DaysofPal— A Palestinian rights organization has warned that detainees from the Gaza Strip are suffering severe abuse and face execution threats in Israeli prisons, describing the situation as a series of grave violations that amount to war crimes.
In a report released Thursday, the Palestine Center for Prisoner Studies said that detainees from Gaza are subjected to deadly torture from the moment of their arrest.
The group reported that at least 52 detainees have died in custody, with their identities confirmed, while hundreds more remain at risk under recently approved legislation that could allow for the implementation of the death penalty.
Riyad Al-Ashqar, director of the center, accused Israel’s internal security agency of carrying out internationally prohibited interrogation practices.
He said detainees are subjected to systematic abuse during and after questioning, including physical and psychological mistreatment aimed at pushing them “to the brink of death.”
According to the report, detainees are denied access to lawyers and visits from international organizations, particularly those held in a section of Ramla Prison described by former prisoners as an underground facility with harsh conditions.
The group noted that detainees are held in isolation, with limited oversight, enabling further abuse.
The report details a range of Israeli violations during interrogation, including electric shocks, attacks involving police dogs, prolonged restraint under extreme heat, severe beatings, and denial of water.
It also stated that some detainees have been subjected to sexual violence.
After interrogation, detainees are reportedly transferred to prison wards where they face additional hardships, including restrictions on hygiene, limited access to clothing, and continued food deprivation.
The report says many detainees have experienced significant weight loss as a result of ongoing malnutrition.
The organization further accused Israeli authorities of enforcing a policy of enforced disappearance, stating that families are often not informed of the fate or whereabouts of detainees, including those who have died in custody.
Since the start of the war in October 2023, more than 15,000 Palestinians from Gaza have reportedly been detained, including children, women, injured individuals, and people with disabilities.
While thousands have since been released, approximately 1,800 detainees remain in custody, many of whom are classified by Israel as “unlawful combatants,” even though the majority are civilians.
The report calls for urgent international intervention to ensure accountability and to protect detainees, warning that continued silence could enable further violations.
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