Two Former Palestinian Detainees Allege Sexual Abuse by Israeli Prison Guards

Two Palestinians released from Israeli prisons have alleged that they were sexually assaulted by prison guards during their detention, according to interviews broadcast by the BBC on Friday.

The men, who were held in Israeli custody in 2024, described separate incidents of abuse that they say occurred while they were imprisoned. The Israel Prison Service (IPS) has denied being aware of the allegations and said it operates in accordance with the law.

Allegations by Former Administrative Detainee

One of the men, Sami al-Sa'i, 46, told the BBC that he was assaulted by several guards while held at Megiddo prison in March 2024. Al-Sa'i was arrested by the Israel Defense Forces in January 2024 after assisting journalists in arranging interviews with members of Hamas and other Palestinian groups.

He was held for 16 months under administrative detention — a policy that allows imprisonment without formal charge — before being released last summer.

In his interview, al-Sa'i said the alleged assault involved multiple guards and was accompanied by severe physical violence. He said the experience caused him lasting physical and psychological harm and that he felt overwhelmed by pain during and after the incident.

Second Former Prisoner Describes Separate Incident

Another former detainee, identified by the BBC only as Ahmed, said he was abused while serving a one-year sentence in an Israeli prison. He was arrested in January 2024 on suspicion of incitement after posting messages on social media praising the October 7 Hamas attack.

Ahmed alleged that several guards took him to a prison shower area, where he was stripped and assaulted. He also said a police dog was brought into the room and that he was beaten repeatedly during his detention.

He told the BBC that he does not have medical documentation to support his claims.

Israel Prison Service Response

In response to the allegations made by al-Sa'i, the Israel Prison Service said it “acts in accordance with the law, while ensuring the safety, well-being and rights of all prisoners under its responsibility.”

The IPS added that it was not aware of the incidents described and stated that, to the best of its knowledge, no such events occurred under its authority. The agency did not respond to questions about whether internal investigations had been opened or whether medical records related to the claims exist.

The IPS did not comment publicly on the allegations made by Ahmed.

The allegations come amid increased international scrutiny of detention conditions for Palestinians held by Israel since the outbreak of the Gaza war following the October 7 attacks. Human rights organizations have raised concerns about the treatment of detainees on both sides of the conflict, while Israeli authorities have repeatedly denied systemic abuse.

No independent investigation findings related to the specific allegations reported by the BBC have been made public so far.