Israel tortures Palestinians in custody on a scale that suggests collective vengeance, UN expert says.

A United Nations human rights expert has accused Israel of systematically torturing Palestinians in custody on an unprecedented scale that demonstrates 'collective vengeance and destructive intent.'

“A United Nations expert says Israel is systematically torturing Palestinians on a scale “that suggests collective vengeance and destructive intent””

Al Jazeera

Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the rights situation in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, documented a pattern of exceptionally ruthless physical and psychological abuse.

Al Jazeera

The report, titled 'Torture and genocide,' argues that these practices have been implemented as punitive collective revenge.

These abuses have inflicted profound and lasting scars on tens of thousands of Palestinians and their families.

While Albanese condemns torture by all actors including Palestinian armed groups, her investigation specifically focuses on Israeli conduct.

This context exists within the ongoing Gaza genocide.

These findings were presented to the UN Human Rights Council on Monday.

The report details horrific methods of torture including brutal beatings, sexual violence, rape, lethal mistreatment, starvation, and systematic deprivation of basic human conditions.

These practices create a regime of systemic humiliation, coercion, and terror within Israel's detention system.

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Torture has become integral to both custodial abuse and Israel's broader campaign of forced displacement, mass killings, and destruction.

These abuses are designed to inflict long-term collective pain and suffering on the Palestinian population.

The scale and severity represent an unprecedented use of torture as a weapon of collective vengeance.

Since October 2023, arrests of Palestinians have escalated dramatically to more than 18,500 people, including at least 1,500 children.

“A UN expert has said Israel was systematically torturing Palestinians on a scale "that suggests collective vengeance and destructive intent", in a report released to the media on Friday”

TRT World

About 9,000 Palestinians remain in detention while more than 4,000 have been subjected to enforced disappearance.

Albanese gathered written submissions and at least 300 testimonies documenting these systematic abuses.

These findings show Israel's detention system has descended into a regime of systematic humiliation, coercion, and terror.

The statistics reveal the massive scale of Israel's detention apparatus within the Gaza genocide context.

Albanese demands Israel immediately cease all acts of torture and ill-treatment as part of its ongoing genocide.

She urged all countries to 'do everything in their power to stop the destruction of what remains of Palestine.'

Al Jazeera

Every delay 'worsens irreversible harm and further entrenches a system of cruelty,' she warned.

Albanese called on the ICC prosecutor to seek arrest warrants for Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

These recommendations reflect Israel's obligations under the Convention against Torture.

These calls to action aim to hold senior Israeli officials accountable for systematic torture and genocide.

Israel is party to the Convention against Torture, yet the report documents a systematic breakdown of human rights protections.

“AUnited Nations-appointed human rights expert has accusedIsraelof systematically abusingPalestiniansin custody on a scale she says points to collective punishment and destructive intent”

MediaFile

Torture has emerged as an institutionalized practice despite international legal obligations.

MediaFile

Albanese's findings challenge Israel's international standing significantly.

These developments could have implications for ICC investigations and accountability mechanisms.

The report's presentation to the UN Human Rights Council shows growing international concern.

This raises questions about existing international legal frameworks' effectiveness in addressing systematic violations.