By Samah Jabr
Prisoners have recounted being paraded before the Israeli public in cages, being spat at and having bananas thrown at them. Human rights and recent press reports detail instances where soldiers inserted a mobile phone into a prisoner’s anus and then called it, laughing as it rang inside his body. Soldiers have also taunted prisoners by claiming they were playing soccer with their children’s heads in Gaza. These instances provide only a glimpse into the sadistic behavior exhibited by Israelis against Palestinians during times of genocide.
Sadism is defined as deriving pleasure or psychological gratification from inflicting pain or suffering on others. Some individuals find pleasure in engaging in sadistic acts themselves, while others are satisfied with watching or indirectly participating. Sadists may inflict physical pain, humiliation, or emotional manipulation to derive pleasure. Examples include taunting prisoners with threats of sexual violence against their wives, displaying the underwear of Gazan women, or denying prisoners access to toilets to belittle or emotionally scar them.
A key indicator of sadism is the absence of guilt or remorse. This is evident when settlers and Israeli Knesset members defend soldiers accused of sexually abusing prisoners during interrogations, claiming the military establishment has the right to commit any form of abuse against Palestinian prisoners in wartime. This suggests that these acts are not isolated incidents but are rather institutionalized and supported by Israeli legislation.
During the ongoing genocide in Gaza, which has lasted over ten months, countless monstrous scenes have emerged that defy the boundaries of law and morality. These acts reveal the brutal reality of violence and challenge Israeli claims that their army is “the most moral in the world.”
One form of sadistic behavior is random attacks. Most residential areas in Gaza have faced indiscriminate shelling, leading to the destruction of homes and loss of life. This contrasts sharply with the precision of Israeli military operations targeting individuals on their hit list, as seen with the assassination of Palestinian leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, where he was in a highly secured residential compound.
Another form is the forced displacement of civilians from their homes. Thousands of families have been uprooted to unsafe or overcrowded areas. Gaza, already one of the most densely populated regions in the world, faces severe damage from these displacements. Many residents have been displaced multiple times since the aggression began, some more than ten times. These displacements lack any security justification and serve merely to inflict suffering. They reflect a sadistic dimension by causing severe psychological and physical harm.
The policy of collective punishment is another manifestation of Israeli sadism. This includes inflicting starvation and deprivation of basic necessities. Such deliberate acts of violence have led to the deaths of children and even driven animals to feed on dead human bodies. This policy, enforced by the highest levels of Israeli governance, reinforces institutional sadism and encourages settlers to act out their cruelty, such as attacking food trucks headed for Gaza.
Some of the most egregious sadistic practices occur during detainment and arrest. Numerous reports document arbitrary arrests and torture of Palestinian detainees, who often face extreme physical and psychological torment designed to maximize their suffering. Prisoners have reported soldiers phoning their girlfriends and relatives to witness the abuse inflicted on them, highlighting the pleasure and exhibitionism of these acts. Other abuses include denying basic rights to food, hygiene and medical care, while subjecting prisoners to violent beatings, mandatory strip searches, blindfolding for days, forcing them to eat with their hands tied and even physical assaults by medical staff.
Several underlying reasons contribute to sadistic behavior in times of conflict, reflecting the complex nature of human psychology and broader political and social contexts.
Dehumanization
In prolonged conflicts like the Israeli occupation of Palestine, dehumanizing Palestinians justifies endless violence without guilt. When a group is viewed as subhuman, sadistic acts become easier to rationalize. This is evident in statements made by Israeli officials who have referred to Palestinians as “cockroaches” or “human animals”.
Immunity
Military and political institutions can either encourage or condone violent behavior. Policies targeting civilians or inflicting harm may serve political or strategic goals, fostering a culture of violence within these institutions. Israel’s disregard for accountability and its guarantee of amnesty embolden soldiers and settlers to commit crimes openly, without fear of repercussions. If individual crimes like the killings of Mohammed Al-Durrah and Shireen Abu Akleh go unpunished, how can the mass killing of nearly 30,000 children and women be prosecuted?
The psychological impact of 7 October
The defeat suffered by the Israeli army on 7 October 2023 has led to widespread humiliation. Israelis are attempting to dispel this through vengeful actions, channeling their anger toward anything Palestinian.
Political justification and propaganda
Propaganda shapes perceptions of conflict. When the enemy is portrayed as extreme or dehumanized, it reinforces societal acceptance of violence. Military attacks on Palestinian civilians are often justified as necessary for Israel’s security, supported by propaganda depicting Palestinians as a constant threat. This legitimizes violence and humiliation as a means of control.
This analysis of Israeli sadism towards Palestinians may explain the surprising reactions of Israeli prisoners released in exchange deals during this aggression, such as shaking hands with their captors. Some view this behavior as Stockholm Syndrome, but it may better reflect a clash between the occupier’s sadistic tendencies and the humanity of those struggling for liberation.
Conflicts, especially prolonged ones, can foster sadistic behaviors when internal deterrents – such as respecting the dead and the sanctity of human life – are absent. It is crucial to continually align actions with values and seek redemption, rather than unleashing violent instincts. This distinction underscores the difference between civilization and barbarism.
-Samah Jabr MD is a psychiatrist and psychotherapist; the Head of the Mental Health Unit, Palestine Ministry of Health; and Assistant Clinical Professor, George Washington University, Washington DC, USA. She is also the author of Derrière les fronts (Behind the Frontlines). Her article appeared in MEMO.
