In a recent report, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Israeli forces of engaging in inhumane treatment of Palestinian detainees, including children, by publishing degrading photographs and videos. This practice, according to the international human rights organization, amounts to war crimes.
The report released by HRW details instances where detainees were stripped of their clothing, sometimes completely, before being photographed or filmed. These images were subsequently shared by Israeli soldiers, media outlets, and activists. HRW's acting Middle East director, Balkees Jarrah, stated that "Israeli authorities have for months turned a blind eye as members of their military published dehumanizing fully or seminude images and videos of Palestinians in their custody."
HRW analyzed 37 posts depicting captured Palestinians, primarily men and boys from Gaza and the West Bank. The images often showed detainees stripped to their underwear or completely naked, handcuffed, blindfolded, and sometimes injured. Some posts included demeaning captions by Israeli soldiers or journalists.
One particularly concerning case involved an Israeli soldier, reportedly holding US citizenship, who published at least seven photos and videos of Palestinian men detained by his unit in the West Bank between October 25 and December 28. In some instances, the soldier was seen placing US dollar bills on the knees of handcuffed and blindfolded detainees, mocking them and forcing them to repeat phrases in Hebrew.
While Israeli military officials have publicly denounced some of their members for publishing these images, HRW reports that the government has not publicly condemned the underlying treatment of Palestinian detainees depicted in the images. As of the report's release, no prosecutions for these crimes have been announced by judicial authorities.
The organization emphasizes that forced nudity followed by capturing and sharing sexualized images on social media is a form of sexual violence and constitutes a war crime under international law. HRW calls for urgent investigation into any evidence of sexual violence, stressing the need for justice and accountability for the victims.
As this situation continues to unfold, it raises serious questions about the treatment of detainees in conflict zones and the responsibility of military forces to uphold international human rights standards.
