Israel's abusive treatment of Palestinian healthcare workers in Gaza

TEHRAN (Defapress) - Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli military has arbitrarily detained and mistreated Palestinian healthcare workers in Gaza, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has reported. The organization has accused Israeli forces of subjecting doctors, nurses, and paramedics to torture, ill-treatment, and poor detention conditions. The detentions have been particularly egregious, with healthcare workers being taken from hospitals and detention facilities in Israel, and many being subjected to mistreatment while in custody.

The accounts of healthcare workers who were released from detention are harrowing. They reported being subjected to humiliation, beatings, forced stress positions, prolonged cuffing and blindfolding, and denial of medical care. Many also described being tortured, including being raped and sexually abused by Israeli forces. Additionally, they reported being denied medical care and being subjected to poor detention conditions.

The Israeli government's treatment of Palestinian healthcare workers has been condemned by HRW, with the organization calling for an immediate end to the mistreatment. The organization has also called for a thorough investigation into the allegations of torture and other ill-treatment, as well as punishment by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

HRW spoke with eight Palestinian healthcare workers who were detained by Israeli forces between November and December 2023. None of them were informed of the reason for their detention or charged with an offense. The healthcare workers also reported being punished for moving or speaking, and collectively punished if other detainees spoke.

The detention of healthcare workers has exacerbated the health crisis in Gaza, which was already dire due to the ongoing conflict. Since October 7, 2023, over 92,000 people in Gaza have been wounded, and hospitals have been repeatedly attacked by Israeli forces. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that only 35% of those who requested medical evacuations have been allowed to leave Gaza.

The accounts of healthcare workers are consistent with reports from other organizations, including the United Nations OHCHR, the UNRWA, Israeli news media, and rights groups. These reports have documented widespread abuses, including incommunicado detention, beatings, sexual violence, forced confessions, electrocution, and other forms of torture.