Israeli torture of Palestinian prisoners ‘widespread and systematic’: UN expert
Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, says the torture of Palestinian prisoners has become commonplace since October 7, 2023.
On social media platform X, Albanese responded to a post about the 2024 gang-rape of a Palestinian prisoner by guards at the Sde Teiman detention facility by saying the assault was “not an isolated case – it’s part of a pattern”.
“Since October 7, torture against Palestinian prisoners has become widespread and systematic. Both male and female detainees have been subjected to sexual violence, including rape,” she said.
Albanese said this was not only a matter of “cruelty: inflicting severe physical or mental harm on members of a group ‘as such’ is a constitutive element of genocide”.
“How much more evidence do people need to understand what is happening?”
Since October 7, torture against Palestinian prisoners has become widespread and systematic. Both male and female detainees have been subjected to sexual violence, including rape. The documented gang rape at #SdeTeiman is not an isolated case—it’s part of a pattern. This is not… https://t.co/TFnhF3wPPa
— Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt (@FranceskAlbs) July 9, 2025
The number of Palestinians being held in Israeli prisons has hit its highest number in a quarter of a century.
Rights groups say there are 10,800 Palestinian prisoners inside Israeli jails. At least 50 are women, and more than 450 are children. More than 3,600 are held without charge or trial. Their detention can be extended indefinitely.
These figures don’t include all detainees arrested from Gaza and held in the Israeli army’s military camps.
At least 73 Palestinians have died in prisons and military detention facilities since October 2023. Rights groups accuse Israeli forces of abuse, torture and medical negligence.
US sanctions UN expert Albanese over Gaza reporting
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced sanctions will be imposed on UN special rapporteur for Palestine Francesca Albanese for her investigations into Israel’s war on Gaza.
“Albanese’s campaign of political and economic warfare against the United States and Israel will no longer be tolerated. We will always stand by our partners in their right to self-defence,” said Rubio.
Albanese this week hit out at countries that allowed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to fly over their airspace en route to the United States, suggesting they may have flouted their obligations under international law.
Today I am imposing sanctions on UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese for her illegitimate and shameful efforts to prompt @IntlCrimCourt action against U.S. and Israeli officials, companies, and executives.
Albanese’s campaign of political and economic…
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) July 9, 2025
Amnesty boss ‘dismayed’ by US sanctions on UN expert
Amnesty International’s chief has criticised the United States for imposing sanctions on UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese.
Secretary-General Agnes Callamard defended Albanese’s investigations, saying she’s “working tirelessly to document and report on Israel’s unlawful occupation, apartheid and genocide, on the basis of international law”.
