The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) has formally asked the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to open an investigation into alleged deaths, torture and ill‑treatment of Palestinian detainees held at the Sde Teiman detention facility in Israel. The request, filed under the court’s Article 15 mechanism, targets Israeli health and defence authorities, the Israeli Medical Association (IMA) and medical personnel operating within the prison.
HRF’s submission asserts that the conduct of the accused constitutes war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide as defined by the Rome Statute. The foundation states that the alleged violations began on 7 October 2023, coinciding with the onset of the latest Gaza conflict, and have continued in the months that followed. It claims that systematic abuse and neglect resulted in multiple detainee deaths and severe physical and psychological harm.
Among the individuals named in the complaint are former Israeli health ministers Moshe Arbel and Uriel Buso, as well as Zion Hagay, who serves as president of the Israeli Medical Association. The filing also implicates senior medical staff attached to the Sde Teiman facility, alleging that they participated in or facilitated the mistreatment of prisoners under the direction of the health ministry.
HRF timed the filing to align with the opening session of the World Medical Association, signalling an attempt to draw international medical bodies’ attention to the alleged breaches of medical ethics and humanitarian law. The foundation hopes that the global medical community will exert pressure on the ICC and on national authorities to ensure accountability.
Under Article 15, the ICC prosecutor may decide to conduct a preliminary examination to determine whether there is a reasonable basis to proceed with a formal investigation. If the prosecutor finds sufficient evidence, the case could be referred to the Pre‑Trial Chamber, potentially leading to charges against the listed officials. The ICC has previously opened investigations into alleged war‑related crimes in the region, but each request is assessed on its own merits and evidentiary thresholds.
Reporting attribution: based on reporting by Middle East Eye — original source: https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/hind-rajab-foundation-seeks-probe-sde-teiman-detainee-abuse.