“Israel’s widespread and systemic abuse of Palestinians in detention and arbitrary arrest practices over a long time, coupled with the absence of any restraints by the Israeli State since 7 October 2023, paint a stunning image enabled by absolute impunity,” the specialists said.
Name for worldwide observers
“What’s required now’s nothing wanting an unbiased, worldwide presence of human rights observers,” they mentioned. “They need to turn out to be the world’s eyes in gentle of Israel’s brazen failure to forestall and tackle the heinous rights violations towards prisoners and detainees.”
The specialists have acquired substantiated experiences of widespread abuse, torture, sexual assault and rape, amid atrocious inhumane situations, with no less than 53 Palestinians apparently dying because of this within the 10 months which have adopted the Hamas-led assaults on Israel, which left some 1,200 lifeless and 250 taken hostage.
Caged, blindfolded and stripped
Round 9,500 Palestinians, together with lots of of kids and ladies, are presently imprisoned, a 3rd of them with out cost or trial, the unbiased UN Human Rights Council-appointed specialists mentioned.
Some victims spoke of loud music performed till their ears bled, waterboarding and being attacked by canines.
They added that an unknown quantity are arbitrarily being held in detention services and advert hoc camps following a wave of arrests and “abduction campaigns” throughout Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Numerous testimonies by women and men converse of detainees in cage-like enclosures, tied to beds blindfolded and in diapers, stripped bare, disadvantaged of enough healthcare, meals, water and sleep. Some allegedly have suffered electrocutions on their genitals, along with cigarette burns, the specialists mentioned.
Some victims additionally spoke of loud music performed till their ears bled, being attacked by canines, waterboarding, suspension from ceilings and extreme sexual and gender-based violence.
“Allegations of gang-rape of a Palestinian detainee, now shockingly supported by voices within the Israeli political institution and society, present irrefutable proof that the ethical compass is misplaced,” the specialists mentioned.
Earlier warnings unheeded
In February 2024, a lot of specialists had expressed grave concern concerning the experiences of sexual and different types of gender-based violence dedicated towards Palestinian girls and ladies in Israeli detention.
Francesca Albanese, the Particular Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, investigated Israel’s detention practices in 2023 and known as on UN Member States to intervene and the International Criminal Court (ICC) to promptly examine what seemed to be a consolidated crime towards humanity.
On Monday, the specialists mentioned they regretted this name was not heeded.
“Torture practices are irredeemably illegal and represent worldwide crimes but kind a part of the modus operandi of Israel’s infamous detention and torture system,” the specialists warned. “These practices are meant to punish Palestinians for resisting occupation and search to destroy them individually and collectively.”
De facto hostages
Most Palestinian detainees are “de facto hostages of an illegal occupation”, the specialists mentioned, referring to the July 2024 advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the authorized penalties of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory.
As such, the specialists known as for oversight and accountability over all Israeli practices and insurance policies within the territory.
“Israel’s genocidal destruction in Gaza, which is spreading throughout the West Financial institution, together with East Jerusalem, serves because the backdrop to its abusive detention programme at the moment,” the specialists mentioned.
UN Member States should finish their silence
Decrying the silence by Member States following the emergence of testimonies and experiences of alleged maltreatment and torture, the specialists known as for larger strain to be utilized to Israel with a view to implementing a cogent system of entry, monitoring and safety of Palestinian detainees.
The Human Rights Council should urgently demand the deployment of particular procedures mandate holders and the Fee of Inquiry, to services holding Palestinians, they mentioned.
Particular Rapporteurs and different UN rights specialists are half of what’s referred to as the Special Procedures. Serving of their particular person capability, they aren’t UN workers and don’t obtain a wage for his or her work.
