Syrians Allege Torture and Abuse in Israeli Detention Facilities
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Syrian former detainees and their families are alleging torture and abuse by Israeli forces in detention facilities, including being denied sleep and held in stress positions. Ali al-Abdallah, detained for over five months, described harsh conditions and lack of ventilation. Human rights groups have documented similar claims. The IDF stated its presence in the buffer zone is for border security and denied mistreatment allegations, refusing to comment on specific cases without proper identification.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Syrian detainees allege torture, sleep deprivation, and stress positions in Israeli facilities.
- Ali al-Abdallah, detained for over five months, described harsh conditions and isolation.
- Human rights groups report physical and verbal abuse of Syrian detainees by Israeli forces.
- Families of detainees express despair as their appeals for information go unanswered.
- The IDF denies mistreatment allegations and cites border security needs for its actions.
Former Syrian detainees and their families have accused Israeli forces of severe mistreatment, including torture, isolation, and inhumane conditions, in detention facilities. Ali al-Abdallah, 20, who was held for over five months last year after being arrested in a Syrian village, described being denied sleep and forced to sit in stress positions for days. He claims he was beaten and held in isolation without ever being charged.
According to an AP report, al-Abdallah is among dozens of Syrians apprehended by the IDF in the buffer zone following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad nearly two years ago. Human rights organizations report that many detainees have suffered physical and verbal abuse during raids, arrests, and within Israeli prisons. Israel's control of the buffer zone in December 2024 has caused anger in Syria, particularly among families living in or near the area.
Families of detainees express feelings of hopelessness, stating their appeals to the Syrian government and the UN for information have gone unanswered. Huda Bakr, mother of Kin'an, who was detained last year and hasn't been heard from since, said, "We are left to cling to hope in God, and pray he will reunite us with our son." Kin'an has been held for approximately 15 months.
Syrian government officials and UN investigators have accused Israel of human rights violations, reporting that 49 Syrians have been detained since December 2024, with 16 released. The Syrian Justice and Accountability Center (SJAC) has documented claims from former detainees and witnesses of deplorable treatment and torture, including being held in stress positions and threatened with firearms.
Al-Abdallah recounted his arrest in June 2025, detailing his transfer between facilities and his time in isolation where he experienced "no ventilation, only light." He stated he was only allowed out of handcuffs for a few minutes daily to eat and was forbidden from sleeping, forced to sit upright for seven days straight. Wadi' Bakr, detained for about 15 months, and al-Abdallah also mentioned being held at Ofer Prison and later transferred to Shadeh Teyman.
Hassan Sa'ad Allah, father of 16-year-old Saddam Sa'ad Allah who was allegedly arrested by IDF soldiers while working in an olive grove, claims Israeli soldiers are preventing him from accessing his farmland. He also stated that bulldozers destroyed 10 to 12 dunams of olive groves and an animal stable. The IDF responded that its presence in the buffer zone is necessary for border defense against Hezbollah and that soldiers investigate and detain suspects with reasonable suspicion of involvement in terrorism. The IDF denied allegations of mistreatment and refused to comment on specific cases, citing the lack of Syrian ID numbers from detainees and their families.
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