Israeli captives in Gaza tortured and detained in tunnels
A source which is close to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that all captives from Israel in Gaza are being detained in tunnels, Middle East Eye reported on April 6th, amid recent claims of torture from Gazans, who were under Israeli detention.
Speaking to Haaretz, the source said that Israel’s forces have captured 40% of Gaza and are achieving major progress. The source suggested that President Donald Trump would not put pressure on Netanyahu to stop the conflict.
Previously, Donald Trump issued Hamas a final ultimatum to evacuate and threatened further destruction in Gaza if all hostages are not released. He said: “This is your last warning! Leadership, leave Gaza now while you can.”
The source disclosed plans for three units to deal with key Lebanese matters. The matters are Israel’s refusal to leave five areas, Lebanese prisoners detained in Israel and the 13 points under dispute which are along the Blue Line, marking the Israel-Lebanon border.
Recently released Palestinian captives in Gaza have spoken out about mistreatment and torture by Israeli military and prison staff.
Five of the released captives, in conversation with the BBC, affirmed the Israeli torture directed at prisoners. The five detainees detailed various assaults, including chemical burns, and the use of electric shocks in detention. Israeli authorities accused the men of links to Hamas and questioned them about tunnels and hostage locations. They were among around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees swapped for 33 Israeli hostages.
On January 19th, Hamas freed three Israeli hostages while Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners under the 2025 ceasefire deal.
The IDF has made a statement declaring Israel “completely rejects accusations of systematic abuse of detainees.”
Dr Lawrence Hill-Cawthorne, co-director of the Centre for International Law at the University of Bristol said the treatment of the five captives is “entirely inconsistent with both international law and Israeli law.”
“Under international law, the law of armed conflict requires you to treat all detainees humanely,” he added, “”The obligations relating to the basic needs of detainees are unaffected by any alleged wrongdoing.”
BBC, Middle East Eye
