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A joint investigation by The Guardian and the Arab Investigative Journalists Network (ARIJ) found that Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli facilities were tortured with US-made Taser stun guns. Testimonies and evidence gathered in the reporting point to repeated use of the electroshock weapons on detainees.

The reporting also found that Arizona-based Axon Enterprise, which manufactures the devices, has continued to supply stun guns and their components to Israeli customers despite the abuse allegations.

Testimonies from released detainees

A 43-year-old Palestinian identified as Essa told The Guardian that Israeli soldiers beat him and tortured him with an electroshock weapon while he was in custody. Essa had both legs amputated after an Israeli missile strike hit his home. He was detained in the Jabalia refugee camp in January 2024, held at Israel's Ofer Prison and released in October 2025.

Marks attributed to electroshock use are still visible on Essa's body, the report said. The International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims said the proximity of the marks indicates that Essa was tightly bound and subjected to repeated electric shocks.

Three more freed Palestinians interviewed for the investigation said they were tortured with stun guns made by Axon Enterprise in Israeli detention centers during 2024-2025. One of them said water was poured over his body before the electroshock device was used, and that he still suffers serious visual impairment, muscle spasms and recurring fainting spells.

Evidence of stun guns in Israeli prisons

Two videos released by the Israel Prison Service in the past year show devices resembling Taser stun guns manufactured by Axon Enterprise, according to the newspaper's findings.

The report recalled that the UN Committee Against Torture examined allegations of torture and ill-treatment in Israeli detention facilities, including the use of electric shocks, in November 2025. The committee noted a sharp rise in torture and ill-treatment of Palestinian prisoners since October 7, 2023.

Amani Al-Sarhanah, an official with the Palestinian Prisoners Society, said the use of electroshock on Palestinian prisoners may be only one of many torture methods employed. London-based Amnesty International warned of the human rights risks posed by stun guns and called for tighter controls on the international trade in such equipment.

Axon continues supplies to Israeli customers

The investigation found that Axon Enterprise has kept signing contracts with Israeli entities for stun guns or their accessories despite concerns over human rights violations. The company presented new models of its electroshock weapons to Israeli security agencies at a conference held in Israel in June 2025.

An Israeli military spokesperson told The Guardian that the mistreatment of detainees is strictly prohibited. The Guardian said it approached Axon Enterprise and the Israel Prison Service for comment on the findings.

Key takeaways

• A Guardian and ARIJ investigation says Palestinian detainees were tortured with US-made Taser stun guns in Israeli custody.
• A detainee identified as Essa, who lost both legs in an Israeli strike, described being beaten and electroshocked; four freed prisoners in total gave accounts of stun-gun torture.
• Video material and a UN Committee Against Torture review point to electric shock use in Israeli detention centers since October 2023.
• Axon Enterprise has continued supplying stun guns and parts to Israeli customers and showcased new models in Israel in June 2025.