JERUSALEM — Thousands of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons are enduring ''a systemic, institutionalized policy of torture and abuse,'' one of Israel's leading human rights organizations said in a report released Tuesday.
Based on interviews with 21 Palestinians released from detention as part of the October 2025 ceasefire, the Israeli rights group B'Tselem said prison conditions had led to deaths and irreversible health damage. The group said former detainees spoke despite threats of re-arrest if they shared details of their experiences.
Israel's Prison Service said it ''categorically rejects the false allegations,'' contending it operates lawfully, is subject to oversight and reviews complaints.
''Any concrete complaint submitted through the official channels is examined by the competent authorities in accordance with established procedures and the law,'' it said in a statement.
Israel's military and Shin Bet — who are responsible for arresting prisoners and conducting interrogations, respectively— did not respond to requests for comment.
In a report titled Living Hell, B'Tselem detailed what it described as a ''grave pattern of sexual violence'' in detention facilities and prisons, including threats of sexual abuse and physical assaults such as beatings to the genitals that caused severe injuries. The report also said detainees were subjected to forced anal penetration with objects.
The report described ongoing organized violence, including beatings, electric shocks, and the use of tear gas and stun grenades.
Living conditions, the group said, are marked by severe overcrowding, shackling, and limited access to food and hygiene. Denied adequate medical care, some detainees have undergone amputations or reported loss of eyesight or hearing.
