Photo of Israel's notorious Ofer Prison

United Nations, August 6 (RHC)-- Palestinian prisoners are held in deplorable conditions and are subjected to torture techniques such as simulated drowning, sleep deprivation, electric shocks, among others.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights published a report this week on the torture suffered by Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel.  The report said that thousands of Palestinians who were imprisoned without explanation and brought to Israel in shackles and blindfolds “have been held in secret, without being told why they were detained, or given access to a lawyer or effective judicial review.”

“Detainees have said they were kept in cage-like places, kept naked for long periods wearing only diapers. Their testimonies indicate that they were blindfolded, deprived of food, water and sleep, subjected to electric shocks and cigarette burns,” the report added.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Volker Turk, said: “Testimonies collected by my office and others indicate a series of atrocious acts, such as simulated drowning and the release of dogs on detainees, among other acts, in flagrant violation of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.”

The majority of Gazan detainees are men and adolescents, many of them captured in shelters, hospitals or at checkpoints during forced displacement.  Turk called on the parties to the conflict to do everything possible to reach a ceasefire and ensure full respect for international law.

Since October 7, the Israeli occupation has killed 39,445 people and injured 91,073.