New York – Ma’an – On Thursday, a UN Special Rapporteur called on the Israeli government to investigate multiple allegations of acts of torture and a number of forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment against Palestinian detainees since October 7, 2023.
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the issue of torture, Alice Jill Edwards, said in a press statement, ‘Persons deprived of liberty must always be treated humanely, and must be provided with all required protection, in accordance with international humanitarian and human rights law, regardless of their circumstances.’ “Arrest them.”
She added, “Reports indicate that thousands of Palestinians, including children, have been arrested from the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza, and are being held in prisons run by the Israeli Prison Service and in Israeli army camps.”
The Special Rapporteur received reports of people being beaten, kept in cells blindfolded and handcuffed for prolonged periods, deprived of sleep, and threatened with phy
sical and sexual violence, while other reports indicate that prisoners were subjected to insults and acts of humiliation, such as being photographed and videotaped in humiliating positions. Restraining prisoners’ hands for long periods of time caused wounds and injuries.’
The Independent Special Rapporteur expressed particular concern that what she described as an ’emerging pattern of violations’ with the absence of accountability and transparency, creates a permissive environment for further abusive and degrading treatment of Palestinians, noting the apparent lack of effective measures taken by the Israeli authorities to investigate. In those allegations.
She said that the increase in the number of prisoners, since October 7, ‘exacerbated the problem of overcrowding (in prisons) that already existed, leading to a lowering of standards,’ stressing that ‘there are no circumstances, whatever they may be, that can ever justify torture.’ Or mistreatment.’
She stressed the need for the Israeli authorities to in
vestigate all complaints and reports of torture and ill-treatment in a prompt, impartial, effective and transparent manner.
It called for all those responsible for these actions to be held accountable, including leaders, and to guarantee the victims’ right to redress and compensation.
Source: Maan News Agency
