Palestinians detained and tortured by Israeli soldiers in Gaza have shared how they were subjected to mistreatment at every stage. After being released from Israeli prisons, Palestinians who returned to Gaza revealed their harrowing experiences of torture and abuse to the British press. In conversations with BBC, five released Palestinians stated they were subjected to torture and mistreatment by Israeli forces and guards while being detained.

Electric shocks were given, heads were forced into chemical substances.” Palestinian technician Mohammad Abu Tawileh, aged 36, recounted being attacked with chemicals and set on fire. Tawileh described how he had to roll around to put out the fire on his body. The Israeli “Illegal Combatants Law” allows individuals suspected of posing a security risk to be detained indefinitely without any charges. The Gazans interviewed by the BBC claimed they were held in prison based on allegations of their connections with Hamas.

All of them said their clothes were removed, their eyes, hands, and feet were tied, and they were beaten. Some Palestinians mentioned being given electric shocks, intimidated with dogs, and denied access to medical care. Some of the Gazans witnessed others dying in custody, while one person reported witnessing a sexual abuse incident. Another former detainee from Gaza said his head was dunked into chemicals, and his back was set on fire. When reached for comment, the Israeli army denied the systematic abuse allegations, stating that they will be reviewed by relevant authorities, while some were deemed lacking evidence.

“Subjected to Mistreatment at Every Stage” The five Palestinians, who were part of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between Israel and Hamas but violated by Israel earlier this year, spoke of how they were detained in Gaza, held in military barracks before being taken to prison, and eventually released to Gaza months later, emphasizing the mistreatment they endured at each stage of the process.

All five men said the mistreatment started the moment they were detained, with their clothes removed, eyes blindfolded, and beaten. Mohammad Abu Tawileh shared that he was tortured for days.

“Used Room Spray to Set My Back on Fire” According to Tawileh, Israeli soldiers took the Palestinian man to a building not far from where he was arrested in March 2024. Tawileh was the only one detained there and was interrogated by Israeli soldiers for three days. The soldiers mixed cleaning chemicals in a bowl and dipped the Palestinian man’s head into the mixture. Tawileh recounted being punched by his interrogators, which caused him to fall onto rubble, injuring his eye. They placed a cloth over his eye, which ended up worsening the wound. Tawileh also claimed that Israeli soldiers set him on fire using room spray, causing burns all over his body. He said they repeatedly hit him with the bottom of their rifles and used sticks to beat him. He also said that acid was poured on him for one and a half days, and he was eventually doused with water by the soldiers while sitting on a chair.

“Was Tied Naked to Bed in Hospital” Tawileh mentioned that a large part of his treatment took place at a field hospital in the Sde Teiman military base, where he was tied naked to a bed and given diapers instead of being taken to the toilet. BBC reported that Tawileh still had redness on his back soon after being released. A doctor who examined Tawileh upon his return to Gaza confirmed chemical burns around his eyes and damage to the surrounding skin. The doctor also noted that the Palestinian man’s vision was diminished, possibly due to chemicals or other trauma.

“Israeli Soldiers Also Used Dogs” Abdul Karim Mushtaha, a 33-year-old slaughterhouse worker released from an Israeli prison, said he was tied up, beaten, and not given water. Mushtaha, who was detained by Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint while traveling with his family after the evacuation order, claimed he was subjected to violent beatings, humiliating treatment, and verbal abuse before being transferred to prison. Two Palestinians mentioned being left outside in the cold for hours, with their belongings being stolen by Israeli soldiers.

Of the five Palestinians who spoke to the BBC, three mentioned being intimidated with dogs by Israeli soldiers, and they also revealed being forced to kneel from 5:00 am to 6:00 pm on some days.