Wed Feb 26 09:32:27 UTC 2025: ## Israeli Forces Accused of Widespread Torture and Abuse of Palestinian Healthcare Workers
**Gaza City** – A new report by Physicians for Human Rights – Israel (PHRI) details horrific accounts of torture, sexual abuse, and humiliation inflicted upon over 250 Palestinian healthcare workers detained by Israeli forces during and after the recent conflict in Gaza. The report, titled “Torture of Medical Workers in Israel,” includes testimonies from 24 medics, all of whom claim arbitrary detention without charge or credible evidence.
Among those interviewed was Dr. Khaled Alserr, a 33-year-old surgeon who described being forced to strip naked in public, tied up, and subjected to repeated interrogations focusing not on any alleged crime, but on information that could aid Israel’s military operations – a clear violation of the Geneva Conventions. He detailed being beaten, threatened with hanging, and enduring months of detention without charge. His tearful reunion with his family after six months of captivity was captured on video.
Other testimonies paint a grim picture of systematic abuse. Doctors and nurses report being beaten, threatened, forced into stress positions for hours, and subjected to psychological torment, including threats against their families. Multiple accounts detail the use of military dogs to intimidate and assault detainees. Several medics allege sexual violence and humiliation. One dentist recounted being threatened with finger amputation. A senior surgeon described being forced to bark like a dog while soldiers watched and laughed.
PHRI spokesperson Najji Abbas stated that the interrogations were “a fishing mission,” designed to extract intelligence, rather than based on any legitimate accusations. He highlighted the illegality of these actions under international humanitarian law, emphasizing the protected status of healthcare workers.
The report underscores a pattern of abuse documented by other organizations, including Human Rights Watch (HRW), which last year called for an International Criminal Court investigation. The UN Special Rapporteur, Francesca Albanese, even raised concerns about a doctor, Dr. Adnan al-Bursh, who was reportedly “likely raped to death” while in Israeli custody. A UN human rights office report also linked the mass detention of healthcare workers to the collapse of Gaza’s already fragile healthcare system.
The PHRI report concludes that the abuse inflicted on Palestinian healthcare workers is not isolated, but rather a matter of policy, leaving lasting physical and psychological scars on the victims. The international community is urged to investigate these allegations and hold those responsible accountable. Dr. Alserr’s concluding words, reflecting the profound trauma endured by himself and his colleagues, resonate with the urgency of the situation: “I hurt deeply… I know I will not heal completely.”
First Piper 