DaysofPal- As the Israeli war on Gaza enters its ninth month, rights groups and former detainees warn of an alarming escalation in abuses against Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
Reports detail a systematic campaign of torture, starvation, and psychological abuse, described by experts as a deliberate policy of slow execution practiced by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF).
Since the outbreak of the war on October 7, 2023, the conditions for over 10,400 Palestinian detainees have dramatically worsened, with more than 1,800 prisoners from Gaza labeled as “unlawful combatants”—a classification that strips them of legal protections under international law.
Hassan Abd Rabbo, a leading researcher on prisoner affairs, said the occupation is “exploiting the war and global silence to inflict collective punishment on detainees.” He accused Israeli authorities of “waging a war of revenge inside prisons,” where prisoners face daily beatings, deprivation of food and medical care, and complete isolation from the outside world.
“The prison system is being used as a tool of retribution,” Abd Rabbo said, calling the conditions a “war crime in progress.”
Former prisoner and researcher Munqith Abu Atwan echoed these concerns, describing Israeli prisons as “concrete fortresses of psychological warfare” built to “destroy the Palestinian spirit.” He likened them to “slow execution chambers,” designed by experts in psychological repression.
According to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office, the Israeli forces and prison service have expanded their campaign to include mass arrests, including children, elderly citizens, and women. More than 560 women have been detained since the war began, many accused of “incitement” on social media.
The group also documented dozens of nighttime raids targeting the families of prisoners and resistance fighters. These raids, often accompanied by physical violence and the terrorizing of children, reflect what rights monitors describe as a growing reliance on collective punishment.
“These actions violate the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits torture and collective punishment and obligates protection for civilians during conflict,” the office said in a statement. “Yet the occupation continues with impunity, shielded by international inaction.”
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club confirmed that the number of female prisoners now stands at 47, including two underage girls and 10 held without charge under administrative detention.
Despite the deteriorating conditions, activists say Palestinian prisoners continue to resist with remarkable resilience. “They remain steadfast behind bars,” said Abd Rabbo, “carrying the torch of freedom, even as the world looks away.”
Human rights organizations have called for urgent international intervention to halt what they describe as a “war within a war,” demanding accountability and immediate protection for detainees subjected to daily brutality.
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