Detention and psychological trauma during Gazacide: A qualitative study

Abstract

This study examines the detention, torture, and mistreatment of Palestinians following the events of October 7, 2023. The research involved 30 male detainees from Gaza. By July 2024, the number of detainees had doubled within a year, highlighting the Israeli deliberate strategy to suppress Palestinian resistance and instill pervasive fear among Palestinians. This research analyzes the physical and psychological abuse inflicted on detainees, including sexual violence, sensory deprivation, and prolonged isolation. Furthermore, the study explores the secondary trauma experienced by detainees' families, exacerbating social and economic pressures within Palestinian communities. Despite substantial evidence of human rights violations, international responses remain inadequate, allowing these Israeli abuses of Palestinian detainees to continue unchecked. However, the resilience of detainees through various coping mechanisms, such as community support and personal resilience strategies, offers a glimpse of hope. This research highlights the urgent need for enhanced international intervention, comprehensive mental health support, and robust accountability measures to address and mitigate the enduring trauma and genocidal actions perpetrated through arbitrary detention and torture in Gaza.