New Delhi: Israeli soldiers detained an 18-month-old Palestinian child in central Gaza and allegedly tortured him in front of his father during an interrogation according to Anadolu Agency, which cited Palestinian journalist Osama Al-Kahlout. The child, Karim Abu Nassar, was taken near Al-Maghazi refugee camp after his father, Osama Abu Nassar, came under gunfire while trying to buy basic supplies.
Eyewitnesses told Palestine TV that Israeli troops forced the father to leave his son on the ground and walk toward a nearby military checkpoint. There, soldiers stripped him and questioned him, the report said. During the interrogation, the soldiers allegedly abused the child in order to pressure the father into making confessions.
Child allegedly tortured during interrogation
Anadolu Agency reported that Israeli forces tortured the toddler in front of his father. Medical records later showed that Karim had burn marks and puncture wounds on his body. Al Jazeera reported that Israeli forces “extinguished cigarettes on his body and inserted a nail into his leg” while torturing the toddler in front of his father.
The report also said the child “did not exceed two years of age” when the abuse took place. The allegations have triggered shock among Palestinians in Gaza, where civilians continue to suffer from repeated attacks and detentions.
Released after 10 hours
According to the report, Karim remained in custody for about 10 hours before soldiers released him. The International Committee of the Red Cross later handed him over to his family in Al-Maghazi. Doctors confirmed that the child had cigarette burns and wounds caused by a nail being pushed into his leg.
Father still in detention
While the child returned home, his father remains in Israeli detention. His family has appealed to international organisations to intervene and help secure his release so that he can receive medical treatment.
The incident took place amid continued Israeli attacks in Gaza despite a ceasefire that came into effect in October 2025. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, hundreds of Palestinians have died and thousands have suffered injuries since the truce began. The ministry says the overall death toll since October 2023 has crossed 72,000, while more than 171,000 people have been injured.