Israeli lawmaker says rape of Palestinian prisoners is “legitimate”

As reports of rape being used as torture for Palestinian prisoners have emerged, an Israeli lawmaker justified the sexual abuse, declaring it “legitimate.”

During a meeting, Palestinian lawmaker Ahmad Tibi asked member of the Israeli Knesset, Hanoch Milwidsky, if inflicting severe sexual abuse on detainees was justified.

"Yes! If he is a Nukhba (a Hamas unit), everything is legitimate to do to him," Milwidsky replied.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) received reports of torture at the Sde Teiman base and expressed concerns about the ill-treatment of detainees, who were reportedly urinated on, subjected to sexual abuse, and attacked by dogs.

“This included being subjected to beatings while made to lie on a thin mattress on top of rubble for hours without food, water, or access to a toilet, with their legs and hands bound with plastic ties. Several detainees reported being forced into cages and attacked by dogs. Some released detainees, including a child, had dog bite wounds on their bodies," the report revealed.

A New York Times investigation included interviews with former detainees, Israeli officials, and doctors, who painted a graphic picture of the mental and physical torture occurring inside the makeshift prison.

Prisoners reported being stripped naked during interrogations by the occupation army.

The Israeli Supreme Court is hearing arguments on a petition to close the site, and the IDF has already started transporting prisoners to the occupied West Bank.

One account from 39-year-old senior nurse Muhammad Al-Hamlawi mentioned that a female officer ordered soldiers to sexually abuse him with metal rods.

Riots emerged in Israel on Monday after far-right settlers stormed two army bases to free Israeli soldiers who are under arrest on charges of sexually abusing a Palestinian inmate.