De Facto State Policy Of Organised, Widespread Torture: UN Committee Against Torture On Israel
The United Nations Committee Against Torture has sharply criticised Israel for what it described as a “de facto State policy of organised and widespread torture and ill-treatment”, warning that such practices have intensified since the events of October 7, 2023. The statement came as the Committee concluded its eighty-third session in Geneva on November 28, during which it reviewed the human rights records of four countries — Albania, Argentina, Bahrain and Israel.
Committee Chairperson Claude Heller read out excerpts from the panel’s concluding observations, which contained pointed criticism of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians and the conduct of its ongoing military operations. While unequivocally condemning the October 7 attacks by Hamas and other groups, the Committee said Israel’s response had been “disproportionate”, resulting in “massive loss of life and profound suffering for the Palestinian people”.
According to the Committee, multiple reports indicate a systematic pattern of torture and ill-treatment affecting detainees, particularly in the occupied Palestinian territories. It said this pattern appeared to reflect an organised approach tolerated or implemented by State authorities, rather than isolated abuses. The Committee further expressed concern that Israeli policies have produced “cruel, inhuman or degrading circumstances of life” for the civilian population, particularly in Gaza.
The Committee urged Israel to establish an independent investigatory commission to review all allegations of torture and ill-treatment arising from the current conflict. It called for immediate facilitation of humanitarian aid and unimpeded access for aid workers into Gaza, noting that the humanitarian crisis had reached critical levels. The experts also voiced concern over continuing settler violence in the West Bank and Israel’s use of administrative detention, which allows for imprisonment without charge or trial.
Turning to other reviews during the session, the Committee addressed serious issues in Albania, Argentina and Bahrain. On Albania, it raised alarm over the lack of reliable data and effective investigations into police brutality and ill-treatment. It also criticised the controversial 2023 Protocol between Albania and Italy concerning migrant detention centres operated by Italian authorities on Albanian soil, urging both states to ensure full compliance with the Convention against Torture.
In Argentina, the Committee denounced the prolonged detention of individuals in police stations and the substandard conditions of confinement. It noted reports of detainees held for over a year in overcrowded facilities. The panel called on the Argentine authorities to end such practices and to revise police regulations on the use of force to align with international standards.
The Committee’s review of Bahrain again raised longstanding concerns. It referred to “consistent reports” that torture remained routinely used to extract confessions and that human rights defenders, journalists and political opponents faced systematic reprisals. The Committee urged Bahrain to ensure that any evidence obtained through torture is inadmissible in court and that such allegations are promptly and impartially investigated.
The Committee Against Torture, a body of ten independent experts, monitors compliance with the 1984 Convention prohibiting torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. Its latest conclusions underscore growing international concern over the humanitarian and human rights implications of Israel’s actions following the October 2023 attacks.
