Dear [Elected Official’s Name],
I am writing to draw your attention to the latest Human Rights Watch report, which details the systematic detention and torture of Palestinian healthcare workers by Israeli forces, including sexual assault, electric shocks, beatings, amputations, humiliation and more—acts that are in clear violation of international law.
Among the many harrowing accounts is the story of Walid Khalili, a paramedic who was suspended from a chain at the Sde Teiman detention facility, electroshocked, and denied medical care for broken ribs caused by beatings. He described his experience as “unbelievable” and degrading. He also recalled a fellow detainee confiding in him after learning he was a paramedic, describing his sexual assault by three Israeli soldiers using an assault rifle.
Healthcare workers held at Sde Teiman said that they were cuffed almost constantly throughout their detention, with occupation soldiers ignoring those suffering from the tightness of their cuffs or tightening them further as punishment for complaining. In a public letter, an Israeli doctor working in the military field hospital at Sde Teiman said that in a single week, “two prisoners had their legs amputated due to handcuff injuries, which unfortunately is a routine event.”
The impact of these atrocities extends far beyond the individual victims. The detention and torture of healthcare workers have further destabilised Gaza’s healthcare system, which is already in a state of crisis. Since October, over 92,000 people in Gaza have been wounded, yet functional hospitals have fewer than 1,500 inpatient beds. Only 35% of nearly 14,000 requests for medical evacuation have been granted by Israeli authorities, according to the World Health Organization. Removing critical healthcare staff exacerbates this dire situation, leaving countless people without the care they desperately need.
It is deeply troubling that despite overwhelming evidence, Israeli authorities have consistently failed to provide credible accountability for these abuses. Between 2019 and 2022, over 1,830 complaints of abuse were filed against Israeli Prison Services, yet not a single one resulted in a criminal conviction. This lack of accountability emboldens further violations and deepens the suffering of those in Gaza. We must take action.
I urge you to stand with the victims of these egregious human rights abuses and implement sanctions against Israel. Anarms embargo and a two-way trade embargo must be enforced until Israel ceases its illegal occupation and continued human rights violations; this will also enforce pressure for a ceasefire. Recognising the State of Palestine and supporting the prosecution of all perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity is essential.
You cannot turn a blind eye to the systematic torture and abuse of Palestinian healthcare workers and civilians. I implore you to use your position to advocate for justice and to ensure that those responsible for these atrocities are held accountable.
I look forward to your commitment to upholding international law through these actions.
Your constituent,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]