Systematic Abuse and Torture in Israeli Detention Revealed by CPJ Research

A Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) special report published on February 19, 2026, documents extensive allegations of torture, abuse, and mistreatment experienced by Palestinian journalists while held in Israeli custody since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza conflict in October 2023. The investigation draws on detailed interviews with 59 Palestinian journalists who were released from detention and adds to mounting international concern over the treatment of media workers imprisoned amid the region’s prolonged hostilities.

The report, titled We returned from hell, reveals that 58 out of the 59 journalists interviewed described suffering severe physical and psychological violence during their detention. Their testimonies paint a consistent picture of systematic mistreatment rather than isolated incidents. Accounts include prolonged beatings that resulted in lasting bodily harm, starvation, denial of basic medical care, psychological torture and threats, exposure to incessant loud noise, and incidents of sexual violence. CPJ researchers also reviewed corroborating evidence when available, such as photographs, medical records, and legal documents, to substantiate aspects of the testimonies.

According to CPJ’s documentation, at least 94 Palestinian journalists and one media worker were detained during the conflict period covered by the report, with 32 from Gaza, 60 from the West Bank, and two within Israel. As of mid-February 2026, thirty of those individuals remained in custody. Many were held under administrative detention, a process that allows for imprisonment without formal charges or trial — a practice that human rights advocates have criticised as arbitrary and punitive.

CPJ’s research underscores the broader risks faced by journalists in conflict zones, noting that the number of journalists jailed by Israeli authorities has increased dramatically in recent years, even as global press freedom advocates continue to monitor and push for accountability. The testimonies collected for this report suggest that punitive treatment of journalists in detention may form part of a pattern of repression of independent reporting during wartime.

The report’s release calls on the international community to examine these claims thoroughly and ensure accountability under international humanitarian law, which prohibits torture and inhumane treatment of detainees. By highlighting the experiences of journalists subjected to violence and deprivation, the CPJ aims to draw sustained global attention to risks to press freedom and the protection of media workers in conflict and occupation contexts.

‘We returned from hell’_ Palestinian journalists recount torture in Israeli prisons – Committee to Protect Journalists