The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor have recently published detailed reports highlighting serious and widespread human rights violations perpetrated by Israel against Palestinians, with particular focus on the situation in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the conflict on October 7, 2023. These documents provide an alarming picture of systematic abuses, arbitrary detentions, and inhumane treatment.
Mass Arrests and Arbitrary Detentions
According to the UN report, thousands of Palestinians have been subject to mass arrests since the beginning of the conflict. Among the detainees are not only combatants but also a significant number of civilians, including medical personnel, patients, and people fleeing conflict zones. The document reports that these individuals are “brought from Gaza to Israel, usually handcuffed and blindfolded“, in clear violation of international human rights norms.
As of June 2024, the Israeli prison service was holding more than 9,400 “security detainees”. Many of these are held in secret, without being given reasons for their detention and without access to legal assistance, thus violating fundamental principles of international law.
The Euro-Med Monitor report, based on in-depth interviews with 100 former detainees, confirms and deepens these accusations. The organization has documented large-scale arbitrary arrests that indiscriminately affect the civilian population, including particularly vulnerable groups such as women, children, and the elderly. These arrests frequently occur during Israeli army ground incursions into densely populated areas of Gaza, often accompanied by military operations that cause further damage and suffering to civilians.
Inhumane Detention Conditions and Torture Practices
Both reports paint a shocking picture of detention conditions and systematic torture practices. Among the documented abuses are:
1. Detention in “cage-like structures” where prisoners are stripped and left naked for long periods, with only the “concession” of wearing diapers, thus depriving them of their human dignity
2. Systematic deprivation of basic needs such as food, water, and sleep, a practice that constitutes a form of torture according to international conventions
3. Severe physical abuse, including beatings, cigarette burns, and the use of dogs against detainees
4. Torture practices such as waterboarding and suspension of prisoners from ceilings, techniques that can cause lasting physical and psychological damage
5. Widespread cases of sexual and gender-based violence against men and women, a particularly serious violation of human rights
6. Use of electric shocks and prolonged chaining, practices that can cause permanent physical damage
7. Systematic psychological torture, including death threats, rape threats, constant insults, and humiliation
The Euro-Med Monitor report adds even more disturbing details, reporting cases where detainees were subjected to further humiliations, such as being spat on and urinated on. Additionally, the denial of essential medical care is reported, even in life-threatening situations, a practice that can amount to a form of torture.
Forced Disappearances and Lack of Transparency
A particularly concerning aspect that emerged from both reports is the practice of forced disappearances. Israel is accused of not providing information on the location or fate of many detainees, denying families and international bodies any information on their status. This practice not only violates international law but also inflicts intense and prolonged psychological suffering on the families of the detainees.
The lack of transparency is further exacerbated by Israel’s refusal to grant access to detention facilities to the International Committee of the Red Cross, a neutral organization that plays a crucial role in monitoring the conditions of detainees in conflict situations.
Alarming Victims and Statistics
The human toll of these practices is devastating. The UN report documents at least 53 deaths of Palestinian detainees in Israeli detention facilities since the beginning of the conflict. These deaths raise serious concerns about the possibility of extrajudicial executions or deaths resulting from torture or gross negligence.
The broader scope of the conflict is equally alarming. The Israeli military operation in Gaza, the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian population, has caused tens of thousands of civilian casualties. Women and children constitute the majority of these victims. About two million people have been forcibly displaced, creating a humanitarian crisis of enormous proportions.
Legal Implications and Violations of International Law
Both reports emphasize that Israel’s actions constitute serious violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has called for “prompt, thorough, independent, impartial, and transparent investigations into all incidents that have led to serious violations of international law“.
The Euro-Med Monitor report goes further, suggesting that many of these abuses are part of a systematic and widespread attack against the civilian population, potentially amounting to crimes against humanity according to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
In conclusion, these reports paint a deeply disturbing picture of the human rights situation in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They highlight the urgent need for concerted international action to end these systematic violations, ensure justice for victims, and work towards a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict that respects the fundamental rights of all parties involved.
The international community should consider targeted sanctions against those responsible for these violations and increase diplomatic pressure to ensure respect for international law. Do you think this will ever happen?
Dan ROMEO