Gaza officials said at least 135 Palestinian bodies returned by Israel came from the Sde Teiman detention center, a site already facing allegations of torture and unlawful deaths. Health authorities in Gaza reported that documents inside the body bags indicated they had all been held at the military base in the Negev desert.
The documents, written in Hebrew, confirmed that some of the remains had undergone DNA testing while at Sde Teiman. Photos and testimonies previously published described detainees being held in cages, blindfolded, handcuffed, shackled to hospital beds, and forced to wear nappies.
Dr Munir al-Bursh, director general of Gaza’s health ministry, said the findings point to widespread abuse. Doctors at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, where the bodies are being examined, said signs of murder, summary executions, and systematic torture were visible. Evidence included direct gunfire at close range and bodies crushed under tank tracks.
Eyad Barhoum, administrative director of Nasser medical complex, said the bodies carried no names, only codes. Identification processes are underway. While there is substantial evidence of executions, it is unclear whether all killings occurred at Sde Teiman, which also functions as a storage facility for bodies from Gaza. Human rights activists are calling for an independent investigation.
Some returned bodies showed clear marks of torture. Mahmoud Ismail Shabat, 34, from northern Gaza, had his hands tied, legs crushed, and visible signs of abuse. His brother identified him by a surgical scar on his head. Families expressed outrage over the state of the returned hostages.
Doctors said the blindfolds and bindings suggest many victims were tortured before death. Israeli media reports and whistleblower testimony have detailed harsh treatment at Sde Teiman, including detainees brought in from Gaza hospitals with injuries, handcuffed, blindfolded, and left naked. One detainee reportedly had a hand amputated due to gangrene caused by restraints.
Shadi Abu Seido, a Palestinian journalist previously detained at Sde Teiman, described being held naked for hours in the cold, handcuffed, and blindfolded for 100 days. He said detainees suffered physical and sexual abuse, and many died or lost mental capacity. Some had limbs amputated. Dogs were used to humiliate prisoners.
Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHR) said the signs of abuse on the returned bodies corroborate previous reports of systematic torture and killings at Sde Teiman. PHR called for an urgent independent international investigation to hold responsible parties accountable.
Israeli authorities said the Israel Defense Forces asked the Israel Prison Service to investigate the allegations. The military stated that any misconduct allegations are reviewed and, if necessary, criminal investigations are opened. The IDF declined to comment specifically on whether the bodies came from Sde Teiman.
Since 7 October 2023, at least 75 Palestinian detainees have died in Israeli jails, according to the UN. Gaza officials said the findings on the returned bodies highlight the need for independent forensic investigation and accountability for detainee deaths.
