Israel detained thousands of workers from Gaza and prevented them from notifying their families or lawyers following the Oct 7 attack by Hamas, according to rights watchdog Human Rights Watch (HRW).

According to Al Jazeera, Israel subjected some of the detainees to “inhumane and degrading conditions” for weeks. At least two detainees died in Israeli custody, the government confirmed.

Michelle Randhawa, HRW’s senior refugee and migrant rights officer, said “the search for perpetrators and abettors of the October 7 attacks does not justify abusing workers who had been granted permits to work in Israel”.