An Israeli detention center in the Negev desert has been accused of subjecting Palestinian detainees to extreme physical restraint, neglect, and abuse. Three Israeli whistleblowers who worked at the Sde Teiman desert camp have come forward to share their experiences, describing a facility where detainees are held in harsh conditions, subjected to physical and psychological abuse, and denied basic human rights.
The whistleblowers, who spoke to CNN at risk of legal repercussions and reprisals, described a facility where detainees are held in enclosures, blindfolded, and handcuffed, with some being stripped down to their underwear and held in diapers. They alleged that guards would unleash large dogs on sleeping detainees, lobbing sound grenades as troops barged in, and that medical procedures were performed by underqualified medics, sometimes without anesthesia.
One whistleblower, a medic who worked at the facility's field hospital, described the conditions as "total vulnerability" and "psychological torture." Another whistleblower said he was ordered to perform medical procedures outside his expertise, including amputations, and that detainees were given paracetamol for pain.
The Israeli military has responded to the allegations, stating that the IDF ensures proper conduct towards detainees and that any allegations of misconduct are examined and dealt with accordingly. However, the whistleblowers' accounts, along with reports from former detainees and rights groups, paint a disturbing picture of abuse and neglect at the Sde Teiman facility.
The facility is one of three military detention camps set up by Israel to hold Palestinian detainees from Gaza, and is part of the infrastructure of Israel's Unlawful Combatants Law, which permits the military to detain people for 45 days without an arrest warrant. The law has been criticized by rights groups for its broad definition of "unlawful combatant" and its potential for abuse.
The allegations of abuse at Sde Teiman have sparked outrage and calls for accountability, with Israeli and Palestinian rights groups demanding an investigation into the facility's conditions and treatment of detainees. The Israeli government has faced criticism for its handling of the conflict in Gaza, with allegations of war crimes and human rights abuses.
The whistleblowers' accounts serve as a rare glimpse into the inner workings of Israel's military detention system, and highlight the need for greater transparency and accountability. As the conflict in Gaza continues, it is essential that allegations of abuse and neglect are thoroughly investigated, and that those responsible are held accountable.
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