Israel is involved before the UN in the torture of Palestinians
Israel was questioned on Tuesday and Wednesday before the UN Anti-Torture Committee, which cited various reports pointing to acts of torture against Palestinian prisoners in the country, particularly since October 7, 2023.
“The committee is very disappointed with this description (…) about what appears to be systematic and widespread torture and ill-treatment of Palestinians”said rapporteur Peter Vedel Kessing on Tuesday at the start of Israel’s hearing before the Committee in Geneva.
“From various reports we received from various reliable sources (…), there are claims that torture has become a deliberate and widespread tool (…) from arrest, interrogation, to imprisonment »he continued.
Among the tortures recorded in the report cited by the Committee were: “severe beatings, including genitals, electric shocks, forced and prolonged exposure to stressful positions, deliberately inhumane conditions of detention and deprivation of food, simulated drowning, as well as widespread sexual harassment and threats of rape”.
These reports, from various UN, Israeli, Palestinian and international NGO agencies, state that persecution of Palestinians has occurred “strong escalation” since October 7, 2023 reached “unprecedented levels” and this, in “all impunity”added Mr. Kessing.
In July 2024, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights published a report stating that many Palestinians had been detained incommunicado since 7 October 2023, and in some cases, treatment that could be equated to torture.
Similar accusations have also been leveled against the Palestinian movement Hamas in its treatment of hostages in Gaza.
In this session in Geneva, one of the heads of the Israeli delegation and ambassador to the UN, Daniel Meron, rejected the accusations targeting his country, even referring to it as Israel. “disinformation” statements by the UN special rapporteur on the human rights situation in the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, and a UN-mandated international commission of inquiry. This commission accused Israel of doing this “genocide” in September.
International community “must recognize the facts and realities on the ground”he said, reassuring it“Israel is committed to its obligations under international law (…) even in the face of challenges posed by terrorist organizations that do not hesitate to openly declare their desire to cause as much suffering as possible to civilians in Gaza..
Meanwhile, Mr. Kessing stressed the point “The fact that one party to an armed conflict violates and ignores its obligations under this regulation cannot be used as an excuse for another party to an armed conflict to violate and ignore its obligations.”. He assured the committee ” realize “ information regarding “Acts of torture carried out by Hamas against Israeli soldiers and civilians”will seriously consider this situation when considering a Palestinian State at its next session.
