Ten UN experts yesterday warned of the “intensified use of torture” in Israel against Palestinian prisoners detained since the start of the war on Gaza, and denounced the “absolute impunity”, calling for the prevention of this crime against humanity.

The UN experts, who are commissioned by the Human Rights Council but do not speak on its behalf, confirmed in a statement that the escalation in the use of torture by Israel against Palestinian detainees is a crime against humanity that can be prevented.
They denounced the “absolute impunity”, as well as “the silence of states (…) after the emergence of testimonies and reports of accusations of ill-treatment and torture,” calling for “pressure on Israel” with the aim of establishing a system of access, monitoring and protection for Palestinian prisoners.
They said that “what is needed now is an independent international presence of human rights observers. They must become the eyes of the world.”
The experts also confirmed that they had received “documented information” about numerous cases of torture, sexual assault and rape, “under horrific inhumane conditions.”
The panel of experts consists of four special rapporteurs, an independent expert, and five members of the Human Rights Council’s working group on discrimination against women and girls.
According to the OHCHR report issued last week, at least 53 detainees from Gaza and the West Bank were killed in Israeli custody between 7 October and 30 June.
In late July, the Israeli military announced the arrest of nine soldiers in connection with an investigation into allegations of detainee mistreatment at the Sde Teiman detention centre.
In May, CNN exposed gruesome details of abuse, torture and mistreatment of Palestinians from Gaza in the detention facility with doctors speaking to the news organisation about the torture inflicted on detainees. Released prisoners have accused medical staff at the facilities of taking part in humiliating and torturing inmates.