UN: Conduct independent investigations into torture of Palestinian prisoners

The UN Human Rights Office said that Israel's torture and mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners is "unacceptable".

OHCHR called for independent, impartial and transparent investigations into all deaths, torture, ill-treatment and other cases of inhuman treatment.

This came in the words of UNHCR spokesperson Thameen Al-Khaitan, commenting on a report prepared by the American "New York Times" correspondent Nicholas Kristoff, during which he revealed that Palestinian prisoners were subjected to systematic rapes and sexual assaults, including children, by Israeli soldiers, settlers and prison guards.

"Torture and ill-treatment, including sexual and gender-based violence, are systematically practiced against Palestinian detainees in Israeli custody, including many cases of rape, including those of children," Al-Khaitan said.

He stressed that since October 7, 2023, UNHCR has verified the deaths of at least 90 Palestinian prisoners.

Al-Khaitan pointed out that one of the victims was a 17-year-old boy who showed signs of severe starvation at the time of his death.

He added that the Israeli authorities had published information about additional deaths, but did not provide sufficient details to verify the identities of the victims.

Regarding the torture and ill-treatment of Palestinian prisoners, Al-Khaitan said, "This is an unacceptable situation and part of a flawed Israeli detention and justice system that is imposing on Palestinians, including arbitrary detention and unfair trials that violate international law."

"Independent, impartial and transparent investigations must be conducted into every case of death, torture, ill-treatment or any other inhuman or degrading treatment, and those responsible must be held accountable," he said.

On Monday, New York Times reporter Nicholas Kristoff reported that Palestinian prisoners were systematically raped and sexually assaulted, including children, by Israeli soldiers, settlers and prison guards.

UN Committee: The law on the execution of Palestinian prisoners is "racist"

A United Nations committee on Friday described the law of the occupying power that allows the imposition of the death penalty against Palestinian prisoners in particular, as a perpetuation of the approach of "racial discrimination" against Palestinians, calling for its immediate abolition.

"The new law deals a major blow to human rights, as it abolishes the de facto moratorium on executions since 1962 and expands the use of the death penalty," the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination said in a statement.

The UN committee also called on the occupying power to "end all policies that constitute racial discrimination and apartheid against Palestinians." The law stipulates that the death penalty is the default punishment if the military justice system of the occupation classifies the killing as a "terrorist act".

Last month, the Knesset passed a general framework of the law that allows the execution of anyone for allegedly intentionally causing the death of another person with the intention of harming an Israeli settler, with the intention of ending the existence of what it called the "State of Israel," and is punishable by death or life imprisonment.

According to the committee, other states should "ensure that their resources are not used to impose or support discriminatory policies against Palestinians in the occupied territories," and the 18-member committee of independent experts monitors the compliance of the 182 state parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Under the provisions of the Convention, which entered into force in 1969, States are obliged to eliminate racial discrimination, eliminate apartheid, and ensure equality before the law without discrimination on the basis of race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin.