Gideon Levy: Israel is proud of its sadism and torture of the Palestinians | policy

In his article in Haaretz newspaper, leftist writer Gideon Levy believes that the return of the prisoners revealed the truth already known to everyone, which is that Israel’s poor treatment of Palestinian prisoners made the conditions experienced by the Israelis detained in the Gaza Strip worse, and it has now become clear that evil has a price.

He cites a report published by Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, yesterday, Wednesday, by writer Nadav Eyal, in which it was stated that the Israeli Internal Security Agency (Shin Bet) had warned since late 2024 that the statements of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and the media incitement were exacerbating the horrific conditions that the prisoners were suffering from, but no one cared about that.

In his article, Levy lists horrific evidence recently revealed by the British newspaper The Guardian in a report about 135 mutilated and dismembered bodies of Palestinian prisoners that were returned to the Gaza Strip, and next to each of them are notes indicating that they were being held in Sde Timan prison.

Pictures also show tied hands and signs of torture indicating death by suffocation and crushing under tank tracks.

The leftist writer adds that the released Palestinian prisoners – including doctors – arrived in Gaza exhausted and thin. Among them is Dr. Ahmed Muhanna, director of Al Awda Hospital in Jabalia Camp, who was arrested in December 2023 and released during the truce this week.

Levy quoted him as saying that he was transferred from one place to another during his arrest, including a place he described as being like a “dog cage” where Israeli soldiers mistreated him using terrifying dogs.

At that time, Israel was boasting about his detention conditions, according to the article, whose author adds that the Tel Aviv government today boasts of practicing sadism, torture, and ill-treatment of Palestinians.

The writer attributed these practices to the fact that the Israeli government understands what is going on in the hearts of its citizens, as “the majority of them are vindictive and bless torture.”

With the exception of organizations such as Doctors Without Borders, B’Tselem, and the Committee Against Torture, almost no one came out to speak out against what is happening, according to the Haaretz article.

The Israeli government understands what is going on in the hearts of its citizens. “The majority of them are vindictive and bless torture.”

Levy compares Israel’s mistreatment of Palestinians to the conditions in which Adolf Eichmann, one of the most famous Nazi Germans responsible for deporting Jews to death camps in Poland during World War II, was held.

It is clear that Eichmann was not subjected to any physical assault before he was executed by court order.

Levy believes that the general mood of retaliation, including calls to execute elite fighters of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), facilitated institutional complicity in the abuses.

The definition of who is considered “elite” includes anyone who dared to enter Israel on October 7, 2023. This week, Israeli journalist Ben Caspit even called for their execution.

The article warns that the Shin Bet, the Israel Prison Service, and the IDF have already begun working seriously on implementing this.

Levy concludes that the Israelis’ interest is only in the harm done to their prisoners, and “everything else is forgivable.”

He concludes by saying that the Israeli people often feel excited, proud, and appreciate the abuse, “because we wanted sadism, and we got it.”