Gaza Medics Report Humiliating Conditions in Detention

Facts

• Medics from Gaza's Nasser hospital, interviewed by the BBC, have reported experiencing humiliating and degrading conditions during detention. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) states that 'about 200 terrorists and suspects of terrorist activity were detained' following a Feb. 15 raid, 'including some who posed as medical teams.'¹
• Footage filmed secretly from the hospital showed a line of men blindfolded and stripped to their underwear kneeling with their hands behind their heads. The IDF stressed efforts to minimize the impacts on workers and patients, saying 'the hands of patients who were not suspected of involvement in terrorism were not tied.'¹
• Those interviewed said that, once taken into Israel, they were forced to remain in uncomfortable and humiliating states for long periods of time. They spoke of being beaten, having cold water poured on them, as well as muzzled dogs being set on them. The IDF has said that 'any abuse of detainees is contrary to IDF orders', but added that 'it is often necessary for terror suspects to hand over their clothes' to search for potential explosives or weapons during arrests.¹
• This news follows a statement from the UN's Palestinian refugee division earlier this month, in which it claimed those detained by Israel also endured threats of electrocution, being photographed naked, and sleep deprivation.²
• UK Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell told Britain's House of Commons that the UK government was calling for a 'full explanation' of the alleged abuses.³

Sources: ¹BBC News, ²Hürriyet Daily News and ³Guardian.

Narratives

• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Amnesty International. Testimony from detainees, supported by video and images, reveals a widespread practice by Israeli forces subjecting arbitrarily detained Palestinian prisoners to degrading and humiliating conditions. These are clear violations of international law and must be addressed immediately. Such reports have been documented for decades, so public scrutiny of these abuses is long overdue.
• Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by The Times of Israel. These are unsubstantiated allegations of prisoner mistreatment being leveled at Israel. It is against the military's values and policies to mistreat prisoners, therefore such actions are strictly prohibited. Instead of launching smears against Israel, the world should focus on saving the 130 Israeli hostages still imprisoned by Hamas, some of whom may be facing sexualized torture.

Predictions