Lawyer recounts visit to Israeli detention center

The horrors unfolding within the Sde Teiman detention center in Israel, as depicted in the harrowing accounts of Khaled Mahajneh, paint a grim picture of the appalling human rights violations inflicted upon Palestinian detainees. This facility, described as worse than Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo, detains over 4,000 Palestinians arrested in Gaza since October 7. While some detainees have been released, most remain in captivity under conditions that defy basic human dignity.

Upon Mahajneh’s arrival at the base, the lawyer for Muhammad Arab—a journalist detained while covering the Israeli siege of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza—encountered an unnerving and unprecedented protocol. Transported by an army jeep to a heavily guarded trailer, Mahajneh was exposed to a scene of shocking neglect and brutality. Arab, after 100 days of detention, was nearly unrecognizable, his appearance drastically altered by filth and deprivation. Denied new clothes for months and subjected to degrading conditions, Arab’s plight highlights the abysmal treatment meted out to detainees.

The detainees at Sde Teiman endure unimaginable hardships. They are blindfolded, bound, and forced to sleep on the floor without bedding. Their iron handcuffs are only removed during a weekly minute-long shower, a duration so brief that many prisoners forgo it to avoid severe punishments. The diet provided is wholly inadequate, contributing to deteriorating health conditions, and basic sanitation supplies are scarce, exacerbating the prisoners’ suffering. This environment is designed to strip detainees of their humanity and inflict continuous psychological and physical torment.

Adding to this nightmare, detainees are isolated from one another and forbidden to engage in any form of communication or religious practice. Reports of sexual violence are rampant, with guards allegedly using sticks and dogs to assault prisoners, further dehumanizing them. Such acts of violence are not aimed at extracting information but are seen as punitive measures, a form of revenge for the October 7 events and behavior within the camp. The cruelty extends to medical treatment, where detainees with severe injuries from Gaza are forced to endure amputations and bullet removals without anesthesia, performed by inadequately trained staff.

Legal defense teams and human rights organizations are largely barred from intervening or even visiting the facility, preventing any meaningful oversight or accountability. Despite assurances from the Israeli military denying these allegations and promising investigations, the reality on the ground remains dire. Testimonies from released prisoners and medical personnel reveal a systemic pattern of abuse and neglect, underscoring the urgent need for international intervention.

The plight of the detainees at Sde Teiman is a haunting reminder of the brutal realities faced by many Palestinians. Their stories call for a global outcry and action to address these egregious violations of human rights. The international community must heed their pleas for justice and work towards ending the inhumane conditions in which they are held.

Story Source: Baker Zoubi with +972 Magazine
https://www.972mag.com/sde-teiman-prisoners-lawyer-mahajneh/