UN Expert Alleges Systematic Torture in Israeli Prisons

A United Nations expert on human rights in the Palestinian territories presented a report to the Human Rights Council on March 23, 2026, alleging that torture has become a systematic policy in Israel's detention system and extends across the occupied territories. Francesca Albanese, the special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, described the practices as part of a broader pattern of violations that include collective punishment and inhumane conditions.

In her report, titled "Torture and Genocide," Albanese detailed how Israel's detention practices have escalated since October 7, 2023, the start of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. More than 18,500 Palestinians have been arrested in the occupied territories during this period, including at least 1,500 children. Thousands remain held without charge or trial, with reports of enforced disappearances affecting over 4,000 individuals. The document cites allegations of severe abuses, such as beatings, starvation, sexual violence, and psychological torment, leading to nearly 100 deaths in custody. Albanese noted that these actions occur openly, marking a shift from previously...