הוועד הציבורי נגד עינויים בישראל

A new report by the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI) and Physicians for Human Rights – Israel (PHR) based on over 100 complaints reveals that medical professionals are involved in torture and in covering it up, in violation of ethical obligations.

This petition deals with the Attorney General’s complete abstention from ordering the opening of criminal investigations against GSS interrogators suspected of torture and/or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment (hereinafter: “ill-treatment”) of interrogees.

A new report by PCATI exposes an intolerable reality. Israeli authorities systematically prevent investigations of complaints of torture against General Security Service (GSS) interrogators. 

Special issue of PCATI's newsletter marking 10 years since the "Torture Ruling".

On 6 July 2009, the High Court of Justice rejected the contempt of court motion filed by PCATI, HaMoked and ACRI on the violation of the HCJ judgement on torture of September 1999.

The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI) this morning petitioned the High Court of Justice demanding that it order the GSS to refrain from using shackling as an interrogation tool and, particularly, to refrain from shackling interrogees in degrading positions or in positions that cause pain, suffering, or that constitute torture.

A variety of agencies in Israel – chief among them the GSS and the IDF – shackle detainees in painful ways that amount to torture and ill treatment.This is done in violation of Israeli law, basic moral principles and international law, including international human rights conventions  signed by Israel. The primary victims of this practice are Palestinian ‘security’ detainees.

Following international pressure, the Israel Medical Association (IMA) decided to investigate allegations of the involvement of physicians in the torture and ill treatment of Palestinian detainees and the fact that these cases were not reported.

The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI), the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) and HaMoked, the Center for the Defence of the Individual (HaMoked) filed a contempt of court motion to the High Court of Justice against the government of Israel and its head, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and against the General Security Service (GSS) and its head Yuval Diskin for their responsibility for the policy that grants a-priori permits to use torture in interrogation that fundamentally violates the High Court of Justice decision of September1999

6.9.99

High Court Judgment on the case against torture in Israel