Their concern was expressed by American diplomacy in the context of revelations in a CNN report about the detention conditions experienced by Palestinian prisoners in Israeli military base, amid the war in the Gaza Strip.
Citing information provided by Israeli witnesses of public interest, the American television network broadcast a report last week about the Sade Teiman base in the Negev desert in southern Israel. “We are concerned (about the allegations) and are investigating them, as well as other allegations of abuse against Palestinian prisoners,” State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said. The US has stressed to Israel that it has an “obligation to conduct a thorough investigation” into allegations of violations of international humanitarian law, he added.
“We have always said clearly and consistently that all countries, including Israel, must treat all detainees humanely, with dignity and as required by international law,” said Vedant Patel.
Extreme conditions
According to CNN, there are around 70 detainees in the detention center, who face extreme conditions, while in a field hospital some injured Palestinians are treated tied to their beds, with staff putting diapers on them and feeding them through tubes.
One of the whistleblowers, who shared photos of the detention center, spoke of inmates who are permanently blindfolded, forced to sit upright and not speak, with guards constantly shouting at them to “shut up” in Arabic.
At a field hospital, doctors amputated limbs of injured prisoners who suffered irreparable damage from being tied up all the time, one of CNN’s sources said.
The detainees are being tortured not to extract information, but rather as “revenge” for the attack by the military wing of Hamas in the southern areas of Israeli territory on October 7, alleged one of the public interest witnesses.
The Israeli military is investigating the allegations
The Israeli military said it was investigating the allegations. However, Israeli investigations into human rights violations, reported either by the media or NGOs, rarely have serious consequences for members of the military or security forces.
On Friday, a State Department report was released that concluded it is “reasonable to believe” that Israel used U.S.-supplied weapons and ammunition in a manner inconsistent with international humanitarian law. This conclusion, however, does not imply a suspension of deliveries of US products; military equipment.