site. The ministry warned that the plan violates international law protecting religious and cultural heritage and called on UNESCO and other human‑rights bodies to intervene. It also urged Palestinians to increase their presence at the mosque to counter the proposed changes.