Inside Israel’s secret prison, Gazan detainees speak out on torture
Coinciding with Israel’s commitment to re-enter Gaza and continue its genocide and ethnic cleansing, news emerges of shocking human rights abuse against Palestinians illegally detained in Israel’s jails.
The Palestinian Commission for Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society released alarming new testimonies on May 6th of Gazan detainees held in secret Israeli detention sites, reports the New Arab plus agencies. The accounts were gathered during rare visits of Palestinian lawyers to the underground “Rakevet” facility beneath Israel’s Nitzan Prison in Ramle.
Detainees recounted routine abuse in graphic detail since their arrests following the beginning of Israel’s war, describing how they were denied medical care and subjected to “systematic torture” in degrading conditions.
According to the lawyers, the prisoners showed visible signs of trauma. One detainee described having to endure six continuous days of what he called the “disco” and “pampers” methods.
This humiliation torture involved having to wear adult diapers after being denied access to a bathroom, and enduring severe food and water deprivation. Throughout, detainees were kept blindfolded and handcuffed, while music continually blasted through the speakers, making it impossible to sleep.
Many prisoners described conditions in Rakevet as the worst, with three detainees per tiny cell and no sunlight. With no natural light, the morning was only signified by the confiscation of blankets at dawn.
Another detainee detailed being sexually assaulted with a search device denied medical treatment, and forced to sit on his knees for long periods. Prisoners were also forced to curse their mothers and routinely sustained broken bones due to the brutality of the guards.
The lack of medical treatment resulted in one inmate developing scabies in Ofer Prison. He lamented that he currently suffers from chest pain from the tight restraints when he was tied to a chair for prolonged hours while being denied bathroom access; another common stress method.
He was detained for 35 days with a pre-existing injury and suffered high fever, loss of consciousness, and threats of death while blindfolded and shackled.
The Commission and Prisoners’ Society stated that Rakevet is one of several sites, including Sde Teiman and Anatot, where detainees are frequently subjected to “instantaneous, systematic physical and psychological torture”.
As of April 2025, Israel has acknowledged detaining 1,747 people from Gaza under the controversial and legally disputed label of “unlawful combatants.” Human rights groups have raised concerns that this designation allows indefinite imprisonment without trial.
The New Arab/ Agencies/ Maghrebi
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