Palestinians endure ‘systemic abuse’ in Israeli prisons, rights group says

Thousands of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons are enduring “a systemic, institutionalized policy of torture and abuse,” one of Israel’s leading human rights organizations says in a report.

Based on interviews with 21 Palestinians released from detention as part of the October 2025 ceasefire, the Israeli rights group B’Tselem says prison conditions have led to deaths and irreversible health damage. The group says former detainees spoke despite threats of rearrest if they shared details of their experiences.

The Israel Prison Service says it “categorically rejects the false allegations,” contending it operates lawfully, is subject to oversight and reviews complaints.

“Any concrete complaint submitted through the official channels is examined by the competent authorities in accordance with established procedures and the law,” it says in a statement.

The military and Shin Bet — which are responsible for arresting prisoners and conducting interrogations, respectively — do not respond to requests for comment.

In a report titled “Living Hell,” B’Tselem details what it describes as a “grave pattern of sexual violence” in detention facilities and prisons, including threats of sexual abuse and physical assaults such as beatings to the genitals that caused severe injuries. The report also says detainees were subjected to forced anal penetration with objects. The report describes ongoing organized violence, including beatings, electric shocks, and the use of tear gas and stun grenades. Living conditions, the group says, are marked by severe overcrowding, shackling, and limited access to food and hygiene. Denied adequate medical care, some detainees have undergone amputations or reported loss of eyesight or hearing.