Israel finds harsh conditions for Palestinian detainees at notorious Sde Teiman Prison

An Israeli committee tasked with investigating the conditions of Palestinian detainees at the controversial Sde Teiman Prison recommended its closure on Tuesday, Anadolu has reported. The harsh conditions at the prison should see inmates relocated, said the committee.

According to Israeli public broadcaster KAN, the committee was headed by retired judge Major General Ilan Schiff. Its findings have been presented to army Chief of Staff General Herzi Halevi.

The committee’s recommendation came after significant international pressure over the conditions in which Palestinian detainees are held at the now notorious prison, where inmates are handcuffed and blindfolded all of the time. One of the primary recommendations is that the detainees should not be under Israeli army control for an extended period, but should rather be handed over to the responsibility of the prison service.

Israel’s Army Radio said that 10 soldiers are accused of gang molestation of a Palestinian detainee from Gaza at the Sde Teiman Prison in the Negev desert in southern Israel. The soldiers were detained for questioning as part of an investigation into the abuse.

Several reports have surfaced of severe abuses against Palestinian detainees at the notorious prison since the beginning of Israel’s ongoing offensive on the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army is believed to have detained thousands of Palestinians, including women, children, and medics since 7 October last year. In recent months, the army has released dozens of Palestinian detainees from Gaza in deteriorating health conditions, with their bodies bearing the scars of torture.

READ: Hamas calls for int’l probe into Israel violations against detainees