London - Saba:
The Palestinian Return Centre in London submitted a written report to the United Nations Human Rights Council, prepared in cooperation with the International Foundation for Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners (Tadamon). The report documented the gross and systematic violations against Palestinian female prisoners in Israeli prisons, particularly since October 7, 2023.
The report, which was submitted to the Council during its 59th session (June 16–July 11, 2025), was titled "Systematic Torture of Palestinian Female Prisoners in Israeli Prisons, Including Sexual Violence."
The report documented a series of systematic practices that amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, including physical and psychological torture, medical neglect, solitary confinement, forced nudity, denial of visits and denial of health supplies, as well as documented testimonies of sexual abuse, rape threats, and humiliation using the veil as a means of punishment.
The report reveals how the occupation authorities use the bodies of female prisoners as an arena for punishment and collective control, through physical and verbal assaults, starvation, denial of medical treatment, and psychological abuse. It presents shocking testimonies from former detainees and human rights lawyers about the conditions of detention in the Damon, Sde Teiman, and Negev prisons.
The report relied on field testimonies and UN and international documents, most notably the March 2025 report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry entitled "Beyond the Endurance of the Human Body," which confirmed the occupation's use of sexual violence and torture as a systematic weapon against Palestinians, including women.
The report's authors emphasized that the violations "are not isolated incidents, but rather a systematic policy aimed at breaking the will of female prisoners and undermining their dignity," warning that "the silence of the international community provides cover for the continuation of these violations."
The report concluded with a series of recommendations addressed to the Human Rights Council and member states, most notably the opening of an independent, gender-sensitive international investigation into the violations against female prisoners.
He called for the need to pressure the enemy to cooperate with the international investigation committee, allow access to detention facilities, and ensure protection and medical and legal care for female prisoners.
He also called for the suspension of military and security cooperation with the enemy until it complies with international standards. He called for support for rehabilitation programs and psychological and material compensation for victims, as well as official recognition of their experiences.
This report comes within the framework of joint efforts between the Return Center and "Tadamon" to document violations against Palestinian prisoners, push for accountability, and end impunity through international legal frameworks.
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