THE United Nations human rights office issued a report today saying Palestinians detained by Israeli authorities since the October 7 attacks faced waterboarding, sleep deprivation, electric shocks, the release of dogs and other forms of torture and mistreatment.

The report said that Israel’s prison service held more than 9,400 “security detainees” as of the end of June, and some have been held in secret without access to lawyers or respect for their legal rights.

A summary of the report, based on interviews with former detainees and other sources, said there was a “staggering” number of detainees — including men, women, children, journalists and human rights defenders — and said such practices raise concerns about arbitrary detention.

UN human rights chief Volker Turk said: “The testimonies indicate a range of appalling acts, such as waterboarding and the release of dogs on detainees, amongst other acts, in flagrant violation of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.”

Findings in the report could be used by International Criminal Court prosecutors who are looking into crimes committed in connection with Hamas’s October 7 attacks and Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza.

The report also said that detainees were taken from Gaza, Israel and the West Bank, and says Israel has not provided information regarding the fate or whereabouts of many, adding that the International Committee of the Red Cross has been denied access to facilities where they are held.

“Their testimonies told of prolonged blindfolding, deprivation of food, sleep and water, and being subjected to electric shocks and being burnt with cigarettes,” a summary of the report said.

“Some detainees said that dogs were released on them, and others said they were subjected to waterboarding, or that their hands were tied and they were suspended from the ceiling,” it said. 

Authors of the report said its content was shared with the Israeli government. There was no immediate comment from Israeli authorities.