The United Nations committee on torture says there is evidence that Israel is operating a de facto state policy of organised and widespread torture. The committee regularly reviews the records of all countries which have signed the convention against torture, taking testimony from their governments, and from human rights groups.
During Israel's review, both Israeli and Palestinian rights groups provided harrowing details about conditions in Israeli detention centres. It is alleged that thousands of Palestinians have been detained by Israel since the Hamas attacks of October 7th, 2023.
Under Israel's laws on administrative detention and on Unlawful Combatants—individuals who cannot be classified as prisoners of war—suspects can be held for prolonged periods without access to a lawyer or family members. Many Palestinian families report extended waits just to confirm the detention status of their loved ones, which the UN committee described as enforced disappearance.
The committee criticized Israel's use of the Unlawful Combatants law to detain entire groups of Palestinians, including children, pregnant women, and the elderly. Disturbingly, the conditions in detention described by the committee make for grim reading.
According to evidence, Palestinians are often deprived of food and water, subjected to severe beatings, dog attacks, electrocution, waterboarding, and sexual violence. Reports indicate some are permanently shackled, denied access to toilets, and forced to wear diapers.
The UN concluded that such treatment amounts to war crimes and crimes against humanity, and stated that the evidence of a de facto state policy of organised and widespread torture by Israel constitutes a part of the crime of genocide under international law.
Israel has repeatedly rejected accusations of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. One committee member, Peter Vedel Kessing of Denmark, expressed being deeply appalled by the information shared and emphasized the lack of investigations or prosecutions into torture allegations. The committee called for independent inquiries and accountability for those responsible, including senior military officials.
While Israel has accused the UN of bias, its ambassador described the torture allegations as disinformation and reaffirmed Israel's commitment to upholding moral and legal obligations despite security challenges from terrorist organizations.
The findings come amid increasing international scrutiny over Israel's human rights practices, and the UN Human Rights Office recently criticized the killing of Palestinians by Israeli forces, suggesting they resembled summary executions. Conditions in the Gaza Strip remain dire as aid agencies report inadequate assistance reaching the region, despite ongoing ceasefire efforts.
