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The United Nations Committee Against Torture has found credible evidence that Israel is operating a “de facto State policy of organised and widespread torture and ill-treatment,” warning that such practices may constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and may meet the legal criteria for genocide.

In its concluding observations on Israel’s sixth periodic review, the Committee said it was “deeply concerned” about multiple and serious allegations of torture and ill-treatment of Palestinians deprived of liberty, including children. It further described the situation as having “gravely intensified” since 7 October 2023.

READ: Report: Palestinian journalist raped, sexually tortured inside Israeli detention center

The UN report lists detailed allegations of abuse, based on testimonies from rights groups, medical experts, and detainees themselves. These include beatings with batons and rifle butts, kicks to the head and genitals, electrocution, including of the genitals and anus, waterboarding, prolonged stress positions, sexual violence including rape, molestation, forced nudity and sexual threats, the use of attack dogs, exposure to extreme cold or heat, including use of boiling water. Victims reported being urinated on, forced to wear nappies, or made to act like animals. Many were shackled at all times, blindfolded, and fed through a straw.

“The Committee expresses its deep concern over allegations of repeated severe beatings, dog attacks, electrocution, waterboarding, use of prolonged stress positions, sexual violence, threats against detainees and their family members, insults to personal dignity and humiliation such as being made to act like animals or being urinated on, systematic denial of medical care, excessive use of restraints, in some cases resulting in amputation, the performance of surgeries without anaesthetic, exposure to extreme cold or heat, including boiling water” said the UN.

On its list of grave violations committed by Israel the Committee included, “denial of adequate nutrition and water, deprivation of clothing, sleep and access to hygiene facilities and products, including feminine hygiene products, deprivation of light or darkness, use of loud music and noises, denial of the right to freely practice ones religion, and the forcible use of hallucinogenic medication, in a discriminatory manner, against Palestinians, and for purposes including the extraction of information or confessions and as a means of exacting punishment, including collective punishment.”

The Committee expressed alarm at Israel’s use of the Unlawful Combatants Law to detain children, the elderly, and pregnant women without charge. It noted that many detainees were held in solitary confinement, denied access to family, legal counsel, education, or even basic hygiene, food, and water.

It further reported that 75 Palestinian detainees have died in Israeli custody since 7 October 2023, many showing signs of starvation, untreated wounds, dehydration, and signs of torture. Families were often not informed, constituting enforced disappearance under international law. Despite these deaths, the Committee noted that no Israeli official has been held accountable.

The Committee concluded that acts of torture and ill-treatment committed against Palestinians deprived of liberty could qualify as war crimes and crimes against humanity. It referenced the UN Commission of Inquiry’s prior findings that such acts may form part of the actus reus of genocide—a Latin term referring to the “guilty act” or the physical component of a criminal offence, in this case the deliberate infliction of harm on a protected group.

The Committee called on Israel to immediately cease the use of torture and ill-treatment, grant unrestricted access to all detention facilities to independent monitors, establish an independent commission of inquiry, investigate and prosecute all responsible officials, including military and intelligence officers, and repeal or amend laws enabling arbitrary detention and ensure protection of vulnerable detainees, especially children.

READ: Rights groups: Electric shocks now ‘main tool’ of torture in Israel’s Gilad Prison

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