Negev: An Israeli lawyer has alleged that his Palestinian client is being tortured and sexually assaulted in custody, saying the abuse intensifies each time he visits the detainee. Speaking in an interview with a known journalist, Samira Mohyeddin, lawyer Ben Marmarelli said his sole client, a Palestinian political prisoner, is subjected to severe mistreatment by Israeli authorities, including repeated sexual violence.

According to Anadolu Agency, Marmarelli expressed that sexual assault is only one part of a broader pattern of abuse, emphasizing that the conditions of the prisoners are the primary concern. He stated, "The issue is the conditions of the prisoners, and the rape is just one of the many pieces of the puzzle, which is Israel torturing the Palestinian prisoners." Marmarelli noted physical evidence of abuse on his client, including boot marks and bruises, which he claims coincide with his visits.

Marmarelli also pointed to the Sde Teiman military base in southern Israel as a site of pervasive torture and sexual violence, allegedly documented by internal surveillance systems. He claimed that despite the existence of 24/7 surveillance, no actions have been taken to address the abuses.

In August 2024, footage leaked from Sde Teiman showed soldiers assaulting a Palestinian prisoner, leading to widespread condemnation from human rights groups. The incident intensified calls to shut down the facility amid reports of systematic abuse.

On October 31, Israeli military prosecutor Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi resigned after admitting to leaking the footage. She acknowledged authorizing the release of materials to counter false propaganda against military law enforcement authorities, as reported by the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.