The organization for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights published a strongly critical report on Wednesday about Israeli abuses against mainly Palestinian prisoners in the ongoing conflict.
Prisoners and detainees are subjected to electric shocks, forced sleep deprivation, and are attacked by dogs. Moreover, so-called mock drowning is used, where the detainee is submerged in water.
Humanitarian Law
According to the report, over 9,400 "security prisoners" were held by Israeli authorities at the end of June, states the UN organization.
UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk says in a statement that Israel's actions constitute "flagrant violations of human rights and international humanitarian law".
The report is being published when the issue of soldiers' treatment of prisoners has become a divisive political issue in Israel. The reason is that nine soldiers were previously detained for abuses against prisoners at the Sde Teiman military base in southern Israel.
One of the soldiers was formally charged with a crime earlier in the week.
More Accusations
The arrests and interrogations sparked angry protests, where hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the military base and broke into the area, clashing with security personnel before being forced out. Among the demonstrators were parliament members belonging to the far-right faction within the government.
The incident has created divisions at the highest levels in Israel – where Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has accused Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir of having hindered the police's intervention against the demonstrators.
Israel's military chief Herzi Halevi has previously stated that he gives his full support to the investigation. "It is this type of investigation that protects our soldiers in Israel and the world and upholds our values".
