This article contains descriptions of sexual abuse and violence which some readers may find distressing.
Two Palestinian men have told the BBC they personally experienced the kind of beatings and sexual abuse highlighted in recent reports into the treatment of prisoners in Israeli detention.
The United Nations Committee against Torture said last month that it was deeply concerned about reports indicating a de facto state policy of organised and widespread torture and ill treatment of Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails. It said the allegations had gravely intensified after the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023.
Other reports by Israeli and Palestinian rights groups have detailed what they say is systematic abuse.
Israel has denied all the allegations, but rights groups say the fury in the country over the 7 October attacks and the treatment of Israeli hostages in Gaza has created a culture of impunity within the prison services, especially towards detainees who have expressed support for Hamas and its attacks.
Last year, leaked CCTV footage from inside an Israeli military prison showed a Palestinian man from Gaza allegedly being sexually abused by prison guards, leading to a resignation and recriminations at the top of Israel's military and political establishment.
Sami al-Saei, 46, now works in a furniture shop, but he used to be a freelance journalist in Tulkarm, West Bank. He was arrested in January 2024 and claims guards raped him while he was detained under a controversial administrative detention law. He describes the assault and the culture of violence in the prison, noting that he was often subjected to beatings.
Ahmed, another detainee who was accused of incitement to terrorism, shared allegations of sexual abuse as well, detailing how he was forced into humiliating situations during his detention.
Amidst growing evidence and recent testimonies, human rights organizations have called for accountability, while Israeli officials maintain their processes are aligned with the law.
