Shackled, bleeding, raped: Palestinians describe abuse in Israel’s prisons

Former Palestinian detainees described routine sexual abuse, starvation, and attacks by dogs during their detention in Israeli prisons, Al Jazeera reported on March 15, 2024. At least 10 former detainees, interviewed by Al Jazeera, detailed experiences of physical and psychological torture. One individual recounted being subjected to electric shocks and beatings, while another described being held in a cell with 30 other people for 10 days without access to food or water. The testimonies include allegations of detainees being forced to strip naked and perform exercises for extended periods, with some reporting sexual assault. These accounts emerge amid ongoing international scrutiny of Israel's conduct in its conflict with Hamas, which began on October 7, 2023. Human rights organizations have previously raised concerns about the treatment of detainees in Israeli facilities, but these specific allegations provide graphic detail of alleged abuses. Al Jazeera stated it attempted to contact the Israeli Prison Service and the Ministry of Defense for comment but received no response by the time of publication.