Gaza Herald – A new report based on testimonies from Palestinian detainees has accused Israeli authorities of carrying out systematic sexual violence inside detention camps, describing it as an “organized state policy” allegedly endorsed at the highest political, military, and judicial levels.
The report, published by the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, draws on accounts from former detainees who describe severe forms of sexual abuse, including rape, torture, and humiliation. According to the findings, these acts were not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of violations facilitated by institutional structures and a climate of impunity.
Testimonies detail incidents of detainees being subjected to sexual assault using objects and, in some cases, trained dogs. Survivors also reported being filmed during abuse and later threatened with the release of the footage to coerce confessions or compliance during interrogations.
One former detainee described being held in harsh conditions, stripped, restrained, and repeatedly assaulted over an extended period. Others recounted similar experiences involving physical and psychological abuse, often accompanied by beatings and degrading treatment.
Legal experts and researchers cited in the report emphasized that such practices constitute severe violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. They argued that the scale and consistency of the testimonies indicate a pattern that goes beyond individual misconduct, pointing instead to systemic failure and possible policy-level endorsement.
The report also highlighted the role of legal and medical systems in allegedly concealing abuses. It claimed that some medical personnel documented injuries in ways that obscured their causes, while judicial mechanisms often limited accountability by downgrading charges or dismissing cases.
Particular attention was drawn to detention centers such as Sde Teiman, which has been repeatedly mentioned in reports by human rights organizations as a site where detainees are held under restricted access, with limited oversight from independent bodies.
The findings further suggest that emergency legal frameworks have expanded detention powers while reducing protections for detainees, contributing to conditions in which abuses can occur without scrutiny.
International organizations, including United Nations bodies, have previously raised concerns about the use of sexual violence in detention contexts, warning that such practices may amount to torture and could be used as a method of coercion and control during genocide.
The report concludes that accountability must extend beyond individual perpetrators to include institutions and leadership structures that enable or fail to prevent such violations. It calls for independent investigations, international oversight, and measures to ensure protection for detainees and survivors.
Survivors interviewed for the report emphasized the lasting impact of their experiences, describing ongoing physical and psychological trauma that extends far beyond their time in detention, affecting not only individuals but also their families and communities.
