UN Committee Finds De Facto State Policy of Torture in Israeli Prisons

Committee member Peter Vedel Kessing described the panel as deeply appalled by the testimonies, which detail a regime of severe beatings, electrocution, and the deliberate deprivation of food and water. The findings reveal that these practices have intensified sharply since the military bombardment of Gaza began in October 2023. According to the report, at least 75 Palestinians have died in custody during this period, with no state officials held accountable for the fatalities.

Beyond the physical violence, the committee highlighted the unprecedented scale of administrative detention, noting that roughly 3,474 Palestinians are currently held without trial. This practice extends to children as young as 12, who are routinely denied education, family contact, and subjected to solitary confinement. The panel expressed alarm that Israeli legislation lacks a specific offense criminalizing torture, instead allowing public officials to invoke a necessity defense to evade prosecution for unlawful physical pressure during interrogations. This release follows Israel's recent vote against a UN General Assembly resolution opposing torture, a stance shared only by the United States and Argentina.