UN Rapporteur Raises Alarm Over Alleged Torture and Deaths of Palestinian Detainees in Israeli Custody

Since the escalation of the Gaza war following the 7 October 2023 attacks, the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on Torture, Alice Jill Edwards, has repeatedly raised concerns about the treatment of Palestinian detainees held by Israel. She has warned that emergency detention measures and large-scale arrests may have exposed detainees to serious human rights violations, including torture, sexual violence, and deaths in custody.

Her statements draw on reports from former detainees, human rights organizations, and UN monitoring efforts. While the allegations remain contested and require investigation, Edwards has urged Israeli authorities to carry out prompt, independent inquiries and ensure accountability where abuses are confirmed.

Allegations of Torture and Ill‑Treatment

Edwards has said that emergency security measures implemented after 7 October 2023 created conditions in which Palestinian detainees were allegedly subjected to torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.

Reported abuses described in UN statements and related reporting include:

• Severe beatings and physical violence
• Stress positions, prolonged shackling, and excessive restraint
• Sleep deprivation and threats
• Humiliation and degrading treatment
• Denial of medical care
• Allegations of sexual abuse or sexualized torture

These claims come from multiple testimonies and monitoring reports. Edwards stated that the "number and cruelty of allegations" suggested a serious failure to uphold the obligation to treat detainees humanely under international law.

Sexual Violence Allegations in Detention

The UN rapporteur has also highlighted allegations of sexual violence in detention facilities. In August 2024, she condemned a reported sexual assault by Israeli soldiers against a Palestinian man in custody and called for those responsible to be held accountable if the allegations were proven.

She emphasized that sexual torture or sexualized degrading treatment can never be justified under any circumstances, including during armed conflict or national emergencies.

Deaths in Custody

Edwards has cited allegations that at least 94 Palestinians have died in Israeli custody since October 2023, warning that such deaths may be unlawful and require independent investigation.

She has urged authorities to conduct prompt, impartial inquiries into each case and ensure transparency about the circumstances of the deaths. Investigations into deaths in detention are considered a core obligation under international human rights law.

Claims of Inadequate Investigations and Accountability

Another major concern raised by the UN expert is what she described as a possible “culture of impunity” in detention facilities. Edwards argued that complaints of abuse have often not been properly investigated and that alleged perpetrators have rarely been prosecuted.

She called on Israeli authorities to ensure credible investigations into all allegations of torture and ill‑treatment and to hold both direct perpetrators and responsible officials accountable where evidence supports prosecution.

Scale of Palestinian Detention Since October 2023

The scale of arrests and detentions since the start of the war has also drawn international scrutiny.

According to UN and rights‑monitoring reports:

• Thousands of Palestinians have been detained by Israeli forces since October 2023.
• Many arrests occurred in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, sometimes involving civilians, medical personnel, and others detained during military operations.

Some estimates based on Israeli Prison Service–related reporting indicated 10,863 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons and detention facilities, including detainees from the West Bank, Gaza, and Palestinian citizens of Israel.

Concerns Over Administrative Detention

A particularly controversial practice highlighted by UN experts is administrative detention, which allows individuals to be held without formal charges or trial for renewable periods based on secret evidence.

A UN Working Group report indicated that around 3,424 Palestinians have been held in administrative detention conditions since October 2023.

Human rights monitors argue that the large-scale use of this measure raises concerns about due process and the risk of arbitrary detention.

Calls for Independent Investigations by All Parties

Edwards has consistently called for independent investigations into alleged abuses by all sides involved in the conflict, not only Israeli authorities.

She has also condemned torture and ill‑treatment committed by Palestinian armed groups, including the treatment of Israeli hostages captured during the 7 October attacks, stressing that international law prohibits torture by both state and non‑state actors.

Her central message has been that the prohibition of torture is absolute. Regardless of the conflict’s circumstances, all detainees—whether Israeli or Palestinian—must be treated humanely and protected under international humanitarian and human rights law.