Warning: Story contains graphic, disturbing photos.

Palestinian health care workers detained by the Israeli military are revealing the horrifying, and in some cases deadly, abuse and torture they say they faced at the hands of soldiers while in custody further deteriorating Gazas health care system thats already crumbling under Israels nearly yearlong siege.

A report published Monday by Human Rights Watch , a nonprofit organization that reports on crises around the world, included testimony from doctors, nurses and paramedics who said they faced humiliation, beatings, forced stress positions, prolonged cuffing, blindfolding and denial of medical care while in Israeli custody. These specific health care workers, now released, also described torture that included rape and sexual abuse by Israeli forces, and inhumane living conditions for the general prison population. Their testimonies are consistent with other reports about Israels inhumane treatment of detainees.

The Israeli governments mistreatment of Palestinian health care workers has continued in the shadows and needs to immediately stop, Balkees Jarrah, HRWs acting Middle East director, said in a statement earlier this week. The torture and other ill-treatment of doctors, nurses and paramedics should be thoroughly investigated and appropriately punished, including by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Israeli officials have denied inhumane treatment of detainees, maintaining that the prisoners are members of Hamas. In rare cases, the military launches an investigation into itself or into individual soldiers, which historically has not resulted in accountability .

Israels targeting of Palestinian health care workers shot up after soldiers launched its military offensive in Gaza as a response to the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants who killed about 1,200 and took hundreds hostage, about 100 of whom remain in captivity. The Israeli military has since killed more than 40,000 people in Gaza and decimated the strip while allegedly torturing its captives in shadowy military bases actions that the international community has largely described as genocidal.

The Degradation In Israels Arrests Of Health Care Workers