Human rights organizations, legal representatives, and former prisoners report a significant increase in the mistreatment of Palestinian detainees following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. Allegations of torture, sexual assault, and food deprivation have surfaced, suggesting that such abuses have become a frequent occurrence within the detention system.

Military facilities like Sde Teiman have been used as initial detention sites for Palestinians from Gaza. After enduring weeks or even months of confinement, individuals alleged to have militant affiliations are often transferred to the Israeli prison system, while others are released without charges after enduring severe abuse and interrogation, according to testimonies gathered from those who have been released.

Former detainees from Sde Teiman recount experiences of physical beatings, denial of medical treatment, and being forced into humiliating positions, such as kneeling while handcuffed and blindfolded for extended periods. Investigations have revealed the camp's brutal structure, with detainees held in enclosed spaces, some suffering from severe injuries due to excessively tight restraints, and others being kept in a field hospital under degrading conditions.

Naji Abbas, director of the prisoners and detainees department at Physicians for Human Rights Israel, noted that interviews with former detainees included disturbing accounts of rape and sexual assault both at Sde Teiman and other Israeli prison facilities. Ari Remez, a spokesman for the Adalah legal rights group, emphasized the need for thorough investigations into these allegations rather than focusing solely on accountability for guards involved.

In May, the Israeli government disclosed details about detentions in Gaza, revealing that approximately 4,000 Palestinians had been detained since the outbreak of conflict, with 1,500 released due to insufficient evidence. The Unlawful Combatants Law allows for administrative detention of Palestinians from Gaza without trial, enabling them to be held without a court order for up to 45 days and prolonging detention without access to legal counsel for multiple months.

In response to growing international and domestic scrutiny, Israeli authorities began relocating hundreds of Gazan detainees to different military facilities in June. This shift followed a Supreme Court petition challenging the legality of Sde Teiman based on allegations of mistreatment. As of mid-July, over 700 detainees had been transferred, although approximately 40 remained at Sde Teiman, indicating a shift in detention practices with new locations in the occupied West Bank and other military-run sites.

Amid ongoing legal challenges, human rights groups are pressing for information regarding the whereabouts of many Gazan detainees who have seemingly vanished within the system. Notably, since October 7, Israel has restricted the International Red Cross from accessing any Palestinian detainees.