UN Report: Israel Faces Allegations of De Facto Torture Policy
The recent UN report highlights Israel’s “de facto state policy of organised and widespread torture” over the past two years, citing severe beatings, sexual violence, and other inhumane treatment of Palestinian detainees. The report also addresses the excessive use of administrative detention and notes a “marked deterioration” in detention conditions during the Gaza war, with an abnormally high death toll among Palestinian detainees. The UN committee expressed concern over the lack of accountability for these actions, despite evidence presented and Israel’s persistent denial of torture practices. Furthermore, the report pointed out a lack of criminal prosecutions for such actions, and notes the conviction of one soldier for repeatedly attacking detainees.
John Q. Hosedrinker