Unpublished UN investigation accuses Israel of abusing Gazan detainees, report says

An unpublished investigation conducted by the United Nations’ agency for Palestinian matters has accused Israel of mistreating hundreds of Gazans detained during the war since 7 October, a report obtained by The New York Times revealed.

The report, prepared by Unrwa (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) claims that hundreds of Gazans were improperly detained by Israel during the conflict.

The report accuses Israel of holding the detainees, including at least 1,000 civilians who were later released without any charges, at three military locations within Israel, the Times reported.

The report said that the detainees encompassed both genders, with ages varying from 6 to 82 years. According to the report, some individuals died while in custody.

The draft document describes “a range of ill-treatment that Gazans of all ages, abilities and backgrounds have reported facing in makeshift detention facilities in Israel.”Such treatment, the report concluded, “was used to extract information or confessions, to intimidate and humiliate, and to punish.”