02:24Palestinians held in detention in Israel arrived at Nasser Medical Hospital and the European Gaza Hospital in Khan Younis, after the Israel Defence Force (IDF) released 25 Gazan prisoners via the Karam Abu Salem crossing, amid allegations of abuse.
Footage captured on Tuesday shows the released prisoners entering the Nasser Medical Hospital, as one can be seen being reunited with his family.
One of the released prisoners described terrible conditions and widespread torture and abuse.
“Praise be to God, we get freed today, but many people still suffer and have not been set free. Things are hard; they give us only 10% of what a human being needs. The food is unfit for human consumption. But most importantly, they shock prisoners with electric shocks, torture them with military dogs, and impose evening gatherings to prevent them from sleeping. We were forced to sit in the same position for around 40- 50 days, blindfolded like this, for 50 days, with our hands and feet tied,” he said.
The Palestinian Commission for Prisoners and Ex-Detainees Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday that: “The crimes of torture committed in the Ofer camp are no less than the crimes of torture previously observed in the Sde Teiman camp,” also stressing that: "The Israeli occupation authorities continue to use torture and humiliation against Gazan detainees."
The Israel Prison Service claimed it was unaware of allegations of torture, stating that ‘all prisoners are detained in line with the law and that all the fundamental rights are fully upheld by professionally qualified guards’.
The IDF previously claimed that Palestinians were detained during operations over alleged involvement in terrorist activity, with those later released being returned after interrogation determined they were innocent. It had not responded to correspondence on the allegations of torture at the time of publication.
In July, the Israeli authorities released fifty Palestinian detainees, citing overcrowding. Among them was Mohamed Abu Salmiya, the director of the Shifa Medical Complex, whose release was criticized by some Israeli politicians over his alleged link to Hamas.
The Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir advocated for the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners in May. Ben-Gvir stated that ‘massive overcrowding in Israeli jails could be solved easily by enacting the death penalty’.
Protesters in Israel stormed the Beit Lid base and Sde Teiman detention centre in late July to protest the arrest of nine Israeli reservists on suspicion of ‘torturing and sexually abusing’ a Gazan prisoner after the prosecutor ordered an investigation.
On Sunday, Israel's Foreign Ministry said Israel was conducting a ‘robust investigation’ of soldiers suspected of sexually abusing a Palestinian prisoner after Israeli media released a video of the incident. The ministry also reaffirmed its commitment to upholding international legal standards regarding the treatment of prisoners.
Alice Jill Edwards, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, denounced what she called a "particularly gruesome" case in which reportedly an Israeli soldier sexually assaulted a Palestinian prisoner. She emphasized that those who commit such crimes must be held accountable.
The White House has expressed deep concern over claims of rape, torture, and mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners by the Israeli military. The White House spokesperson, Karine Jean-Pierre, stated: "It is essential that the rule of law and due process prevail."
The Hamas-Israel war erupted after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
In the enclave, the IDF launched a large-scale campaign of airstrikes and ground incursions, killing at least 40,223 Palestinians and injuring more than 92,981 others as of the time of publication.
‘Prisoners endure the worst kinds of abuse and torture’ - 25 Gazan detainees released by IDF arrive at hospital in Khan Younis
Palestinians held in detention in Israel arrived at Nasser Medical Hospital and the European Gaza Hospital in Khan Younis, after the Israel Defence Force (IDF) released 25 Gazan prisoners via the Karam Abu Salem crossing, amid allegations of abuse.
Footage captured on Tuesday shows the released prisoners entering the Nasser Medical Hospital, as one can be seen being reunited with his family.
One of the released prisoners described terrible conditions and widespread torture and abuse.
“Praise be to God, we get freed today, but many people still suffer and have not been set free. Things are hard; they give us only 10% of what a human being needs. The food is unfit for human consumption. But most importantly, they shock prisoners with electric shocks, torture them with military dogs, and impose evening gatherings to prevent them from sleeping. We were forced to sit in the same position for around 40- 50 days, blindfolded like this, for 50 days, with our hands and feet tied,” he said.
The Palestinian Commission for Prisoners and Ex-Detainees Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday that: “The crimes of torture committed in the Ofer camp are no less than the crimes of torture previously observed in the Sde Teiman camp,” also stressing that: "The Israeli occupation authorities continue to use torture and humiliation against Gazan detainees."
The Israel Prison Service claimed it was unaware of allegations of torture, stating that ‘all prisoners are detained in line with the law and that all the fundamental rights are fully upheld by professionally qualified guards’.
The IDF previously claimed that Palestinians were detained during operations over alleged involvement in terrorist activity, with those later released being returned after interrogation determined they were innocent. It had not responded to correspondence on the allegations of torture at the time of publication.
In July, the Israeli authorities released fifty Palestinian detainees, citing overcrowding. Among them was Mohamed Abu Salmiya, the director of the Shifa Medical Complex, whose release was criticized by some Israeli politicians over his alleged link to Hamas.
The Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir advocated for the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners in May. Ben-Gvir stated that ‘massive overcrowding in Israeli jails could be solved easily by enacting the death penalty’.
Protesters in Israel stormed the Beit Lid base and Sde Teiman detention centre in late July to protest the arrest of nine Israeli reservists on suspicion of ‘torturing and sexually abusing’ a Gazan prisoner after the prosecutor ordered an investigation.
On Sunday, Israel's Foreign Ministry said Israel was conducting a ‘robust investigation’ of soldiers suspected of sexually abusing a Palestinian prisoner after Israeli media released a video of the incident. The ministry also reaffirmed its commitment to upholding international legal standards regarding the treatment of prisoners.
Alice Jill Edwards, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, denounced what she called a "particularly gruesome" case in which reportedly an Israeli soldier sexually assaulted a Palestinian prisoner. She emphasized that those who commit such crimes must be held accountable.
The White House has expressed deep concern over claims of rape, torture, and mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners by the Israeli military. The White House spokesperson, Karine Jean-Pierre, stated: "It is essential that the rule of law and due process prevail."
The Hamas-Israel war erupted after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
In the enclave, the IDF launched a large-scale campaign of airstrikes and ground incursions, killing at least 40,223 Palestinians and injuring more than 92,981 others as of the time of publication.
Palestinians held in detention in Israel arrived at Nasser Medical Hospital and the European Gaza Hospital in Khan Younis, after the Israel Defence Force (IDF) released 25 Gazan prisoners via the Karam Abu Salem crossing, amid allegations of abuse.
Footage captured on Tuesday shows the released prisoners entering the Nasser Medical Hospital, as one can be seen being reunited with his family.
One of the released prisoners described terrible conditions and widespread torture and abuse.
“Praise be to God, we get freed today, but many people still suffer and have not been set free. Things are hard; they give us only 10% of what a human being needs. The food is unfit for human consumption. But most importantly, they shock prisoners with electric shocks, torture them with military dogs, and impose evening gatherings to prevent them from sleeping. We were forced to sit in the same position for around 40- 50 days, blindfolded like this, for 50 days, with our hands and feet tied,” he said.
The Palestinian Commission for Prisoners and Ex-Detainees Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday that: “The crimes of torture committed in the Ofer camp are no less than the crimes of torture previously observed in the Sde Teiman camp,” also stressing that: "The Israeli occupation authorities continue to use torture and humiliation against Gazan detainees."
The Israel Prison Service claimed it was unaware of allegations of torture, stating that ‘all prisoners are detained in line with the law and that all the fundamental rights are fully upheld by professionally qualified guards’.
The IDF previously claimed that Palestinians were detained during operations over alleged involvement in terrorist activity, with those later released being returned after interrogation determined they were innocent. It had not responded to correspondence on the allegations of torture at the time of publication.
In July, the Israeli authorities released fifty Palestinian detainees, citing overcrowding. Among them was Mohamed Abu Salmiya, the director of the Shifa Medical Complex, whose release was criticized by some Israeli politicians over his alleged link to Hamas.
The Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir advocated for the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners in May. Ben-Gvir stated that ‘massive overcrowding in Israeli jails could be solved easily by enacting the death penalty’.
Protesters in Israel stormed the Beit Lid base and Sde Teiman detention centre in late July to protest the arrest of nine Israeli reservists on suspicion of ‘torturing and sexually abusing’ a Gazan prisoner after the prosecutor ordered an investigation.
On Sunday, Israel's Foreign Ministry said Israel was conducting a ‘robust investigation’ of soldiers suspected of sexually abusing a Palestinian prisoner after Israeli media released a video of the incident. The ministry also reaffirmed its commitment to upholding international legal standards regarding the treatment of prisoners.
Alice Jill Edwards, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, denounced what she called a "particularly gruesome" case in which reportedly an Israeli soldier sexually assaulted a Palestinian prisoner. She emphasized that those who commit such crimes must be held accountable.
The White House has expressed deep concern over claims of rape, torture, and mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners by the Israeli military. The White House spokesperson, Karine Jean-Pierre, stated: "It is essential that the rule of law and due process prevail."
The Hamas-Israel war erupted after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
In the enclave, the IDF launched a large-scale campaign of airstrikes and ground incursions, killing at least 40,223 Palestinians and injuring more than 92,981 others as of the time of publication.