Israel has resumed systematic torture of Palestinian detainees, three human rights groups say in a joint report.
The Israeli Supreme Court banned the practice two years ago. The document cites affidavits from detainees
Israel says that the ban on torture is still in effect and that alleged violations are being investigated.
Instances of torture include a 16-year-old youth who said he was soaked in freezing water, made to carry a heavy wooden beam while manacled and then beaten.
Israel has said that security forces sometimes need to extract information quickly from suspects who may have knowledge of an impending attack.
An Israeli government report on the issue and the response by the human rights groups will be submitted to an 11-day meeting of the United Nations Committee Against Torture in Geneva, which is due to begin tomorrow.
PA