Torture in Gaza
Findings are based on verified Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) and assessed against established international legal standards, including the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
Torture in Gaza involves the intentional infliction of severe physical and psychological harm against civilians and detainees, in violation of international humanitarian law and human rights law. Verified Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) indicates patterns of treatment that may constitute war crimes and, in certain contexts, crimes against humanity.
The Sarkha Project has identified and verified a substantial body of evidence, including videos, images, testimonies, and reports, revealing a systematic practice of torture employed by Israeli soldiers, commanders, interrogators, and prison guards. The evidence demonstrates that these authorities frequently utilize a range of torture methods that extend far beyond mere mistreatment. Such practices are employed as a deliberate form of punishment, humiliation, and information extraction from civilians in Gaza and the West Bank. Alarmingly, these inhumane tactics do not exclude the most vulnerable members of society; elderly individuals and young children are also subjected to these severe violations of human rights.
We have preserved ,analyzed, identified and verified nearly 500 pieces of open-source evidence from January 7th, 2023, through January 3rd 2025 documenting the detention conditions, physical abuse, and torture endured by Palestinian detainees at the hands of Israeli soldiers, Israeli prison guards, and prison doctors and medical staff and Israeli Settlers. The evidence pertains to approximately 500 victims, of whom nearly 300 have been identified. These incidents of systematic state sanctioned abuse and torture occurred across a range of locations, including Israeli prisons and jails, IDF military sites and checkpoints, as well as civilian homes in Gaza and the West Bank and temporary shelters and schools in Gaza.
What is torture under international law?
Torture is the intentional infliction of severe physical or psychological pain or suffering for purposes such as punishment, coercion, or intimidation. It is prohibited under international humanitarian law and human rights law and is considered a war crime in certain contexts.
Photo by Mohamed Al Masri
Photo by Amjad Al Fayoumi
Photo by Mohamed Al Masri
Photo by Hassan Aslih
Source: Izzat Karaki
Close-up of a person's shoulder with visible redness and irritation, possibly from a skin condition or allergy.
Video by Abdal Qader A Sabbah
Photo by Mohammad Nazzal
Video by Ramy Toima
Photo by Rama Yousef
Photo by Rama Yousef
Photo by Hani Alshaer
Photo by Hani Alshaer
Photo by Hani Alshaer
Photo by Hani Alshaer
Photo by Hani Alshaer
Photo by Hani Alshaer
Evidence of Torture and Abuse of Palestinian Detainees
We we have identified and verified a diverse range of evidence documenting the abuse of Palestinian detainees. This includes oral and written testimonies from freed Palestinian detainees, gathered by various news agencies and individual journalists within Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories, in which survivors recount their own experiences and, at times, those of fellow detainees still in captivity. We have also gathered videos and photographs showing detainees’ injuries, as well as footage captured by Israeli soldiers depicting the abuse and humiliation of Palestinian detainees in various locations. Additional evidence includes video interviews with Palestinian doctors detailing the physical and psychological trauma sustained by released detainees, and testimonies provided to human rights organizations and news media.
Whistleblower accounts, such as those from within Israeli society—including Dr. Yael Donchin—have further corroborated these abuses. Investigative reports and videos produced by Israeli journalists have revealed the conditions inside Israeli prisons where Palestinian detainees are held. Moreover, social media posts and public statements by Israeli officials, including Itamar Ben Gvir (Minister of National Security), Kobi Yaakobi (Head of the Israeli Prison Service), and Yusef Knipes (Warden of the Negev Prison), have been critical in linking specific abuses to broader state policies when cross-referenced with detainee testimonies.
The evidence includes a wide range of abuses and even torture inflicted on Palestinian civilians from Gaza and the West Bank. Most of them were forcibly taken by the IDF, often as an act of collective punishment in response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack in Israel, as well as to extract intelligence on the location of Hamas tunnels and Yahya Sinwar, former head of Hamas. The victims include a wide range of individuals, such as children, the elderly, individuals with mental and/or physical disabilities, pregnant women, doctors, paramedics, hospital directors, journalists, political figures, religious leaders, activists, and foreign nationals. In several cases, adult male civilians were used as human shields, forced to wear either Hamas or IDF uniforms, and sent into civilian homes, tunnels, and buildings in Gaza, placing them at extreme risk. The methods of torture and abuse encompass both physical and psychological abuse.
These findings by the Sarkha Project highlights the need for accountability and further investigation. By documenting patterns of abuse through verified Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT), this work contributes to ongoing legal, journalistic, and human rights efforts.
This analysis is based on verified Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT), including publicly available video, imagery, and witness documentation.
A public summary of our findings is available. To protect the identities of victims, journalists, and their families, the complete evidence package is not publicly accessible. However, the full evidence is available to legal teams and organizations actively pursuing legal cases and requiring this information.
Torture methods
include but are not limited to:
Medical Neglect: Denial of medications and medical treatment such as diabetes, heart and cancer medications.
Medical Torture: Abuse involving medical procedures, sometimes leading to death.
Severe Beatings: Prolonged physical violence.
Attacks by military dogs including sexual violence: Assaults using dogs, including sexual acts.
Starvation & Thirst: Deprivation of basic necessities.
Death Threats: Threats made against detainees and their families.
Psychological Torture: Inflicting mental harm through various means.
Sleep Deprivation: Denying individuals rest.
Solitary Confinement: Isolation from other people.
Denial of Religious Rights: Preventing individuals from practicing their religion.
Forced to act as Human Shields: Using detainees to protect others.
Mock Executions and Real Executions: Simulated or actual killings.
Poor Detention Conditions: Inadequate living conditions.
Filming of Torture Sessions: Recording acts of torture.
Administration of drugs during Interrogations: Giving substances to detainees during questioning.
Burning: Inflicting burns or marks on the skin.
Branding: Burning the “Star of David” into the skin.
Waterboarding: Simulated drowning.
Electric Shock: Causing pain through electric currents.
Stress Positions: Forcing painful body positions.
Sensory Deprivation: Isolating individuals in disorienting environments.
Burning: Inflicting pain with fire or heat.
Mock Executions: Simulated executions to instill fear.
Isolation and Solitary Confinement: Total isolation from human contact.
Ritualistic Torture: Abuse tied to cultural or religious beliefs.
Psychological Manipulation: Mental abuse through tactics and threats.
Starvation: Deprivation of food.
Humiliation: Acts intended to shame victims.
Sexual violence: Various forms of sexual assault and abuse.
Torture Under International Law
Torture is defined under international law as the intentional infliction of severe physical or psychological pain or suffering for purposes such as punishment, coercion, or intimidation. It is prohibited under multiple legal frameworks, including the United Nations Convention Against Torture.
The prohibition of torture is a fundamental principle of international law. Under Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, torture may constitute a crime against humanity when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population.
The Geneva Conventions, including Common Article 3, explicitly prohibit torture and inhumane treatment in all circumstances, including during armed conflict and detention. These protections apply to all individuals, regardless of status.
No exceptional circumstancesw hether war, national security concerns, or public emergency can justify the use of torture under international law.
The severity of torture is assessed based on factors including the level of physical and psychological harm, the methods used, the duration of abuse, and the intent behind the acts. International legal bodies distinguish between torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, though all are prohibited.
The evidence identified and verified by the Sarkha Project highlights patterns of conduct that may warrant further legal scrutiny. When assessed collectively, such patterns may contribute to the evaluation of potential violations of international humanitarian law.
A public summary of findings is available. To protect the identities and safety of victims, journalists, and their families, the complete evidence package is not publicly accessible. Full documentation is available to legal teams and organizations actively engaged in investigative and accountability processes.
This analysis is based on verified Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT), including publicly available video, imagery, and witness documentation.
FAQs
What is torture under international law?
1
Torture is the intentional infliction of severe physical or psychological suffering and is strictly prohibited under international law.
Is torture considered a war crime?
2
Yes. Torture can constitute a war crime when committed during armed conflict.
How is torture documented?
3
Torture is documented using Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT), including videos, testimonies, and publicly available evidence.
How can I contact you?
4
You can reach us anytime via our contact page or email. We aim to respond quickly—usually within one business day.