United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese has called out Israel’s “widespread and systematic use of torture” in occupied Palestine.
Addressing the Human Rights Council at its 61st session in Geneva on 23 March, Ms Albanese highlighted the atrocities performed by Israel between Oct 2023 and Jan 2026.
She explained that the torture “extends far beyond the prison walls” that cover the occupied land of Palestine’s territory.
Ms Albanese also said that governments and ministers around the world have continued to allow such acts to occur.
In her report, Ms Albanese claims that Israeli forces have arrested more than 18,500 Palestinians between Oct 2023 and Jan 2026.
Those arrested included children, doctors, journalists, or humanitarians.
Source: UN Human Rights Council on Youtube
“Nearly 100 of them died in custody. 4,000 remain disappeared,” she said.
“Thousands detained without charge, held in inhumane conditions, beaten, shackled, sexually abused, denied medical care, starved, raped.”
During her speech, Ms Albanese shared anecdotes from those who have undergone the torture.
She cited prisoners who had to face “violent” and dehumanising acts from their captors. These include “violence with batons and boots” and bites from police dogs.
According to Ms Albanese, Israeli officials have also been caught sodomising a Palestinian detainee, and had “publicly celebrated” the act.
The destruction of homes, and other important buildings in Palestine, along with mass bombings and torture, has transformed Palestinian life into a “continuum of physical and mental suffering”, said Ms Albanese.
Source: Anadolu Ajansi
She further accused Israel of normalising the “dehumanising rhetoric against the Palestinians”, stating that torture has turned into a “state policy” where such acts are now “socially produced and politically defended”.
Ms Albanese also urged for senior officials of Israel, such as Itamar Ben-Gvir Basel Modric, and Israel Katz, to be investigated.
Source: Times of Israel
She emphasises that the testimonies from the victims are “evidence of atrocity crimes” that are targeting the people of Palestine.
Ending her speech, Ms Albanese brought focus on international law, and the obligation that authorities have to stop the war.
She also referenced the war in Lebanon and Iran, highlighting that if “left unchecked, it will spread far beyond”.
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Featured image adapted from UN Human Rights Council on YouTube.