Human Rights Report Documents Horrific Torture and Sexual Abuse Against Palestinian Journalists in Occupation Prisons

The Committee to Protect Journalists, in an extensive human rights report titled 'We Returned from Hell,' revealed horrific details of severe violations suffered by Palestinian journalists inside Israeli occupation prisons. The report documents live testimonies from released journalists, confirming their exposure to systematic torture operations, including severe beatings and forced starvation, in addition to sexual assaults used as a tool for psychological and physical humiliation.

The committee confirmed that the observed patterns of violations occurred between October 2023 and January 2026, with the study including interviews with 59 released journalists. All respondents, with only one exception, agreed that they were subjected to harsh forms of violence and ill-treatment aimed at breaking their will and preventing them from carrying out their professional work in conveying the truth.

For her part, Jodie Ginsberg, the CEO of the committee, described these practices as a 'deliberate strategy of intimidation' rather than mere individual actions by soldiers. Ginsberg called on the international community to take immediate action to impose real accountability on the occupation authorities, warning of the consequences of continued failure to adhere to international humanitarian standards and laws that protect media personnel.

In a related context, the committee's regional director, Sarah Qaddah, indicated that this policy directly aims to silence the Palestinian voice and destroy journalists' ability to testify to the crimes committed. Qaddah warned that the silence of international institutions regarding these crimes directly contributes to entrenching a policy of impunity and encourages the occupation to proceed with its violations.

The report included harsh testimonies about the use of electric shocks and beatings with sharp objects, and forcing detainees into painful positions for very long periods. The report also revealed at least two cases of rape inside the cells, with sources confirming that sexual violence was deliberately practiced to leave permanent psychological scars and break the dignity of the detained journalists.

Regarding the starvation policy, 55 journalists reported severe food deprivation, leading to an average weight loss of 23.5 kilograms during their detention. The committee reviewed photographs of the released individuals showing shocking physical transformations, with their bodies appearing extremely emaciated and their bones protruding, reflecting the extent of suffering inside detention centers.

The report also documented 27 cases of deliberate medical neglect, where deep wounds of some journalists were stitched without any anesthesia. Testimonies mentioned that the occupation deliberately left bone fractures and severe eye injuries untreated, amidst unhealthy environmental conditions that exacerbated skin diseases and infections among detainees.

Regarding psychological torture, the report monitored the use of threats to liquidate family members as a means of pressuring journalists, especially those working with international media. The report pointed to practices of sleep deprivation through playing very loud music for long periods, particularly in the 'Sde Teiman' camp, which was described as one of the worst-reputed detention centers in dealing with Palestinians.

Legally, the report revealed that over 80% of the journalists included in the study were held under the arbitrary 'administrative detention' system without specific charges or being brought to trial. A quarter of these journalists were also denied the right to communicate with their lawyers or families throughout their detention, making them forcibly disappeared for varying periods.

As of mid-February 2026, 30 Palestinian journalists remain in detention out of 94 arrested since the escalation began, while statistics from the 'Shireen' observatory indicate that nearly 300 journalists have been killed by occupation fire. The committee concluded its report with a firm demand to allow international observers and UN rapporteurs access to detention centers to conduct transparent and independent investigations.

The magnitude and consistency of these testimonies indicate far more than mere individual behaviors; we are facing a clear and systematic pattern of violations.