Worsening Abuses in Israeli Prisons for Palestinians Detained Since October

Strategic Insights -

Conditions in Israeli prisons for Palestinians detained since the October attacks have worsened, with released detainees describing frequent beatings, overcrowding, and the withholding of basic rations. Israeli officials have acknowledged the harsher treatment, with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir boasting that prisons will no longer be "summer camps" under his watch. The AP spoke to four released Palestinians who described similar conditions in prisons run by Ben Gvir's ministry, including being handcuffed and beaten, and receiving minimal food.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Palestinian prison population has nearly doubled to almost 10,000 since the war began, including detainees from Gaza and several thousand people seized from the West Bank and east Jerusalem (HaMoked, an Israeli rights group).
  • Four released Palestinians described similar conditions in prisons run by Ben Gvir's ministry, including being handcuffed and beaten, and receiving minimal food (AP).
  • Released detainee Muazzaz Abayat was too weakened to detail his experience soon after his release in July and was able to speak for only several minutes, saying he was regularly beaten (AP).
  • The National Security Ministry has intentionally "reduced conditions" for Palestinian detainees "to the minimum required by law" since Oct. 7, citing the goal of "deter... terror activities" (National Security Ministry statement to AP).
  • Conditions in prisons run by Ben Gvir's ministry have become traumatic, with detainees describing being beaten, overcrowded cells, and minimal food (AP).
  • Released detainee Munthir Amira, a West Bank political activist, said he was held in Ofer Prison and regularly beaten by guards, and that he lost 33 kilograms (72 pounds) during his three months in detention due to minimal food (AP).
  • Autopsy reports provided to the AP by Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, an Israeli human rights organization, show that 36 Palestinian prisoners have died in military-run detention centers since October, with some bearing signs of physical trauma (Physicians for Human Rights-Israel).

Statistics:

  • The Palestinian prison population has nearly doubled to almost 10,000 since the war began (HaMoked).
  • 36 Palestinian prisoners have died in military-run detention centers since October (Physicians for Human Rights-Israel).
  • 250 grams (9 ounces) of yogurt and a single tomato or pepper were shared among five people as breakfast in Ofer Prison, as described by released detainee Omar Assaf (AP).
  • Released detainee Munthir Amira lost 33 kilograms (72 pounds) during his three months in detention due to minimal food (AP).

Sources:

  • The Associated Press
  • HaMoked, an Israeli rights group
  • Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, an Israeli human rights organization
  • National Security Ministry statement to The Associated Press