Recently released Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails have revealed serious incidents of physical and mental torture during their imprisonment.
Speaking to BBC Urdu, the prisoners claimed that they were burned with chemicals, stripped naked, given electric shocks and threatened with dogs. 36-year-old mechanic Mohammed Abu Tawilah said that chemicals were thrown on his body and set on fire, causing him severe pain.
The BBC interviewed five prisoners who were arrested without trial after Hamas attacked Israel. The prisoners said that they were put under intense pressure to obtain information about links to Hamas and tunnels, but were released under the ceasefire agreement after no evidence was found.
They also claimed to have witnessed the killings of other prisoners and incidents of sexual violence in the prison.
The Israeli military denied the allegations, saying claims of “systematic violence” were unfounded, but some complaints would be investigated. The Israeli Prison Service denied any abuse.
International experts say the allegations not only constitute serious human rights violations but could potentially amount to war crimes.
