GENEVA/RAMALLAH - A United Nations (UN) independent expert said on Monday that Israel has long carried out systematic torture against Palestinians, which has now become Israel's "state doctrine".
Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, said in a report submitted to the UN Human Rights Council that under long-standing "impunity and political cover," Israel's systematic torture of Palestinians has become "a defining instrument of ongoing genocide in the occupied Palestinian territory."
She noted that Israel operates "a regime of organized humiliation, pain and degradation, sanctioned at the highest political levels," and added that "a system that has long been used to dominate, degrade and break Palestinians has evolved and hardened into state doctrine."
The UN Committee against Torture condemned Israel in November last year for its "policy of organized and widespread torture and ill-treatment during the reporting period, which had gravely intensified since Oct 7, 2023."
Albanese urged Israel to immediately cease all acts of torture and ill-treatment, grant access to international investigators and humanitarian organizations, and ensure accountability for those responsible.
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In July 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on Albanese, citing her efforts to push the International Criminal Court to take legal action against US and Israeli officials and companies. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' spokesperson called the US sanctions unacceptable, warning that they set a dangerous precedent.
Dangerous situation in West Bank
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday warned of the dangerous situation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and called for the conclusion of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
Israeli authorities' plans to implement the "Greater Israel" project pose a threat to the entire region and the world, undermine the entire political process, and violate UN resolutions and international law, Abbas said in a phone call with his Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA.
Calling for an international stance to compel Israel to abandon its destructive policies, Abbas stressed the need for a comprehensive international conference to achieve peace, stability, and security in the region, including ending the occupation and enabling the Palestinian people to achieve their freedom and independence.
Abbas welcomed the Gaza peace plan and UN Security Council Resolution 2803 to halt the war and alleviate the Palestinians' suffering, adding, "We also welcomed Indonesia's participation in promoting stability and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip."
Gaza is an integral part of the State of Palestine, he said, urging halting Israeli violations targeting civilians in Gaza.
For his part, Subianto affirmed Indonesia's steadfast support for the Palestinian people and their just cause, and voiced its willingness to continue coordination with Palestine regarding Gaza's reconstruction.
Gaza's health authorities said Monday that the death toll since Oct 7, 2023, has risen to 72,263, with 171,944 wounded. The authorities added that the death toll since a ceasefire came into effect in October 2025 has reached 687, with 1,845 injuries.
