Torture and death in Israel’s jails – we need to know
JVL Introduction
Just days before Israel resumed its mass bombardment of Gaza, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, spoke while attending the 58th UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva. Her hopes for a continuation of the ceasefire were dashed but her concerns still must be addressed. When Israeli hostages of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad were released looking under nourished and with concerns about their welbeing, this was covered by the mainstream press. However, the continual appalling treatment, including torture and deaths of Palestinians incarcerated by Israel has had scant, if any, mention.
We must do our best to make this known.
LL
This article was originally published by Palestine Chronicle on Sat 15 Mar 2025. Read the original here.
UN Special Rapporteur Calls for Swift Probe into Palestinian Deaths in Israeli Prisons
Edwards said many Palestinian prisoners released under the exchange agreement had been arbitrarily detained and held in extremely harsh conditions.
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Info for those (like me) wanting to know what the law says about holding Israelis to account for their alleged torture of Palestinian detainees …
Torture is prohibited by international law. Alleged offences can be investigated and prosecuted by ICC (International Criminal Court) or by countries which have incorporated this legislation into their own legal codes.
Whether the alleged offenders are IDF soldiers or staff in Israeli detention centres seems legally irrelevant. So investigations and prosecutions of individuals from both groups could be mounted by ICC, Hind Rajab Foundation (and similar organisations) or by other police forces and law courts.
As with the IDF soldiers, the risk of arrest for detention centre alleged offenders is greatest if they’re caught outside Israel (eg while on holiday, business or visiting family).
The most horrific ill-treatment and murder of Palestinian detainees is still going on. Just two examples … Dr Safiya (the heroic doctor whose hospital the IDF destroyed around him) now has a severe eye injury, has been beaten, starved, interrogated relentlessly and denied medical treatment. Another doctor has had his hands crushed, probably ending his career as a surgeon.