Voices from the Shadows: Palestinian Detainees Allege Sexual Abuse in Israeli Prisons

Sat Dec 20 2025 19:18:26 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Two former Palestinian detainees share harrowing accounts of sexual abuse and torture in Israeli prisons, amid a rise in complaints regarding treatment of inmates following recent escalations in the region.

Sami al-Saei and another detainee speak out about their experiences of sexual abuse while imprisoned without charges in Israel. Allegations of systematic abuses have increased, especially after the October attacks by Hamas. Human rights groups and the UN have raised serious concerns over treatment of Palestinian prisoners, highlighting a culture of impunity within the Israeli prison system.

This article contains descriptions of sexual abuse and violence which some readers may find distressing.

Two Palestinian men have told the BBC they personally experienced the kind of beatings and sexual abuse highlighted in recent reports into the treatment of prisoners in Israeli detention.

The United Nations Committee against Torture reported concern about a de facto state policy of organised and widespread torture and ill treatment of Palestinian detainees. This issue has intensified following Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, leading to a rise in systematic abuse allegations from both Israeli and Palestinian rights groups.

Israel denies the allegations, but reports suggest that the treatment of detainees expressing support for Hamas has worsened due to public outrage over the October attacks. Previous incidents, such as leaked footage from a military prison showing an Israeli soldier sexually abusing a detainee, have prompted resignations and heightened scrutiny of the Israeli military's practices.

Sami al-Saei, a former detainee and now furniture worker, recounted a harrowing experience of abuse during his 16-month detention under administrative detention in Megiddo prison. He described a horrific sexual assault by armed guards, stating, They were laughing and enjoying it... I was hoping to die... as the pain was not only caused by the rape but also from the severe and painful beating.

Another detainee, who wished to remain anonymous, detailed abuse involving dogs and told the BBC about the routine torture that he suffered.

Many Palestinians have been detained without charge—over 9,000 detainees are currently held in Israeli jails—raising alarming questions about human rights practices in the region. Allegations regarding abuse in facilities operated by both Israeli and Palestinian authorities continue to emerge, with reported instances of violence and torture prevalent across the spectrum.

The international community, including various human rights organizations, is urging investigations into these patterns of abuse, signaling a critical moment in the ongoing struggle for human rights and dignity for Palestinian detainees.