At least 135 mutilated bodies of Palestinians returned by Israel to Gaza under the ceasefire agreement came from the Sde Teiman detention center, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health officials, The Guardian reports. Hamas, meanwhile, has handed over the bodies of some hostages who died in Gaza, while Israel has so far repatriated the bodies of around 150 Palestinians killed since October 7, 2023.
According to IDF data and eyewitness accounts, the Sde Teiman facility currently holds at least 1,500 bodies transferred from Gaza, as well as dozens of detainees. Testimonies and photos published last year describe prisoners being blindfolded, shackled, and forced to wear diapers, with some alleging sexual abuse and other forms of torture.
The IDF has previously responded to torture allegations at Sde Teiman, stating that detainees are treated “appropriately and with care.”
Palestinian journalist Shadi Abu Seido, who works for Palestine Today and was released after 20 months in Sde Teiman, said: “Many died in custody, others lost their minds. Some had amputated limbs. They were subjected to sexual and physical abuse. They brought dogs that urinated on us. When I asked why I was arrested, they said, ‘We killed all the journalists. They died once. But we brought you here to die hundreds of times.’”
NGOs are calling for an independent international investigation to determine whether some of the bodies returned were killed inside the prison. The IDF itself is conducting an internal inquiry into the deaths of 36 detainees to determine possible criminal liability. In response to previous torture allegations, the IDF reiterated that detainees are treated “appropriately and with care,” adding: “Every complaint regarding soldier misconduct is reviewed and addressed accordingly. Where appropriate, criminal investigations are opened by the military police.”
Source: Guardian
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