DaysofPal-—The Commission of Prisoners’ Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club have unveiled a series of “horrific” violations committed by Israeli occupation authorities against Palestinian detainees from the Gaza Strip, held in facilities such as the Negev Prison and Ofer Camp.
Human rights organizations described these abuses as part of a systematic policy aimed at breaking the will of detainees and stripping them of their humanity. Testimonies gathered from lawyers who recently visited detainees reveal a harrowing pattern of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, alongside severe restrictions on daily life within detention centers.
Brutal Sexual Assaults and Psychological Torture
According to detainees’ accounts, the administration at Ofer Camp has been accused of carrying out brutal sexual assaults. These include immobilizing detainees’ limbs and inserting sharp objects into their bodies, leading to suffocation, severe injuries, and lasting trauma. Such acts are often performed in front of other detainees as a deliberate tactic to humiliate victims and crush their morale in front of their peers. The use of cameras installed in cells has also become a tool of repression.
Detainees report that even minor actions, such as smiling or attempting to maintain composure, are monitored and met with collective punishments, including physical beatings, invasive searches, and public humiliation during routine procedures like “security checks” or “counts.” During these counts, detainees are reportedly forced to lie face down on the ground while being beaten.
Catastrophic Conditions in Negev Prison
Conditions in the Negev Prison, particularly in the tent section, have been described as equally catastrophic. Detainees are denied regular access to bathrooms and are instead forced to relieve themselves in buckets. Basic necessities, such as eating utensils, remain contaminated and unreplaced, contributing to the spread of diseases among detainees. One of the most pressing health crises is scabies, a skin condition caused by poor hygiene and weakened immunity. The disease is exacerbated by the use of contaminated blankets and mattresses, as well as the refusal to allow detainees to change clothes since November 2024. Despite repeated requests, the prison administration has allegedly refused to provide any form of medical treatment for these conditions.
Deliberate Starvation and Physical Abuse
Testimonies further highlight the deliberate starvation of detainees, with reports of significant weight loss among prisoners due to insufficient food rations. Human rights organizations have condemned this as a “deliberate crime of starvation,” designed to weaken detainees physically and mentally. Even during visits with lawyers, detainees are subjected to additional abuse, including beatings and painful shackling, leaving visible injuries. This mistreatment underscores the systemic nature of the abuse endured by detainees.
Calls for International Accountability
In a joint statement, the Commission of Palestinian Prisoners’ Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners’ society labeled the occupation’s practices as part of an ongoing “policy of genocide” against the Palestinian people. They criticized the international community’s failure to take meaningful action, stating that the lack of intervention renders global human rights systems complicit in perpetuating these abuses. The statement warned that this inaction raises serious questions about the viability and credibility of international human rights mechanisms.
According to data released by the Prisoners’ Affairs Authority, as of April 2025, approximately 1,747 Gaza detainees were officially recognized by the Israeli Prison Service. However, this figure does not account for those still held in undisclosed Israeli detention camps, where visits and documentation are prohibited.
A Call for Justice Amid Silence
As horrifying details continue to emerge, human rights advocates are urging immediate intervention to address the dire situation faced by Palestinian detainees. The systematic nature of these violations—ranging from sexual assault and psychological torture to deliberate neglect and starvation—paints a grim picture of life inside Israeli prisons. For many, the silence of the international community serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for accountability and justice to prevent further suffering and uphold the dignity of detainees.
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