Palestinians released back to Gaza have shared with the BBC their experiences of abuse and torture while detained by Israeli military and prison personnel. Their testimonies add to previous reports about misconduct within Israeli detention facilities.
One detainee, Mohammad Abu Tawileh, described being attacked with chemicals and set on fire. He recalled, “I thrashed around like an animal to put the fire out [on my body].”
The BBC conducted detailed interviews with five detainees released under a ceasefire agreement after Hamas and other groups killed around 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages on October 7, 2023. The detainees were accused of ties to Hamas and questioned about the whereabouts of hostages, though none were found to have participated in the attacks.
These men were held under Israel’s Unlawful Combatants Law, which allows detention without charge for individuals suspected of posing a security risk. Israel’s military did not respond to specific questions about the detainees’ cases, but stated that it takes allegations of abuse seriously.
The detainees reported being stripped, blindfolded, handcuffed, beaten, electrocuted, and subjected to medical neglect. Some witnessed deaths and sexual abuse of other detainees.
Israel’s military and prison service both denied the claims of abuse, asserting that they follow legal and ethical standards in handling detainees. However, experts in international law have described the treatment as inconsistent with international law, with some calling it torture.
As Israel has restricted access to Gaza for international journalists, the interviews were conducted through phone calls and text messages, supplemented by local freelance reporters.
The testimonies detailed the harsh conditions and abuse detainees faced from arrest through to their eventual release. These included prolonged beatings, forced stress positions, and electric shocks. Additionally, some detainees described neglect of their medical needs, as well as threats and humiliation.
In contrast, Israel’s response has been to claim that these abuses, if proven, would be handled by authorities and are not representative of the military or prison service’s standards.