U.S. decries reported sexual abuse of Palestinian prisoners after graphic video aired on Israeli TV

Allegations of the sexual abuse of Palestinian prisoners by members of the Israeli military are "horrific," the United States has said, after a graphic video broadcast on Israeli news added fuel to mounting criticism of the U.S. ally's conduct in the war in Gaza.

Earlier this week, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller responded to a question about a video shown on Israel's Channel 12, the country's most watched commercial station, that alleged to show the abuse of a Palestinian man at Sde Teiman, a military facility where thousands of Palestinians have been detained since October.

"We have seen the video, and reports of sexual abuse of detainees are horrific," Miller said, adding that the reports should be "fully" investigated by the Israeli government.

"There ought to be zero tolerance for sexual abuse, rape of any detainee, period," he added.

The White House also called the reports of rape, torture and abuse "deeply, deeply concerning."

Spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre added: "We have been clear and consistent with Israel that it must treat all detainees humanely and with dignity in accordance with international law, must respect detainees' human rights, and must ensure accountability for any abuses or violations."

It was the first time that U.S. officials had referred to the video allegedly showing sexual assault. 

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NBC News has not confirmed details of the reported abuse or if the video circulating was of that incident, but the allegations came out amid a roiling controversy over the treatment of Palestinian detainees that was sparked in July, when the Israeli military charged a reservist with aggravated abuse and opened an inquiry into nine other soldiers over allegations of mistreating a