Statement on video purportedly showing sexual abuse of Palestinian man in Israeli detention – OHCHR

08 August 2024

The UN Human Rights Office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory today reiterated the urgent need for a full-scale investigation into Israel’s detention practices after the circulation of another video allegedly showing sexual abuse and torture of a Palestinian man by Israeli soldiers.

According to a major Israeli media outlet, the video is purportedly of the act in Israel’s Sde Teiman detention camp for which nine soldiers were arrested on 29 July.

UN Human Rights has documented a number of videos in recent months which show gross violations of the rights of Palestinians detained by Israel, including acts of ill treatment, torture, sexual violence and rape.

UN Human Rights recently released report on detention describes numerous gross violations of international human rights and humanitarian laws, including sexual and gender-based violence, against Palestinians deprived of their liberty, some of which may amount to war crimes.

Israel must ensure prompt, independent and effective investigations into all allegations of violations related to the treatment of detainees and conditions of detention, which UN Human Rights monitoring reveals may be widespread, and ensure that perpetrators are held to account.

In view of Israel’s well documented long-standing failure to ensure accountability for serious violations of international humanitarian law and gross violations of international human rights law committed against Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territory, remedies at the international level are also necessary to address the accountability gap and ensure international norms and standards are respected in all places where Palestinians are being detained.

As a matter of the utmost urgency, Israel must provide immediate access to independent monitoring bodies, such as the ICRC and the UN Human Rights Office, to all places of detention.