Inside the Sde Teiman Detention Camp: A Culture of Systematic Abuse

The testimonies, published by Haaretz, reveal a landscape where abuse was not merely an anomaly but a normalized daily practice. Medical staff reported seeing prisoners forced to eat through straws and rely on diapers for sanitation, while reservists recounted acts of physical brutality, including broken bones and the use of attack dogs. One physician noted that the atmosphere fostered a total detachment from the humanity of the captives, often justified by officers who explicitly instructed staff that the detainees were not to be viewed as people.

Much of the violence, according to those interviewed, occurred in plain sight, suggesting that the abuse was neither covert nor hidden from camp leadership. While some personnel expressed internal conflict and guilt over their participation, others reportedly adopted a culture of sadism and vengeance. This latest evidence aligns with ongoing United Nations investigations into allegations of war crimes, including sexual torture and the deaths of at least 36 detainees at the site. Despite the mounting reports, UN special rapporteur Alice Jill Edwards emphasized that criminal proceedings must remain unhindered, asserting that no individual is immune from prosecution for acts of torture.