DaysofPal- Palestinian female detainees held in Israel’s Damon Prison were subjected to a violent and degrading assault, including forced strip searches, according to a statement issued by the Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office on Wednesday.
The assault occurred during daylight hours last week when the Israeli “Yamas” unit stormed the women’s cells. The unit forcibly removed the detainees, took them to the bathrooms, and subjected them to strip searches, an act described as a severe violation of human dignity and international standards.
The detainees were taken to the prison canteen room following this attack, where the food supplies they had gathered for the holy month of Ramadan were seized. The statement disclosed that each cell was targeted separately during the three raids. The raids were characterized as a campaign of intimidation designed to break the morale of the prisoners.
Earlier this month, the Palestinian Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs condemned the dire conditions faced by 21 Palestinian female prisoners in Damon Prison. The detainees are reported to endure extreme isolation, starvation, and inadequate medical care, resulting in serious health issues and malnutrition.
The commission criticized these actions as flagrant violations of human rights and urged immediate international intervention. The women also face physical and psychological abuse, including arbitrary strip searches and the confiscation of personal belongings.
Currently, 24 female prisoners are detained in Damon Prison. Despite the growing needs of the detainees, particularly during Ramadan, daily food provisions have not been increased. The food provided consists mainly of basic legumes such as chickpeas, lentils, rice, and pea soup. Additionally, the women are prohibited from storing food for the pre-dawn suhoor meal, leaving many to rely solely on water after a long day of fasting.
The statement from the Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office strongly condemned these actions, calling them clear breaches of international and humanitarian law. It emphasized the urgent need for intervention to protect the detainees’ dignity and fundamental rights. The organization called on human rights and international bodies to act immediately, holding Israeli authorities fully responsible for the well-being and safety of the women in detention.
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