In response to increasing scrutiny from Israel’s highest judicial body over poor conditions in a detention center known for mistreatment of Palestinians from Gaza, the military has relocated hundreds of detainees to newly established camps. However, according to Israeli human rights groups, these new facilities exhibit issues as grave as those they were intended to resolve. These organizations, having gathered testimonies from numerous current and former detainees, are now imploring the same court to intervene decisively to ensure humane treatment.
Detainee accounts indicate that the military has merely shifted the location of the alleged abuses rather than addressing them. Among the allegations are beatings, extreme handcuffing, and inadequate provisions for nutrition and healthcare. “What we’ve witnessed is an alarming decline in humane detention standards,” remarked Jessica Montell, director of Hamoked, one of the petitioning rights groups.
In its defense against these claims, the military has asserted adherence to international laws and firmly refuted any allegations of systematic detainee abuse. The Ofer Camp and Anatot Camp, newly constructed in the West Bank, aimed to improve the conditions noted at Sde Teiman, a site in the Negev desert initially designed to temporarily hold militants apprehended during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. Over time, however, it became notorious for long-term detentions accompanied by severe maltreatment of Palestinians from Gaza, often detained without formal charges.
Despite detainees’ relocation to Ofer and Anatot, conditions reportedly remain unchanged. Interviews conducted by Hamoked and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, involving over 30 testimonies, depict a troubling picture of continued hardships. Khaled Alserr, a surgeon from Gaza detained for six months without charge, described his experiences, recounting numerous beatings during his time at Ofer Camp.
Alserr and former detainees narrate hostile interactions such as punishments for eye contact or requesting medical attention, painting a distressing picture of their daily reality. These accounts, although hard to independently confirm, show striking similarities indicative of pervasive systemic issues. The Israeli Supreme Court has mandated a military response to these reports by the end of March.
The conflict in Gaza has led to the capture of thousands suspected of Hamas affiliations, with many detainees later released after extended periods. During a ceasefire beginning in January, many detainees were freed, but recent military actions in Gaza have rekindled arrests, with the military yet to disclose the current detainee count. Following a Supreme Court order aimed at improved treatment at Sde Teiman, the military relocated hundreds of detainees, transferring 500 to Ofer Camp.
The new Ofer Camp, constructed next to a civilian prison bearing the same name, comprises a walled, paved area accommodating 24 mobile home cells as seen in satellite images. Anatot, set up on a military base within a Jewish settlement, contains two barracks housing about 50 individuals each, according to Hamoked.
Under Israeli wartime law, Palestinians from Gaza can be detained for 45 days without communication with the outside world, but in practice, detentions often last far longer. Hamoked has highlighted violent practices towards detainees during interactions with lawyers such as being dragged into cells barefoot, blindfolded, and shackled, as recounted by several detainees.
Parallels are drawn with Israeli hostages whose harsh conditions in Gaza have influenced perceptions, as recounted by Eli Sharabi, a former hostage who spent 15 months in captivity. Alserr and others relate being held in overcrowded cells with poor sanitation and inadequate sleeping arrangements, facing regular beatings, and limited outdoor time.
Anatot detainees faced similar adversity, with continuous blindfolding and night disturbances that prevented sleep. The military refutes these claims, stating that regular shower access and daily exercise is provided. It also contends that overcrowding occasionally necessitates floor sleeping on mattresses. Anatot was closed in February for “short-term incarceration,” while Sde Teiman continues operation post-upgrade.
In terms of healthcare, former detainees like Alserr report neglect and refusal of medical needs such as antacids, leading to severe health issues and brutal treatment when seeking help. While the military maintains that detainees receive appropriate medical care based on individual conditions, testimonies tell a different story.
Dietary provisions were another point of contention, with detainees claiming insufficient and monotonous meals leading to hunger. A review by Lihi Joffe, an Israeli dietician, highlights a significant improvement in menu variety after rights group intervention; nonetheless, concerns about adequacy remain. The military asserts that all meals are approved by nutritionists and sufficient hydration is assured.
Legal proceedings for detainees are brief and devoid of engagement, said Nadia Daqqa from Hamoked, emphasizing the lack of legal representation and interaction. Alserr and another detainee who reported suicidal thoughts after a degrading punishment illustrate the severe emotional toll of these conditions. After his eventual release, Alserr has returned to his medical duties in Gaza, attempting to reclaim normalcy in his life despite the lingering pain of his detention experience.