Amnesty urges export restrictions following investigative findings on Israeli use of US-made tasers against Palestinian detainees

WASHINGTON — An investigative finding indicates that Israel is actively using US-made electroshock weapons supplied by American manufacturer Axon on Palestinian detainees, drawing immediate international scrutiny and demands for regulatory intervention.

The disclosures regarding the use of Taser weapons on detainees have prompted Amnesty to call for strict restrictions on the export of electric shock devices, citing widespread allegations of torture and ill-treatment of prisoners. In response to the scrutiny, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces stated that the abuse of detainees was strictly prohibited.

The developments coincide with escalating security incidents in the occupied West Bank. Israeli military forces recently detained approximately 80 international volunteers—comprising US, Israeli, and British nationals—who were assisting Palestinian farmers with the olive harvest near Bethlehem. Those detained included New York Democratic congressional nominee Brad Lander, several rabbis, and a former deputy attorney general of Israel.

Simultaneously, diplomatic and security adjustments are underway across the Middle East. The US State Department ordered certain diplomats and the families of US government employees to depart Saudi Arabia, citing a persistent threat of near-daily attacks originating from Yemen’s Houthis.

Domestically in the United States, judicial and technical developments have also emerged. The US Supreme Court refused to allow the immediate enforcement of sweeping restrictions targeting gender-affirming care for transgender individuals held in prisons and federal facilities. Separately, a critical vulnerability within the PHP computer language caused widespread website outages globally.