Israeli Soldiers Allegedly Abuse Gaza Toddler in Interrogation

Israeli soldiers in central Gaza allegedly subjected an 18-month-old Palestinian boy to physical abuse during an interrogation of his father on March 20, detaining the child for about 10 hours near the Al-Maghazi refugee camp before releasing him through the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The boy, identified as Karim Abu Nassar, was with his father, Osama Abu Nassar, when they encountered gunfire while seeking daily supplies. Witnesses reported that soldiers ordered the father to leave the child on the ground and approach a nearby military checkpoint, where he was stripped and questioned. According to accounts from family members and local reports, the soldiers then inflicted injuries on the toddler in the father's presence to pressure him during the interrogation. The child was returned alone to his family later that evening, while his father remained in detention.

A medical examination at Al-Aqsa Hospital confirmed signs of abuse on the boy, including burn marks on his legs and knees consistent with cigarette exposure, as well as a puncture wound through one leg that appeared to result from a sharp object, such as a nail. His clothes were bloodied upon return, and...