The backlash to revelations of sexual torture of Palestinian prisoners aims to raise the cost of speaking out | Yuli Novak

B'Tselem, the Israeli human rights organization, has documented allegations of systematic sexual torture of Palestinian detainees in Israeli custody, including forced nudity, beatings, and sexual assault, with testimonies from released prisoners describing abuse at facilities including Sde Teiman and Negev prison. The organization's executive director, Yuli Novak, argues that Israel's response to recent New York Times reporting on these allegations—including dismissing accounts as "Hamas propaganda" and threatening legal action—reflects a broader effort to suppress documentation of abuse and deny Palestinian humanity.