According to a new report by the Committee to Protect Journalists, dozens of Palestinian media workers were systematically tortured in Israeli detention centers following the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023. The document, based on witness accounts, describes the use of torture, starvation, and sexual violence aimed at silencing Palestinian media. The organization calls for the immediate release of detained journalists.

Report based on witness accounts

The Committee to Protect Journalists published a document describing the torture of 59 Palestinian journalists held in Israeli prisons since October 2023.

Systematic human rights violations

The report lists specific methods of abuse, including the use of physical and sexual violence as well as deliberate starvation of detainees.

Israel has not commented on the allegations

The allegations presented in the report have not yet received an official response or comment from Israeli authorities.

Context following the Hamas attack

According to the report, all torture cases are directly linked to the wave of arrests following the October 7, 2023 attack.

The American non-governmental organization Committee to Protect Journalists has published an alarming report on the treatment of Palestinian journalists in Israeli detention. The document, titled with a quote from a former prisoner „We returned from hell”, details the experiences of 59 Palestinian media workers detained after October 7, 2023.

According to the organization's findings, based on interviews with dozens of former prisoners, they were subjected to systematic physical and psychological torture. Methods of repression reportedly included deliberate starvation, sexual violence, and beatings, all aimed at intimidating and silencing Palestinian journalism. The report indicates that such actions constitute a deliberate and organized campaign to stifle freedom of speech in the context of the ongoing conflict. „„We returned from hell”” — CPJ Report The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has its roots in the first half of the 20th century, specifically in the dispute over land and national identity following the fall of the Ottoman Empire. A key moment for contemporary tensions was the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, which led to the first Arab-Israeli war and the ongoing dispute over sovereignty, borders, and the rights of Palestinians.The details presented in the report call into question Israel's compliance with international conventions regarding the treatment of detainees, including the Geneva Conventions. Israeli authorities have not yet responded to the allegations presented. The lack of response may indicate a lack of capacity or willingness to clarify the matter. CPJ calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained journalists and for the initiation of an independent international investigation into the evidence presented. 59 — Palestinian journalists were reportedly subjected to torture The report raises serious concerns about the state of human rights in the region and fits into the broader context of tensions following the Hamas attack. International organizations, including the UN, may be forced to take a stance on these reports. This situation further complicates the already difficult circumstances for media operating in Palestinian territories, where journalists have worked for years under conditions of conflict and restrictions.

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