CAIRO/GAZA — The Arab League on Sunday called for an independent international investigation into alleged torture and systematic abuses against Palestinian prisoners from the Gaza Strip held at Israel's Ramla Prison.
In a statement, the organization said several detainees in the prison's Rakevet section had suffered injuries and burns due to repeated acts of repression and mistreatment.
It called for the International Committee of the Red Cross and independent monitoring bodies to be granted unrestricted access to the prison, and demanded medical care for injured detainees and the immediate release of sick and wounded prisoners.
The Arab League said the alleged abuses violated international humanitarian law and constituted "crimes against humanity" requiring accountability.
It urged the international community and UN bodies to take action to protect Palestinian prisoners and end impunity.
ALSO READ: UN: Strikes imperil Gaza civilians; 3,000 remain displaced in Hebron
The Palestinian Prisoners' Media Office reported on Tuesday that Gaza detainees in the Rakevet section had been subjected to repeated assaults, including beatings with batons, tear gas and pepper spray, rubber bullets and stun grenades.
According to another report by the office published on Oct 24, between 9,350 and 9,400 Palestinian prisoners and detainees were held in Israeli jails as of October 2026.
Eight Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes
On Sunday, at least eight Palestinians, including five police officers, were killed in two Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, according to local and Palestinian medical sources.
Local sources said an Israeli drone fired a missile at a group of Palestinians and police personnel in the al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
Nasser Medical Complex said at least five people were killed and several others wounded, some seriously, in the strike.
The Hamas-run interior authorities in Gaza confirmed that five members of the General Directorate of Police were killed while "performing routine duties" in al-Mawasi.
ALSO READ: Palestinians doubt Israeli elections will bring real change
According to the authorities, Israeli attacks have killed 75 police officers since a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel took effect in October 2025.
In a separate incident, three Palestinians, including a child, were killed and six others wounded, some critically, in an Israeli airstrike targeting a gathering in the al-Rimal neighborhood, west of Gaza City, medical sources said.
The Israeli military had no immediate comment on either strike.
Gaza's health authorities reported 1,580 Palestinians killed and 5,711 wounded in the enclave since the ceasefire took effect, bringing the cumulative toll since Oct 7, 2023 to 74,594 dead and 175,834 wounded.
