Palestinian Studies Institution / Kareem Qurt – November 25, 2024
Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention face increasingly dire conditions, which reached new extremes during the genocidal war on Gaza that began on October 7, 2023. Every aspect of life in the prisons has been affected—treatment of prisoners, living conditions, food quantity and quality, and beyond.
While all prisoners endure these tragic circumstances, certain prisons—particularly Negev Prison—are notorious for their harsh living conditions and the violence faced by inmates. Reports and testimonies from prisoners and related organizations indicate that conditions vary slightly between prisons, but commonalities exist across all facilities, pointing to shared suffering among detainees since October 7.
Prisoners from Gaza, detained during and after the Israeli ground invasion, endure especially severe conditions, particularly in military detention camps. While this paper focuses on the general situation of prisoners as a whole, the unique plight of Gaza detainees demands its own dedicated investigation. Here, we document key changes in prison conditions, major violations, and the suffering endured by prisoners, based on released detainees' testimonies and reports from Palestinian and human rights organizations. The discussion also touches on the ongoing struggle between the prisoners’ movement and the Israeli authorities over prisoners' rights and achievements, highlighting the transformations post-October 7, including systematic torture and deprivation of basic human needs.
Over decades, Palestinian prisoners, through persistent struggles including hunger strikes, protests, and confrontations with guards, gradually improved their living conditions. These achievements included access to basic necessities like food, clothing, and medical care. Prisoners often emphasize that every improvement was "paid for in blood and flesh," referencing the sacrifices made by martyrs, wounded detainees, and the grueling hunger strikes.
However, Israeli authorities repeatedly attempted to roll back these gains. For instance, in 1986, David Maimon, a former military governor of Gaza, was appointed head of the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) and adopted punitive policies, known as the "Iron Fist," to suppress prisoner rights. This led to a mass hunger strike, forcing the Israeli authorities to backtrack.
Similar efforts resurfaced in recent years, including the "Shalit Decisions" of 2009, the "Erdan Committee" of 2018, and policies introduced by the far-right minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who assumed control of the IPS in early 2023. Ben Gvir declared his intent to end what he called "summer camps for terrorists" in prisons, introducing a plan titled "Ending Prisoner Autonomy". Though initially halted by Israeli security agencies wary of potential Palestinian unrest, the October 7 events provided a pretext for fully implementing these policies.
Since then, sweeping changes have overturned the prior state of relative stability, with guards empowered by Ben Gvir’s policies engaging in unprecedented levels of cruelty under the guise of retaliation.
One of the starkest changes post-October 7 is the normalization of torture and mistreatment. Prisoners report that physical and psychological abuse has become systematic, beginning at the moment of arrest and continuing throughout detention. Torture occurs during prison transfers, trials, attorney visits, and even at the time of release.
Within the prisons, inmates face brutal beatings, sexual assaults, dog attacks, and exposure to tear gas in their cells. Guards provoke prisoners to justify assaults, such as forcing them to kiss the Israeli flag or sing Hebrew songs. Basic interactions with guards now often escalate into violent reprisals.
Even security checks have become stations of humiliation, with prisoners forced to kneel, lower their heads, and place their hands above their heads. Any resistance results in immediate and severe punishment.
The prisoners face multifaceted deprivation that compounds their suffering:
Food Shortages:
Prisoners are experiencing near-starvation. Meals are limited in quantity and quality, consisting of raw rice, watery soup, small portions of bread, and eggs, with no meat, vegetables, or fruit. Some prisons provide so little food that meals for ten prisoners are insufficient for even one. Spoiled and foul-smelling food is commonplace. Moreover, tools like plates and utensils have been confiscated, replaced by disposable items reused for up to a week.
Overcrowding:
Severe overcrowding exacerbates living conditions. Cells originally designed for 6-8 inmates now hold 12-14. This violates the Israeli Supreme Court's 2017 ruling requiring three square meters of space per prisoner.
Confiscation of Personal Belongings:
All personal items, including clothing, electrical appliances, books, and hygiene products, have been confiscated. Most prisoners now have only a single set of clothing, often the brown uniform issued upon incarceration, with no opportunity to change clothes.
Hygiene and Health Neglect:
Prisoners lack basic hygiene supplies, such as soap, shampoo, and razors. They are given minimal cleaning materials, and showers are restricted in time and frequency. Water temperature is manipulated as a form of torture, with freezing showers in winter and scalding water in summer.
Isolation from the Outside World:
Prisoners are denied family visits, phone calls, and even contact with legal counsel. They have no access to news, as televisions and radios have been confiscated, leaving them entirely cut off from the outside world.
The cumulative effects of starvation, overcrowding, isolation, and abuse have severely impacted prisoners’ mental and physical health. Diseases, including skin, intestinal, and respiratory conditions, are spreading due to unsanitary conditions. Prisoners with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, are particularly at risk, with several deaths already reported due to medical neglect.
Since October 7, 54 prisoners have died in Israeli detention, mostly from Gaza, due to torture, neglect, and deteriorating living conditions. This figure likely underrepresents the true toll, as Israeli authorities suppress information about prison conditions.
Palestinian prisoners face unprecedented and escalating threats. The combination of brutal policies, systematic abuse, and deprivation has left them unable to resist through traditional methods such as hunger strikes, as guards have demonstrated their willingness to resort to lethal force.
The future of the prisoners depends on mobilization from the Palestinian public and international advocacy efforts. Historically, external pressure has been instrumental in curbing Israeli abuses and protecting prisoners from further harm. Without significant intervention, the situation for Palestinian prisoners is likely to deteriorate further.