Middle East: The phrase "Our army is the most committed to ethical standards in war" has been repeated often by Israeli officials. However, the reality, marked by atrocities and violations, particularly during the aggression on Gaza, paints a different picture. The Israeli army’s history is stained with crimes, and the accounts of Palestinian prisoners recently released from Israeli prisons reveal the brutal, horrific, and sadistic nature of the torture they endured—torture beyond imagination.

Comparing the treatment of Israeli captive Liat Atzili, who described humane conditions during her detention by the resistance in Gaza, with the harrowing experiences of Palestinian prisoners released from Israeli prisons, highlights a stark contrast between humanity and brutality.

Liat Atzili's Testimony

Former Israeli captive Liat Atzili, in an interview with Haaretz, debunked the occupation's false narrative about the alleged violence faced by Israeli prisoners in Gaza. She recounted receiving good treatment, having her food requests met, and being allowed to move freely within the house where she was held. Atzili mentioned that her captors were surprised to learn she was vegetarian and went out of their way to accommodate her dietary preferences. She emphasized the humane treatment she received, which made the period of captivity alright, all in all.

Brutality and Sadism

In contrast, the testimonies of released Palestinian prisoners tell of unimaginable brutality and sadism. Pale faces, unkempt hair, tattered clothing, and bodies scarred with wounds and marks of torture reveal the horrors endured. Israeli forces turned their prisons into torture chambers, inflicting sadistic and retaliatory punishment on innocent detainees.

One released prisoner from Gaza recounted being beaten by 30 soldiers shortly after his arrest in December. He described enduring different forms of torture, including prolonged hanging, beatings, deprivation of basic needs, and humiliation.

Torture Sessions and Sadistic Entertainment

According to reports from the Palestinian Prisoners' Affairs Commission, most prisoners from Gaza lost consciousness multiple times during torture. The so-called "torture sessions" are common, where prisoners are gathered and subjected to horrific and sadistic abuse.

Three prisoners shared their harrowing experiences, describing the brutality they faced, including being stripped, beaten, bound, and blindfolded. They became prey to sadistic guards who took pleasure in their suffering.

Starvation and Inhumane Conditions

Recently released prisoners from Gaza reported severe malnutrition, with some losing up to 40 kilograms (88 pounds) in six months. They were deprived of food, water, and basic hygiene for long periods, subjected to cruel treatment, including being tied in painful positions for extended periods.

"Welcome to Hell"

The phrase "Welcome to Hell," used by an Israeli soldier to greet a group of Gaza prisoners, was highlighted in a report by the Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem. The report detailed the systematic torture practices in Israeli prisons, including the use of pepper spray, stun grenades, electric shock batons, attack dogs, and extreme physical abuse.

The torture also included sexual assaults, with reports of prisoners being beaten with hammers on their backs and genitals, and subjected to sexual violence, including sodomy with objects or even by attack dogs.

The Palestinian Prisoners' Club reported that 23 prisoners from Gaza died under torture at the "Sde Teiman" camp, with the identities of many others who died in Israeli prisons and camps still unknown.

Sexual Abuse and Torture

The Israeli magazine (+972) documented several cases of rape and sexual assault against Palestinian prisoners from Gaza in the "Sde Teiman" prison, which it described as more horrific than the American prisons of Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib.

Last week, Haaretz reported that the Israeli Supreme Court ordered authorities to clarify the conditions of Gaza prisoners in "Sde Teiman," with a lawyer stating that the detention conditions there could constitute a war crime.

Translated by Almasirah English website