GENEVA - The Special Rapporteur on torture today urged Israel to review and revise its detention laws, policies and practices, in her latest transmission of a substantial body of torture allegations, including sexual violence, and other serious abuses, to Israeli authorities.
"Emergency measures introduced after 7 October 2023 exposed Palestinian detainees to torture, potentially unlawful deaths, incommunicado detention, and degrading conditions," said Alice Jill Edwards, the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
"It is my view that the number and cruelty of allegations compiled portray gross disregard by Israel of its duty to treat all detainees humanely and without discrimination, and this has encouraged, tolerated and condoned torture and ill-treatment, at times with support at ministerial and functional levels," the expert said.
The Special Rapporteur's communication to the State of Israel on her latest findings is now public. The Government has not provided a response.
Her investigation counted 52 incidents of different forms of torture or other ill-treatment, and another 33 incidents of sexual torture and other sexualised ill-treatment. Many people reported being subjected to multiple forms of abuse. The striking allegations included severe beatings, stress positions, excessive restraints, electrocution, sleep deprivation, malnutrition and starvation, prolonged incommunicado detention, and inhumane and degrading conditions marked by overcrowding, unhygienic conditions and spread of diseases, denial of medical care, and lack of sunlight and ventilation.
Allegations of sexual torture involved one case of repeated anal and vaginal rape, and two cases of object-rape. Eleven male detainees reported beatings, grabbing, electrocuting and mauling by dogs, of their genitals. Humiliating and degrading strip searches, including sexual gazing at and intimidating female and male detainees, were recorded.
Reports of at least 94 deaths in custody since October 2023, which have not been investigated, raised heightened alarm bells. Post-mortem examinations in a number of these cases evidenced multiple rib fractures, haemorrhages on the skin and internal organs, and lacerations of intra-abdominal organs. One child is reported to be among those deceased.
"These testimonies are deeply distressing. Behind every allegation is a human being who was wholly dependent on those exercising power over them. The absolute prohibition on torture exists precisely for such moments, when law, restraint and humanity are most needed," Edwards emphasised. "These allegations demand full, independent and transparent investigation, and accountability where violations are established."
The Special Rapporteur's assessments are based on information received and gathered on detention practices and the treatment of Palestinians deprived of liberty, evaluated against the globally accepted norms against torture and other ill-treatment, as set out in articles 1 and 16 of the Convention against Torture and under the laws of armed conflict. A number of these independently sourced allegations have also been established by Israel's own courts or independent public authorities.
"Serious shortcomings in the handling of investigations reinforces the view that impunity is rife in Israel," she said.
Her communication reported that of 1,680 complaints filed against Israeli intelligence services, none had led to indictment. She also noted that of a mere 52 cases under investigation by the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division, only a handful had been pursued. She specifically asked for clarity on the Military Advocate's decision on 12 March 2026 to drop charges in a case involving an alleged rape of a Palestinian detainee, a case previously raised by the Special Rapporteur.
"I remind officials at every level that torture is an international crime against which no amnesties or immunities are permitted. Individual responsibility cannot be avoided by invoking defences of superior orders," Edwards said. "There should never be pressure on officials to engage in criminal conduct."
"If past practice is any indicator of future conduct, the situation inside Israeli prisons and facilities requires immediate remedial action. Manuals and policies mean little if they are not enforced in practice," she said.
At the time of the communication, over 9,000 Palestinians were being held in Israeli detention, of which 40 percent were in administrative detention, made up of around 3,200 Palestinians from the West Bank and 1,300 Gazans held as "unlawful combatants". An estimated 2,200 inmates were imprisoned as convicted prisoners.
"I reiterate my call for the release of all arbitrarily detained Palestinians or their swift prosecution in fair proceedings," Edwards said.
The Special Rapporteur has consistently called for prompt, independent, impartial and transparent investigations into all crimes committed on and after 7 October 2023, by all actors.
She further expressed alarm at Israel's new death penalty law that would unfairly target Palestinians.
The Special Rapporteur also announced that she has started a new examination into allegations of torture and other abuses by Hamas, Islamic Jihad other armed groups in Gaza, as well as the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.
