FALCON POWERS – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture, Alice Jill Edwards, stated that she has received information about the mistreatment of Palestinians detained in prisons run by the Israeli Prison Service and in Israeli military camps.
The UN human rights expert called on the Israeli authorities to investigate the torture and ill-treatment of Palestinian prisoners since October 7, 2023.
The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Alice Jill Edwards, said on Thursday that she had received information about the mistreatment of Palestinians detained in prisons run by the Israeli Prison Service and in Israeli military camps.
She referred to estimates of the detention of thousands of Palestinians, including children, since the outbreak of the war.
Edwards said she had been conducting “a comprehensive review over the past two months” based on multiple sources, but her investigation is ongoing.
In a statement, she described receiving information about cases of prisoners who were beaten, detained with their eyes blindfolded and hands bound for long periods in cells, in addition to sleep deprivation and threats of physical and sexual violence.
She added that there are also reports indicating that Palestinian detainees have been subjected to humiliating treatment, including having their pictures taken in abusive positions.
Edwards, an independent human rights expert appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, but not speaking on behalf of the UN organization, pointed out that she does not have enough information to determine whether the violations are systematic.
She said she had raised the issue with the Israeli authorities and asked them to investigate and allow her and “international human rights monitors and humanitarian monitors” to communicate with the prisoners.
She added that “it is absolutely vital that there be independent inspections”.
The Rapporteur urged the Israeli authorities to “investigate all complaints and reports of torture or ill-treatment promptly, impartially, effectively and transparently.”
Edwards also stressed that officials at all levels “must be held accountable”.
