Israel says it wants to prevent further dissemination of images showing Palestinians detained in the Gaza Strip stripped to their underwear, following outrage over the humiliating photos shared by local media, Al Jazeera reports.

National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi told the Kan public broadcaster that spreading the pictures “doesn’t serve anything” and insisted that suspects must be searched to ensure that they are not carrying weapons or explosives.

He said there would be no further distribution of such images.

The newspaper quoted a senior Israeli official acknowledging that the photos were “uncomfortable”.