Allegations of Systematic Abuse Against Palestinian Journalists in Israeli Detention
A comprehensive report from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has revealed disturbing allegations of systematic abuse against Palestinian journalists held in Israeli prisons since the October 2023 Hamas attacks. The investigation, based on testimonies from 59 detained reporters, documents widespread physical assaults, starvation, and sexual violence, including rape, with Israeli authorities firmly denying all accusations.
Consistent Patterns of Torture and Neglect
The CPJ's findings indicate that nearly all interviewed journalists—58 out of 59—reported experiencing torture while in Israeli custody. Methods described were strikingly consistent across different facilities, including forced stress positions, sensory deprivation, and medical neglect. Physical violence was rampant, with many detainees suffering broken bones and severe injuries from beatings with batons and kicks.
Journalist Shadi Abu Sido, released from Sde Teiman prison after 20 months, recounted being shackled and blindfolded while forced through a corridor of soldiers who assaulted him, resulting in a broken rib. Similarly, Mohammad Badr reported being struck so forcefully that his tongue was cut, impairing his speech and eating for weeks.
Sexual Violence and Humiliation Tactics
Eleven journalists cited the use of strappado, or "ghost hanging," where detainees are suspended by their arms bound behind their backs. Sexual violence allegations include the case of Sami al-Sai, who described being penetrated with batons and objects by soldiers at Megiddo prison. These claims echo similar accusations from international journalists and activists detained by Israeli forces in recent years.
Leaked surveillance footage from Sde Teiman in early 2025 appeared to show soldiers sexually assaulting detainees, sparking national scandal. Israeli journalist Guy Peleg, who aired the footage, has since reported facing threats and harassment for his reporting.
Extreme Weight Loss and Malnutrition
The report highlights severe nutritional neglect, with 55 journalists reporting extreme hunger or malnutrition. Photographic evidence shows visibly gaunt individuals before and after detention. The CPJ calculated an average weight loss of 23.5 kilograms among the group, with some cases far exceeding this figure.
Ahmed Shaqoura lost 54 kilograms during 14 months in Ktzi'ot and Al-Jalama prisons, while Rami Abu Zubaida dropped 35 kilograms in a year. Mohammad Badr reported losing 40 kilograms over ten months of incarceration, underscoring the dire conditions faced by detainees.
Political Context and Official Responses
Many abuses were described as occurring during or after visits by Israeli officials, including far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. At Ofer prison, radio journalist Mohammad al-Atrash described coordinated mass assaults involving trained dogs and metal instruments, which detainees termed "Ben-Gvir parties."
The Israeli Prison Service (IPS) and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have categorically rejected all allegations. An IPS spokesperson stated that any formal complaints are examined through established procedures, while the IDF denied systematic abuse claims, noting that disciplinary measures are taken when appropriate.
Broader Implications for Press Freedom
CPJ regional director Sara Qudah emphasized that these are not isolated incidents but part of a recurring pattern of abuse targeting journalists for their work. Forty-eight of the journalists were never charged with any crime, held under Israel's administrative detention system which allows indefinite renewal of six-month detention periods without charge.
The report comes amid broader concerns about journalist safety in the region, with CPJ documenting 252 journalist deaths since the start of the Gaza war. A separate report by Physicians for Human Rights – Israel noted 94 Palestinian deaths in Israeli custody since October 2023, adding context to the severity of detention conditions.
